Category: Mental Health

Is your teen ready for the new school year? Emotional preparedness is just as important as academic preparedness, especially if your teen wants good grades. Mental health issues are on a steep rise in the scholastic post-pandemic landscape. Help your teen prep for the challenges ahead with this comprehensive mental health checklist for students. 

For teens, the transition from high school to college represents a major milestone in life. That can be quite nerve-wracking, not in the least because of the academic requirements that many colleges demand. Whether your teen has a dream college in mind, has their eyes set on a trade school, or plans to enter the workforce after graduation, the last years of high school are marked by the anticipation of adulthood. 

But with that transition comes a whole new slew of challenges and difficulties. Helping your teen build emotional resilience and develop a healthy level of independence will be important. Is your teen ready for what’s ahead?

Let’s go over a mental health checklist and find out.   

The Mental Health Checklist for Students

Creating a mental health checklist for students is an excellent way to promote emotional well-being, and remind teens that it’s okay – important, even – to check in with themselves and others, talk about how they feel, and be cognizant of the different ways stress can negatively impact the mind and body.

Here are a few things to consider when organizing a a mental health checklist for students: 

Developing Daily Habits for Mental Wellness

Improving your mental health starts with the day-to-day – from the way you get up in the morning to the way you end your day at night. The first step towards ensuring that your teen is ready for school is to help them get back into a healthy daily rhythm, including encouraging them to start their own morning routine, prioritize their sleep, get enough exercise, and more. Some important daily habits include:

• Is your teen prioritizing their sleep? 
• Is your teen eating a healthy diet? 
• Is your teen keeping up with their water intake? 
• Is your teen getting enough exercise? 

Stress Management and Coping Checklist

A daily routine can do a lot to help build resilience against stressors. But when the going gets tough, it’s important for your teen to know the right and wrong way to deal with their problems – and blow off some steam. How do their coping mechanisms look? Are they the type of person to channel their energy into destructive behaviors, or something positive? It’s important to consider this objectively. Your teen will probably have hobbies you don’t understand or enjoy quite as much. But are they hurting them, or are they a healthy outlet? Some questions for stress management and coping include:

• Is your teen identifying their stressors? 
• Does your teen employ effective coping strategies? 
• Does your teen ask for help when they need it? 
• Is your teen managing their time effectively? 
• Does your teen practice some sort of self-care? 

A Social and Support Checklist

It’s important to look out for one another. Nurturing healthy relationships with others is not just a great way to build a long-term support network, but it can also be reflective of your teen’s mental health. A checklist for social health and mental health support might include: 

• Is your teen hanging out with their friends? 
• Does your teen set healthy boundaries with others? 
• Does your teen ask for help with relationship problems? 

Balancing School Goals and Mental Health

It’s important to prioritize effectively in life, but there is such a thing as working too much. Don’t encourage your teen to burnout – encourage, instead, a healthy balance between school work and fun. School-life balance questions and a checklist for managing academic goals might include questions such as: 

• Is your teen setting realistic academic goals for themselves?
• Does your teen know how to manage their academic stress? 
• Is your teen effectively utilizing academic support resources? 
• Is your teen doing a good job of balancing their social life and academic responsibilities?

The Mental Health Access Checklist

Access to mental health resources is important. Knowing who to call or where to turn when your teen feels overwhelmed or needs to seek help on behalf of a friend is crucial. Encourage your teen to get informed about their options at school, and keep certain numbers and contacts on hand at home, as well. Important mental health resources that your teen should be aware of include: 

• Campus Counseling Services
• Crisis Helplines and Hotlines
• Online Mental Health Communities
• Local Support Groups
• Helpful Self-Help Tools and Apps
• Mental Health Treatment Providers

Teens are at the perfect age to begin developing healthy habits to improve their mental well-being and develop their own coping skills for dealing with life’s greatest stressors. Parents and peers have no way of telling what the future holds, and it will be impossible to protect your loved one from life’s curveballs or help them prepare for every inevitable outcome. However, you can build your teen’s resilience against the worst life has to offer and give them the self-confidence and the skillset they need to succeed. 

Just as it’s important to help your teen become self-sufficient, it’s also important to ensure that they’re nurturing their social circle and staying connected with their peers. Having a positive support group can make all the difference when motivation, self-care, and discipline are not enough. 

Knowing how and where to look for professional mental health services is crucial. Mental health checklists and a robust schedule can improve your teen’s mental well-being. If you or your teen worry that they’re affected by a mental health issue, seek professional help. We at Visions Treatment Centers specialize in providing intensive care programs for teens with mental health problems, including substance use disorder, personality disorders, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and much more. Call us today at (818) 889 3665 or contact us online to find out more. 

There are several mental benefits of sports for teens. Physical activity, especially sports, can help teens build good habits for a better, more health-conscious lifestyle.

However, in addition to physical benefits, sports also have immense mental health benefits for teens. Regular physical activity with other kids can help teens build confidence, learn to interact with others and reap the benefits of daily exercise for their mind and body.

In this article, you will discover ten mental benefits of sports for teens.

Mental Benefits of Sports for Teens

It’s recommended that teens engage in at least an hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity at least once every day, seven days a week. Getting up and moving is important at every age, but it’s doubly important for teens. 

Kids and teens who exercise regularly also have stronger bones and muscles later in adulthood. Achieving stronger bones and lean muscle mass (without the help of exogenous hormones) can help reduce the risk of metabolic illnesses but can also decrease the risk of injury later in life and improve longevity. 

When it comes to mental health benefits, sports can be a powerful positive factor. Teenagers are at an impressionable age, where daily habits help shape who they become in adulthood. 

Furthermore, teens are at greater risk of advancing mental health problems than ever before. At least some of these problems, experts fear, are due to an increasingly isolated and sedentary lifestyle. Studies show that teens who exercise regularly are less likely to struggle with depression. Engaging in sports with other teens allows them to develop crucial interpersonal skills, build a healthy sense of self-esteem, and reap the benefits of physical activity. Let’s look at some of the ways teens benefit from engaging in sports for their mental health. 

Here are several mental benefits of sports for teens:

1. Sports for Stress Relief

Sports and physical activity are an excellent and healthy outlet for stress. Teens are often struggling with the emotional turmoil of adolescence; having something they can use to positively channel their stress helps them keep a cool head when dealing with their problems and avoid maladaptive coping styles. 

2. How Sports Can Enhance Mood

Regular physical activity correlates with a lower rate of depression. One way this is possible is through the impact of physical activity on the mind, through the release of endorphins, a healthier self-image, and a boost to confidence. 

3. Sports Improve Teen Concentration

Despite the stereotype of the jock, staying physically active is good for your concentration and cognition. Furthermore, as a testament to how physical activity can be a good habit, brain health improves with strength training, especially in older adults. 

4. Sports Experience Builds Resilience

Mental resilience is a protective factor against negative changes in mood and thoughts of anxiety. Positive experiences in sports can make you more confident, but sports also provide a healthy environment to learn about loss and frustration. Learning to cope with setbacks and focus on the positives after a negative experience is an immensely valuable lesson, and one many teens learn through competition or personal goals in training. 

5. Sports Camaraderie and Mental Health

Sports, especially team sports, help teens build valuable interpersonal skills and communicative skills on the field. For teens who might not have had the most positive experiences with their classmates until now, finding a sport or physical activity they enjoy can help them find a community they feel more welcome outside of school. 

6. Sports for Goal Setting

Whether competitively or simply for the sake of self-improvement, sports and other physical activities help teens set and reach positive goals, and teach them the benefits of concrete, realistic goal-setting. 

7. Sports and Self-Confidence

Many teens who struggle with feelings of anxiety or depression also struggle with feelings of self-doubt and a loss in confidence. While even pro athletes can struggle with mental health issues, teens and adults who continue to engage in physical activities and sports are more likely to have positive self-esteem and a healthier level of self-confidence. 

8. Physical Activity and Sleep Hygiene

Sleep is one of the most underrated aspects of teen health – and a cornerstone of any recovering athlete’s program. Enough food, enough sleep, and enough rest from the gym or the field is crucial in any athletic endeavor. 

9. Sports as a Positive Coping Mechanism

Teenagers want to experiment and try things out. Having a robust and healthy coping mechanism in the form of regular physical activity and a sports community can often help keep them away from other negative coping mechanisms. 

10. Sports and Mindfulness

Exercise and sports as an activity have therapeutic value, especially when it comes to teaching focus and mindfulness. 

Sports can have a positive impact on a teen’s mental and physical health, but they aren’t a substitute for treatment in the case of a serious mental health issue. You can be athletic, or even achieve great feats of strength and speed on the national stage, and still struggle with a mental health issue, including anxiety.

If your teen has had a history of anxiety or depression, and is currently in treatment, then encouraging them to seek out a physical activity or sport that they might enjoy can be a good thing, especially if you give it a try with them as a friend or family member. 

But if your teen might be struggling with their mental health for the first time, focus first on getting them the help they need. We at Visions work with teens, and treat a variety of mental health issues, ranging from major depressive disorder to substance use disorder. Contact us to learn more about out treatment options and programs for teens. 

Conclusion

It’s clear that teens need to stay physically active, both for their bodies and their minds. Team sports, or physical activities with a strong sense of community and camaraderie can be a great way to build a healthy lifestyle. But there are important caveats. Pushing a teen into a sport they aren’t interested in, or emphasizing an unhealthy level of competitiveness can backfire on the teen’s physical and mental health and development. 

It’s important to start with your teen’s interests and wishes. Younger teens are prone to changing interests and may try out many different sports before landing on something they stick with for years at a time. Encourage your teen to stay curious and try out different things. 

It’s normal for teens to get the urge to sneak out against their parents’ better judgment, take unnecessary risks every once in a while, or even try a drug. Teenagers are more prone to risk-taking because they lack the experience and ability of forethought necessary to avoid unnecessary actions. 

However, impulse control disorders take things far past any parent’s red line. When a teen is struggling with an impulse control disorder, their inhibition towards criminal behavior is greatly reduced, as is their compassion and their conscience. Teens with an impulse control disorder are often dishonest, act aggressively, and may commit crimes such as theft, arson, and assault while acting out. 

What is an Impulse Control Disorder?

Impulse control disorders are characterized by an inability to stop intrusive thoughts and belligerent, aggressive impulses.

In adolescents and adults alike, this translates into five distinct types of impulse control disorder, as per current psychiatric knowledge. These include kleptomania, pyromania, conduct disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder. Other examples of impulse control disorder that don’t fit into the aforementioned categories are usually described as another specific or unspecified disruptive, impulse-control, or conduct disorder. 

• Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) – characterized by punctuated, episodic outbursts of violence. 
• Kleptomania – theft-related impulse control disorder.
• Pyromania – arson-related impulse control disorder. 
• Conduct Disorder (CD) – characterized by repeatedly violating other people’s rights and spaces, as well as chronic rule-breaking. 
• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) – characterized by refusal to obey adults, argumentativeness coupled with angry outbursts, temper tantrums, and inability to make friends. 

What Causes an Impulse Control Disorder?

Causes for an impulse control disorder range from genes to trauma. Certain environmental risk factors more heavily contribute to a teen’s likelihood of developing impulse control disorders, such as abuse, childhood poverty, or witnessing violence. Meanwhile, it’s estimated that anywhere between 50 and 60 percent of cases of certain impulse control disorders are passed down from generation to generation. 

Brain scans indicate that the problem can be neurological. Some people are predisposed towards struggling with impulse control more so than others. People who have impulse control disorders may also be more likely to struggle with memory and executive functioning (self-control and long-term planning). 

As with other teen mental health issues, risk factors are always an indication, but never a sure reason. A person could have all the risk factors for an impulse control disorder, and never develop one. Someone else might develop one without any clear causes. Looking for a specific cause to blame can be difficult – it’s usually a mix of multiple contributing factors.  

Treatments for Impulse Control Disorders

The treatment for a teen impulse control disorder centers on talk therapy. There are multiple different approaches and therapeutic programs. The most common ones include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), family systems therapy, parental management therapy, and social skills training. 

There are no medications to treat impulse control disorders, but co-occurring disorders are often treated with medication. Treating a co-occurring disorder like bipolar disorder or ADHD alongside an impulse control disorder is important. In many cases, these co-occurring disorders can affect each other, making each other worse. 

At Visions, we get many questions about teenage behavior, and differentiating between normal and pathological. It can often be a fine line. Some of the questions we hear most often about impulse control disorders include: 

Can teens grow out of an impulse control disorder? They can. It’s not something to rely on, however. Unlike the “terrible twos” or many other childhood phases of destructive behavior, impulse control disorders are serious mental health conditions that are diagnosed in only a few percent of the population. Symptoms usually begin in adolescence, but don’t always persist into adulthood. That being said, when they do persist, they can lead to serious legal complications and dire consequences. 

What kind of mental health conditions can co-occur with an impulse control disorder? Impulse control disorders often co-occur with certain mental health disorders more often than others. This may have something to do with related risk factors, or a genetic predisposition. By far the most commonly associated co-occurring disorders are attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and substance use disorder (addiction). Other co-occurring disorders include generalized anxiety and bipolar disorder. Impulse control problems may also be neurological and are commonly associated with Parkinson’s disease. 

Is trauma related to impulse control problems? Yes, certain impulse control disorders are strongly linked to childhood trauma, such as oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. What might have started out as a way to act out from abuse or neglect can develop into a behavioral problem during adolescence. This can happen even if there isn’t a history of impulse control issues in the family. 

What should I do if my teen has an impulse control disorder? If their condition is co-occurring with a personality disorder or a substance use disorder, it may be even more difficult to convince them that treatment is in their best interests. If you aren’t sure how to start a conversation with your teen about mental healthcare, your best bet may be to talk to a therapist about a step-by-step plan for an intervention. 

Impulse control disorders can co-occur with other mental health problems, such as ADHD, anxiety, or addiction. It’s crucial to work with a professional as soon as possible, to identify and execute an effective treatment plan. Don’t hesitate to give us a call at the Visions Treatment Centers via (818) 889-3665 to get started today. 

Conclusion

Impulse control disorders can be frightening and frustrating alike. They are complex mental health conditions with a myriad of potential causes and co-occurring risk factors. Identifying a cause for an impulse control disorder can be difficult – thankfully, identifying an effective treatment plan is less complicated. Impulse control disorders can be managed through a combination of individualized talk therapy, family therapy, social skills training, and an effective support system, especially at home. Work with us at Visions Treatment Centers to get your teen the help they need for their impulse control disorder. 

The effect that alcohol and drugs can have on mental health, specifically the mental health of our children, can keep parents up at night worrying. You may find yourself wondering: exactly how does alcohol and drugs affect mental health?

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), 17.1% of high school seniors reported binge drinking (consuming 5 or more drinks on one occasion) in the past two weeks in 2020. And 14.3% of high school seniors reported using marijuana in the past month, according to that same 2020 NIDA survey.

By understanding the effects of alcohol and drugs on mental health, parents can take steps to protect their children from harm. Here’s how to better understand the effects of alcohol and drugs on childrens’ mental health, how to protect your children from the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol on mental health, and some frequently asked questions that other parents have asked us many times before.

The Effects of Alcohol on Mental Health

Alcohol is a depressant that affects the central nervous system. When consumed in large amounts, it can cause significant changes in a teenager’s brain, leading to behavioral and cognitive problems. These behavioral and cognitive problems can include difficulty with decision-making, impaired memory, and reduced inhibitions. Additionally, underage drinking can also lead to academic and social problems, as well as an increased risk of accidents and injuries. Here are some of the ways alcohol can affect the teen mental health:

• Increased Risk of Depression and Anxiety: Alcohol consumption can lead to changes in mood and behavior, leading to an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety.
• Impaired Cognitive Functioning: Alcohol affects the frontal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for decision-making, reasoning, and judgment. This can lead to poor decision-making skills, impulsivity, and risk-taking behavior.
• Disrupted Sleep Patterns: Alcohol consumption can disrupt the normal sleep cycle, leading to insomnia and other sleep disorders. Lack of sleep can further exacerbate mental health problems such as anxiety and depression.

The Effects of Drugs on Mental Health

Drug use among teenagers is a growing problem, with many young people experimenting with drugs such as marijuana, prescription drugs, and illegal substances. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reported that in 2020, approximately 35% of high school seniors reported using marijuana in the past year. Additionally, prescription drug abuse is also a concern, with many teens obtaining these drugs from friends or family members without a prescription. Here are some of the ways drugs can affect the mental health of children:

• Increased Risk of Psychosis: Certain drugs can cause psychosis, which is a severe mental disorder characterized by a loss of contact with reality. Symptoms of psychosis include hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking.
• Increased Risk of Depression and Anxiety: Just like alcohol consumption, drug use can lead to changes in mood and behavior, leading to an increased risk of developing depression and anxiety.
• Impaired Cognitive Functioning: Drugs affect the brain’s ability to process information, leading to poor decision-making skills, impulsivity, and risk-taking behavior.

How to Protect Your Children from the Effects of Alcohol and Drugs on Mental Health

As a parent, you play a crucial role in protecting your children from the harmful effects of alcohol and drugs on their mental health. It’s important to have open and honest conversations with your children about the dangers of substance use and to educate them on the risks associated with alcohol and drug use. By being informed and proactive, you can help your children make healthy choices and prevent substance use disorders. Here are some steps you can take:

• Educate Your Children: Talk to your children about the risks associated with alcohol and drug use. Help them understand the long-term consequences of substance abuse on their mental health.
• Set Clear Rules and Boundaries: Set clear rules and boundaries around alcohol and drug use. Let your children know that you do not tolerate substance abuse and that there will be consequences for breaking the rules.
• Monitor Your Children: Keep an eye on your children’s behavior and watch for any signs of substance abuse. If you suspect that your child is using drugs or alcohol, seek professional help immediately.

You may also want to consider exploring the benefits of joining a teen program that provides educational information and professional guidance regarding alcohol abuse and mental health.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions that we get from parents of teens in regard to how alcohol and drugs affect mental health:

How do I know if my child is using drugs or alcohol?

Parents may be concerned if they notice changes in their child’s behavior, such as a sudden drop in grades, changes in friends, increased secrecy, or mood swings. Physical signs of drug or alcohol use may include bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, slurred speech, or coordination problems.

How does drug or alcohol use affect the teenage brain?

The teenage brain is still developing and drug or alcohol use can disrupt this development, leading to long-term consequences. It can impact decision-making, memory, and learning, and increase the risk of addiction. Using drugs or alcohol can increase the risk of developing mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and psychosis. It can also worsen pre-existing mental health conditions.

How can I talk to my child about drugs and alcohol?

Parents can start by having an open and honest conversation with their child about the risks and consequences of drug and alcohol use. It’s important to listen to their concerns and provide support and guidance. Parents can also provide accurate information about the effects of drugs and alcohol on mental health.

Get Help for Your Teen

When it comes to the effects that drugs and alcohol can have on mental health, early intervention is key. If you suspect that your child is struggling with substance abuse, seek professional help immediately. If you do not work with a professional in the field of substance abuse for your teen there is the potential for missed or incorrect diagnoses. On the other hand, working with a teen treatment center, like Visions Adolescent Treatment, can provide your teen with a structured environment and access to professional support, leading to improved chances of successful recovery.

Conclusion

Alcohol and drug use can have a significant impact on anyone’s mental health, but it particularly damages the mental health of teens. As a parent, it is essential to understand the risks associated with substance abuse and take steps to protect your children. By educating your children, setting clear rules and boundaries, and monitoring their behavior, you can help prevent substance abuse and ensure that your children’s mental health is protected. Contact Visions Adolescent Treatment to discover how we can help your teen today.

Teens today are as social online as they are offline, if not more so – but how does social media affect teens’ mental health? 

There is no question as to the importance of the Internet in our modern world. Especially with the dawn of the smartphone – effectively a handheld computer – most Americans have become reachable at virtually any point, through a variety of channels. Yet few people fully appreciate the degree to which the digital world has successfully integrated itself into our social lives, to the point that, for many children and teens, it often replaces other classic social surroundings such as libraries, cafes, bookstores, and parks. 

In fact, researchers state that even certain markers for civic engagement are on the decline. People seem less involved with their local communities than perhaps ever before. 

It’s not all bad, though. The Internet has enabled smaller, fragmented communities to reach out to one another across state and national borders. Never has communication between individuals been so seamless, or so widespread. For teens today, that means meeting people from different cultural, ethnic, and economic backgrounds, and having unique and enriching experiences via social media, and other forms of online communication. When used properly, social media platforms can and do enable teens to have healthy social interactions with people from all walks of life. 

But how does the ability to connect to nearly everyone and everything – and view a nearly endless stream of media and information in the process – impact mental health? 

How Does Social Media Affect Teens Mental Health?

Teens today are reporting higher rates of depression, anxiety, and ADHD, among other mental health issues that are steadily increasing. More than 4 in 10 students expressed that they felt persistently hopeless in 2021, and up to 1 in 5 students seriously considered attempting suicide. Some researchers have been calling it a mental health crisis, or a teen mental health epidemic for years. 

Are teens today more willing to admit to mental health issues than previous generations? Probably. Just as rates of mental health problems have been on the rise, so too has the public’s understanding and awareness of issues like depression and anxiety, and the general public’s willingness to recognize a depressive disorder or anxiety disorder as a medical condition, rather than a personal fault. 

Yet destigmatization isn’t the only reason that teens today seem more affected by mental health issues. Increases in suicide and suicidal ideation cannot be explained by a greater willingness to discuss mental health issues. While social, economic, and academic pressures for today’s teens are notable, previous generations had their fair share of economic and social issues as well, and studies show that teens today spend on average less time studying and doing schoolwork than in the 1990s.  

The most common outlier, then, is modern technology. Does that mean the smartphone, the Internet, or social media specifically are causing an epidemic in teen mental health issues? Not necessarily – but research does suggest that excessive use of social media platforms can be an exacerbating risk factor for teens who were already at risk of conditions like depression or anxiety. 

Is Your Teen Using Social Media Responsibly? 

Social media platforms are built to show us what we want – or at least, what we are most likely to engage with. This content is not always positive, and for many teens at a particularly vulnerable stage in their personal development, it can be formative in a negative way. 

Even social media giants like Meta silently acknowledged the potential impact of their algorithms on teen mental health, such as negatively affecting young girls’ self-esteem and even contributing to rates of eating disorders and depression as a result of how platforms like Instagram recommend potentially harmful or triggering content to teens. 

In the same way a slew of advertisements, Hollywood movies, and beauty magazines might promote a single beauty standard that not all teens can relate to, social media can promote harmful trends through its content algorithm, which prioritizes popularity and contentiousness (i.e., user engagement) over the quality or potential harm and impact of the content on the end user. 

Some researchers have also found a link between the amount of time teens spend on social media, and the impact it might have on them. But that doesn’t mean that there is a definitive amount of screen time that every teen should or must limit themselves to for a positive or healthy self-image. 

Is Social Media Harmful to Teens?

It’s important to temper these findings with the understanding that not all teens are negatively affected by social media. While a staggering 95 percent of teens have spent some time on YouTube, only about one in five teens say that they use the YouTube app “constantly”. TikTok, which has seen massive growth in recent years, has been visited by at least 67 percent of teens, but only 16 percent visit the app every day. 

There’s no research that specifically asks whether teens who use these platforms every day are also at an increased risk of developing mental health issues, nor does the correlation mean that platforms like YouTube and TikTok are causing mental health problems. In many cases, it’s important to consider other risk factors, or look at the individual context. 

At what point does spending time on a social media platform stop being conducive towards personal development and quenching a natural curiosity, and become indicative of something more pathological? The line is probably drawn somewhere else for every person. Consider what your teen does with their time, and whether they seem fulfilled, or happy. Social media offers teens the opportunity to spend time with their friends or meet new people virtually – as well as consume content produced all over the world. 

Are these teens spending more time online than their peers because of social anxiety issues? Are they uncomfortable with meeting people outside, or do they view platforms like YouTube as a virtual escape? 

Conclusion

If you’re worried about your teen’s mental health, or the wellbeing of a friend or close loved one, then it’s important to take action. Whether or not their social media use plays a role in their behavior or symptoms, consider talking with a professional. We at Visions specialize in helping teens through our teen mental health treatment programs, for a variety of conditions, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and trauma disorders. 

If your teenager has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), you may be curious about how to parent a teenager with borderline personality disorder.

Parenting a teen is never easy. But parenting a teen with a personality disorder requires additional patience, as well as a unique set of parenting skills. Borderline personality disorder is a mental health condition that affects about one in a hundred teens, and is characterized by impulsive behaviors, thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation, frequent mood swings, and difficulty with interpersonal relationships. 

In other words, teens who struggle with borderline personality disorder often exhibit the behaviors that teenagers are stereotypically known for – but to an extreme and sometimes harmful degree. 

Borderline personality disorder is only recently being recognized and diagnosed in adolescents. In fact, adolescent BPD is sometimes considered a separate diagnosis from adult BPD – and there is less research on the condition in teens than older adults. For parents, watching a teen struggle with frequent changes in mood and impulsivity can be heartbreaking. And because personality disorders can be inherited, parents with a family history of borderline personality disorder or other personality disorders might be worried about how to handle their teens if they begin showing symptoms. 

In this article, you will discover how to parent a teenager with borderline personality disorder.

Signs of Borderline Personality Disorder in Teens

Diagnosing borderline personality disorder in teens isn’t a straightforward process. In the past, some experts would argue that because most teens haven’t had the chance to cement their personalities, a traditional borderline personality disorder isn’t possible. 

Teen borderline personality disorder symptoms aren’t characterized so much by an unstable or fluctuating personality (as this is the norm for teens in the beginning stages of adult maturity), but by concurrent symptoms of self-harm, depression, intense and frequent mood shifts, impulsive behavior, and interpersonal problems. Other important signs and symptoms to watch out for include: 

• Problems with emotional regulation, such as difficulty to calm down or self-soothe. 
• Poor coping mechanisms and frequent outbursts of rage.
• Jumping from one emotional crisis to the next. 
• Fearing abandonment and loneliness, yet constantly feeling isolated, even among friends. 
• Often falling out with friends or switching friend groups. 
• Paranoia about social rejection and perception. 
• Long-term symptoms of depression. 

A formal diagnosis is important. Psychiatrists and other trained medical doctors can assess a teen’s history of behavior and recommend treatment for borderline personality disorder in teens based on their responses to certain questions. Teens and children have agency and can understand their behaviors and motivations, even if their personalities are not yet set in stone. 

More recent research on the topic indicates that teens may be accurately diagnosed with borderline personality disorder as early as age 11. This research also stresses the importance of a cohesive and comprehensive treatment team and treatment plan, and the invaluable nature of parental cooperation and support. 

Related: Teen Borderline Personality Disorder and Addiction Treatment

The causes for personality disorders like BPD aren’t yet fully understood. The fact that the risk of a personality disorder can be inherited suggests a genetic link, or a neurological trait. In many cases, personality disorders find their onset in late childhood or early adolescence, at a crucial stage of mental development. External risk factors – such as trauma and neglect – also play a role in how, when, and if a personality disorder might surface in a teen. 

Recognizing and acting on signs and symptoms will be your best bet. Once you have a formal diagnosis, you can start working with your teen and a professional treatment team to develop a plan for their condition. However, there’s more to managing a mental health diagnosis like BPD than professional treatment. How you manage your teen’s symptoms at home can play a big role in their progress. 

Important Parenting Tips for Borderline Personality Disorder

The first and most important lesson is to remember that teens with BPD should not be treated the same way as teens without BPD. Silent treatment, tough love, or classic reward or consequence parenting is not going to work and will fail to elicit a healthy emotional response in your teen. 

Furthermore, it’s important to temper your expectations for behavioral progress. People respond to therapy and other treatments in different ways. It may take your teen some time to learn to manage their impulses and BPD symptoms. Here is what you might want to know: 

• Manage your own fears and emotions. With your teen struggling to deal with their short fuse, the last thing they need is more anger and anxiety to bounce off of. Finding ways to manage your own emotional stress, through counseling or healthy coping skills, is important. 
• Emotional intelligence is paramount. Sometimes, mental health issues can benefit from a logical argument. But with BPD, emotions usually come first. Take the time to think about what you say and be sensitive to how your words might be misinterpreted. Use simple and clear forms of communication and leave no room for misunderstanding. 
• Assist in your teen’s problem solving, but don’t solve problems for them. Developing a stronger and healthier sense of self is important in cases of BPD. Learning to deal with your own problems is a crucial part of that process. Rather than telling your teen what to do when faced with day-to-day challenges, ask them what they’re thinking of doing, and lead the conversation to bring them to the right conclusion. 
• Compassion and validation matter. Your teen will be constantly second-guessing themselves, unsure of who they are. While you can’t answer that for them directly, it helps to hear positive things and affirmations from an outside source, even if it’s from a parent. When your teen is acting out, reinforce calmness. 
• They will do things you might not understand. Neither do they, not really. Self-harm usually comes from a place of emotional dysfunction, not a healthy throughline of logic. You can’t make your teen explain why they want to hurt themselves, because the answer usually won’t be coherent. Instead, keep an eye out for signs of escalation and talk to them about seeking help together in times of acute stress. 
• However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t create boundaries. Boundaries are important and enforcing them is something no parent can avoid. For BPD, that means a zero-tolerance policy on destructive behaviors – whether towards the self, others, or objects – and no violence. 

Borderline personality disorder is a complicated condition that requires long-term psychiatric and emotional support, in and outside of treatment. 

Parents of teens with BPD can arm themselves with the knowledge needed to guide their child through the treatment process, as well as the day-to-day challenges of adolescence. Be patient and remember to take care of yourself. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help and support as you navigate this journey together.

May has been the designated Mental Health Month in the US since 1949 – and this year, Mental Health America, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration want Mental Health Month 2023 to continue the tradition of raising awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health. 

What does Mental Health Month mean? It can mean different things for different people. For families and individuals with a history of mental health issues, it may be about remembering that you’re not alone, and calling into focus the things that families and communities can do to support each other, such as spreading awareness about local resources, providing free education on the signs and symptoms of common mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and addiction. 

Mental Health Month can also be an opportunity for businesses to focus on fundraising for local organizations and non-profit teams that provide safe shelter for the homeless, improve mental healthcare access in the community, or invest in the safety and beauty of our local parks and communities for children to play in. 

For those who have no history of mental health issues, it can mean reminding yourself to be compassionate and considerate of others, to learn more about the signs and symptoms of mental health problems in life, and to recognize and combat the continued prejudice and stigma that people who struggle with their mental health experience every day. 

Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month—a time dedicated to raising awareness, fighting stigma, providing education, and advocating for policies that support people with mental health and their families. The celebration of this month, held annually, is more than just an acknowledgement; it’s a global campaign to create a world where mental health is understood, accepted, and prioritized.

In our society, mental health issues are often overlooked, misunderstood, or stigmatized, making it difficult for individuals who are suffering to seek the help they need. Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month means recognizing the importance of mental well-being as a critical component of overall health. It means understanding that mental health is just as important as physical health, and that it’s okay, normal even, to seek help when we’re struggling mentally, just as we would if we were physically ill.

During this month, we encourage conversations about mental health, shedding light on topics such as depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and many more. We highlight the need for proper mental health resources and advocate for better accessibility to mental health services.

Moreover, we celebrate the strength and resilience of those living with mental health issues. Their journey is a testament to human resilience and serves as an inspiration for all of us. Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month is about changing the narrative, breaking down barriers, and reminding everyone that mental health matters.

Remember, mental health is not a destination, but a process. It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going. So, let’s continue to spread awareness, compassion, and understanding, and make every month Mental Health Awareness Month.

The Prevalence of Mental Health Issues in the US

With an improved understanding of mental health and better screening tools, rates of mental illness in the US have grown over the past few decades. It is currently estimated that about one in five US adults experiences the symptoms of a diagnosed mental health issue every year, and that about one in 20 experience serious mental health problems per year. 

The most common type of mental health issue worldwide is anxiety. Anxiety disorders encompass a variety of conditions ranging from social anxiety to obsessive-compulsive disorder. 

Being anxious or nervous isn’t enough to constitute an anxiety disorder – in most cases, anxiety disorders are characterized by irrational and overwhelming fear or mental discomfiture. Some anxiety symptoms are triggered by a stressor, while others might be generalized and recurring. 

Depressive disorders (or mood disorders) are another common form of mental health problem. These include major depressive disorder, post-partum depression, and bipolar disorder. Just like anxiety disorders, depressive disorders are more than normal sorrow – depression is characterized by a consistently low mood over multiple weeks or months, and difficulty feeling joy or pleasure. Depressive disorders often (but not always) occur without a trigger or discernable reason. 

The continued impact of mental health problems in the US (and worldwide) cannot be overstated. Conditions like major depressive disorder are among the leading causes of disability in the US, and despite improvements in treatment, nearly 40 percent of adults with major depressive disorder have not received any treatment for it in 2020. While we have made strides in the depiction of mental health issues in pop media and the general understanding of common mental health problems in the general public, treatment options remain scarce. Surveys show that there are still serious barriers to mental health care in the US, including access to a mental health professional.  

Modern Stigmas Surrounding Mental Health

There is still plenty of stigma surrounding mental health in the US. A stigma or prejudice often grows in cases of ignorance. When a person or group does not know enough about a mental health problem, they may develop hurtful assumptions about these conditions, and the people who live with them. 

But ignorance is not the only reason. It’s no secret that mental health conditions are not treated as seriously as physical health conditions – not just by laypersons, but by doctors as well. 

Cultural or religious beliefs can influence a person’s perception of mental health issues, especially conditions involving substance use, and especially when they have little to no personal experience with mental health problems. In general, mental health stigma can be identified as one of three forms of stigma: 

Self-stigma. This includes internalized stigma, such as feeling shameful about being depressed, refusing to get help, denying treatment, or feeling like it’s all “deserved”. 

Institutionalized stigma. This is stigma perpetuated by an institution or a corporation. For example, in addition to the medical stigma, a growing number of inmates across the US struggle with severe mental health problems. It is believed that the rate of mental disorders among incarcerated populations is between 3 and 12 times higher than the public, and the rate of severe mental illnesses in jails and prisons falls between 16 to 24 percent, versus about 5 percent among all US adults. 

Public stigma. This is stigma perpetuated by communities and society at large, often displayed through media or public opinion, especially online. Public stigma might involve providing unhelpful comments or judgments (telling someone with a mental health problem to “just work out more” or “just go outside”) or viewing someone as weak because they have decided to go to therapy. 

To address and destigmatize mental health issues, start at home. Learn more about the history of mental health in your family, and the conditions your family members may have struggled with in the past. Encourage friends or family to seek treatment if they haven’t and find out how you can support them if they have. 

Important Resources for Mental Health Support

If you have concerns about a loved one’s behavior, keep a few important numbers on speed dial: 

• 911 for emergencies. 
• 988 for the suicide and crisis hotline or use the Lifeline Chat website. 
• 1-800-985-5990 for mental support and counseling after an environmental disaster or terror attack. 
• Contact the SAMHSA for information about substance use disorder or mental health specialists. 
• Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for current and ongoing federal mental health programs. 
• Your local state or county website for more information about local organizations and mental health specialists. 

As simple as it might seem, sometimes the only thing we can do to help others with an ongoing mental health problem is to make sure they know we’re here for them, and to remain at their side.

From the moment a child reaches puberty up until their mid-20s, they begin the long journey of physically and neurologically developing into adulthood. This is a biological, psychological, and social journey. Even 18-year-olds – who are, by definition of the law, adults – have a lot of growing up left to do. 

Teens are on the cusp of being independent and responsible members of society, and with that comes an innumerable list of uncomfortable physical changes, volatile emotions, complex interpersonal relationships, and a growing list of expectations and social mores. 

When teens lack healthy coping skills, and the guidance to work through these day-to-day challenges, they may be more likely to struggle with feelings of anxiety, or even depression. 

Understanding the most common mood and thought disorders can help teens and parents alike recognize and address their symptoms and provide the necessary support to better manage symptoms in adulthood. 

Here are five common teen mood and thought disorders.

What is a Mood Disorder?

Mood disorders are a class of mental health problem characterized by an unconventionally low mood (depression), or an unconventionally high mood (mania). An important characteristic for most mood disorders is that these feelings of overwhelming sadness or bursts of energy have no reasonable cause or explanation. 

A teen isn’t necessarily struggling with depression if they feel sad about a classmate’s death. But the loss of a close friend may be a trigger for the onset of a mood disorder, especially if they struggle to cope with their friend’s passing. 

Common Mood Disorders in Teens

Most mood disorders feature some form of depression, and depression itself is considered the second most common type of mental health issue in the world (next to anxiety).

However, some conditions – specifically bipolar disorder – also feature symptoms of mania, which include racing thoughts, insomnia, uncharacteristic productivity or creative energy, delusions of grandeur, and an exaggerated self-confidence. 

Current definitions of mood disorders and known mood disorders are based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Under the DSM, common mood disorders include: 

1. Major depressive disorder
2. Bipolar I disorder
3. Bipolar II disorder
4. Cyclothymic disorder
5. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder
6. Persistent depressive disorder
7. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

In addition to these conditions, the DSM also identifies other types of mood disorders, including depressive or bipolar symptoms triggered by another medical condition (with physiological causes, such as an endocrine disease), substance or medication-induced mood disorder, and other specified or unspecified mood disorder. 

Major Depressive Disorder

Usually known as clinical depression, major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common mood disorder in the world. 

It is diagnosed when symptoms of depression last for at least two weeks with no apparent physical or identifiable cause, characterized by feelings of emptiness and hopelessness. 

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder may refer to up to five different mood disorders, but most people will recognize three: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymia. 

Bipolar I is characterized by symptoms of mania, or intense euphoric and irritable moods. Sometimes, these can lead to behavior that lands a person in the hospital. People with mania can work feverishly on a project for days before crashing, and do not consider negative consequences for themselves or others. 

Bipolar II more frequently features cycles of depression, alongside hypomania, or less severe manic symptoms. 

Cyclothymia is characterized by mild manic and depressive symptoms that do not qualify for bipolar I or II, but have been ongoing for at least two years. 

Contrary to popular belief, bipolar disorder does not typically cycle between states in rapid succession. A person with bipolar disorder will usually experience a handful of shifts or episodes per year. 

Persistent Depressive Disorder

Persistent depressive disorder, chronic depressive disorder, or dysthymia is diagnosed when a person is experiencing a depressive episode for at least two years. These long-term episodes may be less intense but can be just as severe. 

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) is a mood disorder diagnosed in children between the ages of 6 and 18, characterized by extreme irritability and temper tantrums, at the drop of a hat. DMDD exceeds normal moodiness. A teen must exhibit inappropriate temper tantrums across different settings with intense mood swings between tantrums to qualify for a DMDD diagnosis. It is a relatively new diagnosis, and a controversial one. 

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a complicated and recently recognized mood disorder closely related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS). While teens with PMDD share some of PMS’ symptoms such as cyclical symptoms, food cravings, and irritability, PMDD is much more severe, with often debilitating depressive symptoms, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in the weeks leading up to a teen’s period. These feelings wane two to three days after the period starts and return in the next cycle. 

Like other forms of depression, PMDD is largely hereditary. Our current understanding of PMDD assumes that it’s caused by an abnormal reaction in the brain’s neurochemistry to the hormonal changes that occur after ovulation, and before menstruation. 

Is My Teen Sad or Depressed?

When talking to your teen about mood disorders and mental health issues, it helps to be able to distinguish between “normal” and concerning behavior and thought patterns. 

The truth is that it can be hard to make these individual distinctions, and it often isn’t appropriate to make sweeping generalizations about what is and isn’t within the realm of a teen’s healthy spectrum of thoughts and behaviors. A few red flags to keep in mind may include: 

• Extreme or sudden changes in behavior or personality. If your teen was previously outgoing, but has become intensely reclusive, it may be a serious sign of danger. 
• Frequently talking about death, especially one’s own passing. Suicidal ideation can be masked and is often very private, but it may drop as hints in conversations. 
• Loss of affection in relationships, loss of interest in physical contact. For teens with close partners, common signs of a depressive episode include pulling away from intimacy and becoming emotionally colder. 
• Signs of substance use. Whether as a consequence or symptom of a mood disorder, or as one of the causes, substance use in teens is often a significant mental red flag. 

One of the biggest challenges when talking about mental health is recognizing that there often isn’t a single cause or villain to every story. It’s not satisfying to blame a mixture of circumstances and neurological predisposition for a person’s depressive episodes, but that’s often the truth: while tough times can make depression harder, people can also be depressed for no reason, or seek to harm or kill themselves at a time when they’re ostensibly at their “happiest” and most successful. 

Depression is exceptionally insidious because it does not offer a clear answer or a satisfying why. 

It’s often erroneously portrayed as a result of dire circumstances, when it can happen to anyone, at any point, for no reason. Expecting a reason or cause for depression leads to the unhelpful expectation that outwardly happy people are doing okay, or that there must have been a cause for them to feel worse. 

Recognizing and understanding that is crucial to making resources and help for depressive symptoms available to all people, regardless of their circumstances. 

Should you encourage your teen to make friends? Absolutely! Encourage them to make all sorts of friends. Friendships are great; not only is connecting with other people cognitively gratifying in that you can learn all sorts of things through others, it’s also emotionally and even physically beneficial. Friends can get you into better habits and sports you might never have given a try before. They can get you to explore hobbies and interests you wouldn’t have. Friends widen our horizons. They can be a great source of joy. 

In this article, we’re looking closely at one of the most common questions we hear from teens – what are the benefits of teen friendships?

Friendships Can Reduce Anxiety

Teen anxiety is a vast and growing mental health crisis. A disproportionate physical and emotional stress response is at the root of every case of anxiety. It’s normal to be anxious under certain circumstances.

Teens are often anxious the day before a big test. They’re naturally going to be anxious about confessing to a crush or asking someone out to the prom. Most teens worry about getting into a good college or doing well in their sport or profession of choice. Many teens worry about things that adults might not find as necessary, such as school clout and online popularity. Some socially conscious teens will be anxious about things like global warming, the direct effects of policy on their lives, or their prospects in tomorrow’s job market. 

While many of these things are anxiety-inducing, people often mistake them for the causes of anxiety. Anxiety is not just the manifestation of stress. 

On a more psychiatric or clinical note, anxiety disorders are mental health issues wherein a patient displays disproportionate reactions to stressors or experiences a sense of dread and worry without a meaningful cause or stressor. 

Friends can play an essential role in mitigating these stressors, helping teens cope with their anxiety, being understanding supporters throughout the recovery and treatment process, and helping your teen continue to focus on their anxiety treatment.

Friendships are a Core Part of Adolescence

Have you ever wondered why making friends as an adult is harder? Most people blame factors like a lack of time and resources and fairly few opportunities to go out and meet new people. While some of these things are true, take note of another important factor: your brain. 

Most teens are explicitly wired to make friends, and accepting new people into their lives usually comes more naturally to adolescents than it might to some adults. Meanwhile, many adults face opportunities to introduce themselves to strangers and make new friends nearly daily– yet, we typically don’t. 

This isn’t always true – especially teens who struggle with social anxiety in adolescence but not in adulthood, will find it easier to bond with people they like as they get older – but generally speaking, teens are in a developmental stage in their lives where it’s normal to turn toward your peers and develop deeper bonds of friendship with those around you. 

It’s also one of the reasons teens find it so crucial to fit in. Teens are much more predisposed towards groupthink and peer pressure because they want to belong to a larger contingent. Some of this comes down to evolutionary psychology – the idea that many human behaviors result from survivalist behaviors handed down from generation to generation. 

We’re innately social creatures, not just because we continue to rely on each other in society but because we have always relied on each other to hunt, raise children, protect one another, and secure our futures. Teens are children on the cusp of independence in the wider adult world and seek to align themselves with other adults to find strength in numbers. 

These survivalist tendencies are not always positive. Popularity does not predict the health or strength of a friend group or any given friendship. But it does explain why teens are particularly drawn to the popular and why popularity and cliques play an even greater role in adolescence than they do later in life. 

In other words, your teen years are the ideal years for you to develop your social skills, hang out with people, meet new people, and explore the different facets of interpersonal relationships; to make mistakes, to trust, to be hurt, and to learn. 

Friendships Can Prolong and Enrich Life

Teen friendships are an essential part of a healthy and happy teen life, and the quality of a teen’s relationships with others can be a factor in their mental wellbeing in adulthood. 

Research shows that teens with deep, close friendships with other people generally show lower rates of anxiety, depression, and poor self-worth than teens who grew up as part of larger friend groups but with more external connections. 

True friends are great. They keep it straight with us. They remind us of our weaknesses and celebrate our strengths. They look out for us. They encourage us to be better, to embrace the best parts of ourselves, and to do what is best for ourselves. They become confidants in times of stress and turmoil and people to share and enjoy life with when it’s at its best. They make every moment of joy and bliss even sweeter and more memorable. 

Not all friendships are like that, though. Encourage your teen to nurture and cherish their closest and oldest friends, not to grow apart, to keep in touch, and to reap the benefits of friendship well into adulthood. 

Of course, friendships can also come with drawbacks. Some friendships turn out not to be friendships at all. Some people go out of their way to hurt others quickly and sometimes over the years. It may take your teen some time to figure out the difference and learn to eliminate toxic relationships over time. But even those lessons are valuable and help prepare them to find and avoid similar experiences in adulthood when they can be arguably far more harmful. 

When the printing press made books available to the general public at an unprecedented rate, generations of children had their bad manners and poor habits blamed on time spent burrowed between pages rather than household chores. When television took over every household in the developed world, spoiled behavior and dropping grades were blamed on too much TV. Now, we live in the Internet and social media age – but does that mean it’s the same story, with different characters?

Not necessarily. While it’s true that smartphones and social media make a convenient scapegoat for the same generational gripes that have existed since the days of ancient Greece, we have more to go on these days than public opinion and the words of a famous philosopher. 

Teenagers are at risk of developing mental health issues due to mobile phone usage. In this article, we’re taking a closer look at one of the most common questions we hear from parents – does social media affect teen mental health?

How Does Social Media Affect Teen Mental Health?

Research shows us that there are more direct links between the long-term chronic use of social media and poorer teenage mental health – even when that research is being funded by companies that have a vested interest in the exact opposite findings. 

Yes, correlation is not the same thing as causation, and while it’s true that smartphones, likes, and retweets can elicit feelings of “addictive” joy through dopamine dumps, the same goes for any enjoyable activity – whether it’s reading a thriller novel, going to the movies, or sitting on the sidelines of a major sporting event. 

But there are a few unique things about social media that make it a serious concern for today’s youth and the youth of the near future. 

So, how does social media affect teen mental health?

Social Media and Self-Image

Social media refers to any platform that caters to a network of individuals and encourages people to connect to each other via online accounts. Most social media platforms encourage using real names, locations, and personal details, and very few ask users to stay anonymous for their safety. 

Social media is unlike anything we’ve seen before. It is constant. It is pervasive. And for billions of people worldwide, it plays a significant role in their daily lives. 

Social media is more than radio or television – it is a second life, a life on the internet, or a lens through which others can voyeuristically view your real life in bite-sized, curated, unfiltered, raw moments screencaps. It affects a person’s self-worth and self-image, especially among adolescents. 

Nevertheless, many teens are smart enough not to post everything online. Instead, they take a number of different approaches to online social networking. 

1. The first is the typical curated account. This is more of a social portfolio – a look into a version of themselves that teens carefully cultivate and edit to evoke a certain aesthetic, appeal to a certain group of peers or fit into a clique. These accounts are, for all intents and purposes, networking tools. 
2. The second is the private account or the finsta. Sometimes these second accounts are secret and reserved for close friends or an inner circle. They’re like a digitally-hosted communal album experience – one part of a larger social collage created by a group of friends. 
3. The third is the anonymous account. This could be a meme page, a gimmick account, or any other anonymous account created for posting jokes, sharing content, or creating a community online. 

Regardless of what kind of account a teen runs – and teens often have multiple accounts on the same platform for this very reason – these accounts can change a teen’s self-image for better or worse.

A curated profile can help teens boost their self-confidence by choosing how they present themselves to the world around them. But this has the downside of causing teens to prefer the “filtered” version of themselves while perhaps resenting how they really see themselves. 

For teens with existing mental health issues, the dangers of putting oneself “on display,” even if it’s a curated digital analog, can be myriad. 

Social Media and the Erosion of Privacy

Even while curating the content, they create, teens keep less and less of themselves to themselves nowadays. There is an expectation of candid honesty, a societal pressure between teens and influencers to present a “day in the life of” for every teen who wishes to be accepted, let alone popular.

Teens growing up in a post-Patriot Act would have a very different expectation of privacy, to begin with. Still, Internet culture’s shift away from anonymous posters to constant, infinite interconnectivity and online social influence has built a culture of oversharing. 

Even ten years ago, surveys showed that as many as 77 percent of teens were at risk for identity theft due to the amount of information they published about themselves. Ten years is a long time in the Internet age, and things have only worsened. 

Whether it’s public chatrooms, daily TikTok posts, or hourly Tweets about college life, teens are leaving more and more of themselves for the rest of the world to watch and participate in – not just ephemerally but as a permanent record. We’ve already seen real-life examples of people suffering career consequences for the thoughtless ramblings they had as teens on Facebook and Twitter. 

Not only are the consequences of a lack of privacy immense, but they can carry a mental toll. More and more teens are victims of cyberbullying and place great weight and importance on their popularity on social media platforms. Some of the other long-term mental health consequences of social media overuse include: 

• Higher risk of eating disorders
• Higher risk of suicidal thoughts
• Risk of depression
• Greater levels of anxiety
• Poorer sleep due to excessive screen time
• And more.

Is Social Media Bad For Teens?

Some research points directly at social media as a potential cause for teen ills. Other research is inconclusive. If we want to draw our own conclusions, we can pick social media – especially the overuse of social media – as a scapegoat for teen problems. 

But social media is often just one part of a bigger problem. 

Teens today are growing up in a world still shaken by a global pandemic, facing the looming threat of global warming and other societal issues. In addition to these pressures, teens still worry mostly about the same things as ever, such as whether their crush likes them, getting good grades, making their parents proud, and picking the right career path. 

Teens spend a lot of time in front of their screens. But they also smoke less, drink less, do fewer drugs, and have sex at a later age. While many teens struggle with adulthood, that’s nothing new – and millions upon millions of American teens continue to enter the workforce every year. 

Social media has a definite negative impact on many teens, especially those already susceptible to self-image issues and depression. 

It can make them feel like they aren’t living up to the fake standards set by their peers or by popular influencers, the same way fashion magazines and advertisements have made women feel self-conscious about their weight for decades. 

Excessive screen time among teens is also linked to poorer sleep, less than recommended physical activity levels, and a worse mental state.  

But social media can have its benefits. It allows friends to stay friends across state lines and even national borders. It gives teens access to greater information, provided they are taught to be media literate. And regardless of whether parents agree with it, social media is a crucial part of social life in the modern world. It can become actively harder to interact, network, and communicate with your peers without an account on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.  

Rather than taking your teen off the internet, help them navigate it more safely, with respect to their own privacy and with respect to the dangers of being excessively online.