Facing the Summer with a Troubled Teen | Parenting Today's Teens | Radio Show & Podcast | Mark Gregston
Posted byMark Gregston June 23, 2009 February 28, 2020
Are you facing a summer full of storms from a teenager whose behavior has become rebellious and out of control? Does it seem like he has suddenly become someone you don’t even recognize?
Teenagers go through normal turmoil in their emotions as they mature. Most handle adolescence without behavioral problems, but for others this time of life can be very stressful and confusing to them. And their desire to be accepted by their peers can get them into all sorts of trouble.
Every day I hear from dozens of parents around the country who share how their once normal and happy child is now dangerously spinning out of control — abusing drugs or alcohol, lying, stealing, cutting, or engaging in other destructive or disturbing behavior. Their teen’s behavior disrupts their entire family, and causes the parents to wonder about their child’s future and worry about their safety.
Based on our experience with thousands of struggling teenagers over the years, we’ve developed the Troubled Teen Assessment Tool. As a first step, this helpful evaluation can help the parent determine if their teenager needs help. If you feel that your teen is on an unhealthy downward spiral, take a few moments to complete this assessment.
Just rank the symptoms you are experiencing, on a scale from 0 to 5 depending on their severity. Circle the appropriate number on the scale. And ask other family members to do the same, then compare notes. You’ll either find that your teen is exhibiting somewhat normal adolescent behavior, or that he or she needs immediate help.
1. Our Family is Under Stress from Our Teen’s Behavior
2. We’ve Seen Changes in Our Teen’s Motivation
Your child is displaying markedly different motivation from what has been normal. For instance: sleeping far too little or far too long, extreme forgetfulness, over aggression and explosiveness, depression, an uncaring attitude, anxiety or sadness, grades slipping, hating what they once loved or loving what they once hated, or spending too much time alone.
3. Our Teenager is Increasingly Disrespectful and Uncaring
4. We See Significant Rebellion or Defiance from Our Teenager
5. Our Teenager is Threatening and Acting Out Troubling Behaviors
6. We Also See Him/Her Mistreat Others
7. He/She Has Unusually Selfish or Self-Centered Thinking
8. Our Teen Refuses to Participate with the Family
9. We’re Seeing Extreme Peer-Dependence and Peer Attitudes
Assessment Scoring: If your assessment score totals 30 or more, counseling is recommended. Please act swiftly to find a good local counselor specializing in teen behavioral issues, or meet with your pastor or youth pastor to lay out a game plan. If your teenager ever shows signs of drug or alcohol abuse, eating behaviors, cutting, or has threatened suicide, take immediate action, for they will not get better on their own and every day that goes by will make it harder for them to get past such behaviors.
Our passion at Heartlight is to provide parents with counseling and resources to help them deal with a defiant teenager and otherwise get through the often difficult teen years. Outside of our residential therapeutic program for teens, one of the resources we’ve developed is the Home Edition of our Dealing with Today’s Teens video training series. It is designed for the parents of rebellious teens. Learn more about it online at www.markgregston.com.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mark Gregston is an author, speaker, national radio host, and the founder of Heartlight, a residential counseling opportunity for struggling adolescents, which houses 50 high schoolers. Learn more at http://www.heartlightministries.org or call 903-668-2173.
Posted byMark Gregston June 23, 2009 February 28, 2020 Posted inArticles, What to do when your teen needs helpTags: family conflict, Mark Gregston, parenting, parenting teens, prodigal, teen parenting, teen relationships, teen troubles, troubeld teen
Possibly the Greatest Teen Parenting Mistake
Managing Conflict With Your Teen