Signs of a Troubled Teen

Signs of a Troubled Teen

Many people refer to teens who are struggling as troubled teens.  Some of the behaviors that may indicate that a teen is struggling are as follows:  a decline in academic performance; dropping friends for negative peer associations, coming home late at night, a change in dress attire, loss of interest in family activities and substance abuse.

In my experience, the strongest indicator that a teenager is struggling will be evident, first, in a decline in academic performance. Often times, when teenage boys and girls begin to make poor decisions such as: drug use or negative peer associations; school performance will decrease significantly as the previous efforts put into the academic work will take a "back seat." Since school life consumes the majority of a teenager’s day, it makes sense that the primary responsibility in a teens life would be with academic work. Any interference in a teenager’s life will manifest itself in academic performance. Once a teen is exhibiting a decrease in academic work other notable signs will follow.

Teens often will begin to drop good friends when they are struggling with negative peer association. In a sense, they are in the middle of a "tug of war." With two opposing groups of peers both pulling in opposing directions. The one group of peers (friends) pulling in the direction of support, concern, love and trying to engage the teen in healthy activities while the other group of peers (struggling teens) who have succumb to unhealthy habits try to also pull in their direction. Often times, these teens have become immersed with substance abuse and are no longer able to think rationally or logically about life decisions, as the main driver in their brain is to get "high."  Teens who begin to experiment with harmful substances such as methamphetamines, cocaine, marijuana, alcohol consumption, and cigarettes begin to drastically change their clothing attire and music.  These changes are meant to promote the unhealthy lifestyle of one who uses harmful drugs.