Parenting is already difficult, and in some ways, it’s never been harder. The prevalence of screens dominating every aspect of culture, the pervasive atmosphere of violence that surrounds our schools, and the constant stress of the news cycle are all, in a word, oppressive.

It’s not just for your teenager, either; these things affect you as a parent, and your mood, your life, and your circumstances all impact your child as well. Even if they aren’t watching the news, they can tell when you’re negatively impacted by it, for instance.

Is it surprising that one in seven teenagers experiences a mental disorder, with depression and anxiety clocking in as the most common?

Mental illness has lifelong consequences, and treating it early is a great way to help put your teen on the right path to adulthood. But how do you know if they need it, or if they’re just being a moody and hormonal teenager? We’ve all been there, and it’s not glamorous. But then, maybe the things we accepted as normal were also signs we could have used therapy as well, right?

The best way to determine whether or not your teen needs a psychiatrist here in Detroit is to talk to them, but we all know how hard it can be to open up and have that heart-to-heart chat. So, we’ve put together five of the most common warning signs that you may want to pursue therapy for your teenager.

Warning: As a frank discussion of the symptoms of depression, this post will, necessarily, involve discussion of symptoms and behaviors that can be triggering for some people. If these discussions are triggering for you, consider discussing this subject with a professional in a controlled setting instead.

As a therapy provider in the Detroit area, we offer confidential assessments and discussions to help you find the care you need. If you want to discuss your teenager and seek a professional opinion on whether you should bring them in for an assessment, you can call our office at 248.528.9000.

Finally, before we begin, one important consideration is your rights as a parent and your teen’s rights as an independent person. Many parents are surprised at where their rights end, but allowing teenagers privacy and confidentiality is a critical part of allowing them to seek care comfortably. We have a separate guide to Michigan’s laws regarding parental rights in teen mental health care, which you can read here. It’s a good idea to be prepared and know what to expect when seeking psychiatric care for your teen in Detroit.

DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered medical or psychological advice. The information presented here is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any mental health condition or replace professional therapeutic care. Every individual’s experience with trauma and mental health is unique. Please consult with a qualified mental health professional, therapist, or healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate treatment approach for your specific situation. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or emergency, please contact your local emergency services or crisis hotline immediately.

What’s Normal and What’s Not for Teenage Mental Health?

Adolescence is a time of significant change, and for teenagers, it’s one of the biggest changes they’ll go through in life. Bodily changes, social changes, relationship changes, and cognitive changes; they all add up.

The teenage years are, for most children, a time when they start to realize that life ahead of them isn’t as golden as their childhood. They start to recognize the reality of death and mortality. They start to lose their childhood innocence and identity. They understand vulnerability more than ever before. All of this darkens their mood and their outlook.

A certain amount of depression is normal during this time, and is known among child psychologists as developmental depression. It’s entirely normal, generally mostly temporary, and is a symptom of your teenager confronting realities and learning to adjust to them.

Developmental depression is characterized by a lot of the teenage moodiness you’re used to. Mood instability, feelings of melancholy, loss of interest in some childhood hobbies and pleasures, general social anxiety, insomnia or hypersomnia, and even infrequent, no-intent homicidal or suicidal ideation are all possible here.

While therapy can help with this kind of depression, it’s also something that your teen will work through, either on their own or with assistance from you, from their peers, from instructors, and other mentors in their life.

Atypical depression is different. It’s an escalation of developmental depression, which can be triggered by anything from unexpected grief and loss, learning disabilities, illness and injury, trauma, large changes in life like a major move, and more. Your teen is in a fragile state of mind already, and major challenges only exacerbate the problem.

Atypical depression can be characterized by symptoms such as:

• Pervasive and persistent depressed and irritated moods.
• Loss of interest in most or all pleasurable activities.
• High levels of social isolation, social anxiety, and panic attacks.
• Prolonged feelings of hopelessness about the future.
• Severe mood swings.
• Suicidal or homicidal ideation, potentially with intent.

Of course, recognizing these signs, especially when your teenager is hiding from you already, can be very difficult.

Warning Sign #1: They Show Signs of Self-Harm

Self-harm is one of the most common and stereotypical signs of atypical depression in teenagers. Some people try it, find it doesn’t bring them relief, and stop. Others find it almost an addictive behavior.

Self-harm does not necessarily lead to suicidal behaviors or intent, but is a maladaptive coping mechanism. It’s an outlet and a means of control, a cognitive punishment, and even brings a sense of relief, however temporary it may be.

The stereotypical form of self-harm is cutting or piercing the skin with sharp objects, but it can also include violent outbursts against things that hurt (like punching a wall), causing burns, or even intentionally hitting and bruising themselves.

Your teen likely understands that this behavior would be distressing to you, so they hide it, which means you’re more likely to need to watch for symptoms. Watch for unexpected scars, wearing long sleeves or pants in hot weather, fresh and unexpected bruises and burns, stashes of sharp objects, and frequent reports of accidental injury to an unusual degree.

Warning Sign #2: They’re Using or Abusing Substances

Use of mind-altering substances, from cigarettes and marijuana to alcohol and illegal drugs, is another common symptom of mental illness in adolescents.

The teenage years are a time of experimentation, and it’s not unusual for your teenager to try these substances once or twice. While this can be a problem depending on the substance and situation, it isn’t necessarily an addiction or a self-harming behavior.

However, if your teenager is routinely getting drunk or high, it’s a sign of a problem. Use of substances is a coping mechanism many turn to for self-treating mental illness, and it’s a leading reason why dual diagnosis is necessary.

If your teenager is routinely using or abusing substances, particularly dangerous, addictive, or illegal substances, you may want to seek the assistance of a psychiatrist. If your family has a history of substance abuse or addiction, it’s all the more urgent. There’s a known genetic component to addiction, and getting help early is required to forestall substance use issues throughout life.

Like self-harm, your teen is likely to try to hide the signs that they’re using substances. Worse, digging through their rooms and belongings in search of potential drugs is a serious invasion of privacy and makes it all the more difficult to have an open conversation due to the loss of trust. It can be difficult to catch this kind of behavior, but you may be able to recognize that something is off and take further action to investigate.

Warning Sign #3: They Have Intense Mood Swings and Anger Management Issues

A lot of the moody behavior common in the teenage years comes from the surging, churning soup of hormones spreading throughout their bodies. The transition from childhood to adulthood is biologically very active and involves a lot of cognitive changes that many people are unprepared to face.

Mood swings are particularly common during this time, but they shouldn’t be a constant presence. Occasional mood swings are fine and normal, but near-daily mood swings, as well as particularly intense mood swings, can be a sign of an underlying problem.

Sometimes that problem isn’t necessarily mental illness. It can come from times of high stress, from relationship issues, from self-image changes, and more.

Bursts of anger can also be normal, especially in reaction to negative things happening in life. We all experience anger, after all. As a teen, your child might not know how to healthily handle anger, and extreme, uncontrolled anger can be another sign of dysregulated moods.

If you could describe your teenager as being very volatile, destructive, aggressive, or “bipolar” (in the colloquial sense, rather than the DSM-V sense), it can be a sign that they need therapy and potentially medication.

Especially if there’s no readily-identifiable external cause for these feelings, and they persist, call and talk with a psychiatrist to schedule an evaluation. Even if they don’t meet the threshold of mental illness, you may be able to uncover a root cause that you and your teen can address together.

Warning Sign #4: They’re Obsessed with Weight, Food, or Body Image

Body image and self-image are drawn into stark focus during adolescence. This is a time when your teenager is waking up to the concept of romance, while at the same time experiencing bodily changes they aren’t ready for.

Because of this, two common self-image disorders tend to crop up during this time.

The first is body dysmorphia. Dysmorphia is a dissatisfaction with one’s body, usually with a hyperfixation or focus on things being wrong, and little way to alleviate it. This form of mental illness then leads to coping mechanisms to try to address the flaw, which can range from overuse of makeup to depression over appearance to self-harm to excise a blemish. It can also lead to eating disorders, including anorexia or bulimia.

The other is gender dysphoria. While gender dysphoria can present much earlier, the gender transition from child to adult is a key time when secondary sexual characteristics manifest, and can draw gender dysphoria into sharp focus. This, too, is difficult to navigate, especially in today’s political and social climate.

Once again, you may not notice the signs directly, so you’ll need to watch for symptoms. Look for things like:

• Constant self-criticism over appearance.
• Strong belief in a physical defect that makes them ugly or deformed.
• Belief that others mock them over their appearance.
• Behaviors that fixate on adjusting or hiding appearance, like skin picking.
• Perfectionism when it comes to appearance.
• Avoidance of social situations due to self-confidence or self-image problems.

Again, while a certain degree of this is normal while your teen navigates new social dynamics and physical characteristics, it can also be a more severe problem than you realize.

Warning Sign #5: They’re Engaging in Risk-Taking Behaviors

Another shift in teenagers is experimenting with risky behaviors. Teens need to explore their personal boundaries and determine what their analysis of and tolerance for risk is. This is, again, normal to a degree in all teens.

However, teens who are struggling with mental illness may use risk-taking as a way to cope. Putting themselves in hazardous situations can be an expression of self-harm, or it can be a means of exerting control when they feel like they don’t have any. It can even be a form of self-punishment or release of that control.

Risk-taking overlaps somewhat with substance use, as well as with sexual risk-taking. Potentially violent situations, dangerous situations, and other risk-taking behavior are all possible as well.

Identifying and addressing the underlying causes of risk-taking behavior can be difficult, and is an area where a psychiatrist can help you out.

Where to Seek Psychiatric Help for Your Teen in Detroit

The good news is, therapy is almost never a bad idea. Bringing your teen in to discuss their thoughts and feelings in a confidential environment can open up avenues of treatment and put them on a healthier path to adulthood.

There’s no harm in getting started if you have any suspicion that your teen is struggling, so call us today.