Supporting Troubled Teens vs Enabling Substance Abuse or Bad Behavior

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SUPPORTING TEENS AND ENABLING SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR BAD BEHAVIOR?

It’s only natural parents wants to help their teens and prevent or alleviate suffering or negative consequences × Consequences
n. noun con·se·quences The Merriam- Webster dictionary provides the following definitions for consequences: 1.the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier: The accident was the consequence of reckless driving. 2.an act or instance of following something as an effect, result, or outcome. Consequences is a prevalent issue in the life of a troubled teen. Troubled adolescents who suffer from negative consequences, do so because of their poor decision making. Whatever choice a teenage boy or girl decides to make, a consequence of that decision will soon follow. If a teen chooses to make productive choices in life, he/she will reap the benefits of positive consequences. However, if a teen makes poor choices such as, abuse drugs and alcohol, skipping class, hanging out with the wrong crowd or disobeying parents and authority, that teen will reap negative consequences. Negative consequences such as, legal troubles, being grounded from parents, or getting kicked out of school due to inactivity or rebelliousness, are all viable and likely negative consequences a teen will experience if he or she is making poor choices.
. But in parents’ efforts to help, they often end up enabling substance abuse × Substance Abuse
Substance Abuse /sub.stance/ /a.buse/ Substance abuse is defined as the use of a chemical substance that has an effect on humans or animals improperly or in a negative view or purpose. Substances involve different types of drugs and also alcohol.  The misuse of a chemical substance can be very dangerous and can be the cause of many different types of problems such as impairment and also distress. Along with physical problems that can come from recurrent substance abuse, there are many  other problems that can occur.  A lack of interest in schooling and work can lead to failure fulfillment of roles and obligations in different settings of life.  Also, a poor performance in daily actions can be a cause. Substance abuse is a problem that is important to deal with in an appropriate manner.  There are many different programs that are available to help fix these types of problems to rehabilitate someone’s life. More information about substance abuse in the US The national institute on drug abuse characterize substance abuse as, "as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It is considered a brain disease because drugs change the brain; they change its structure and how it works. These brain changes can be long lasting and can lead to many harmful, often self-destructive, behaviors.' When pertaining to the adolescent brain and psyche, substance abuse and addiction is one of the most dangerous and common negative behaviors in troubled youth. Teenagers who participate in drug abuse are either not aware of the potential permanent damage they are causing themselves, or simply don't care. It is because of this reason that parents of substance abusing teens need to seek immediate treatment for their son or daughter. Fortunately for parents, there is a multitude and increasing number of options to choose from in terms of rehabilitation. Furthermore, parents of substance abusing teens need to seek treatment for their teens promptly.
, bad behavior, or other problems, the precise thing that’s causing their adolescent suffering and consequences.

Parents that enable their teens may do so with a multitude of problems ranging from unhealthy eating habits or failure to do homework to substance abuse or stealing. Enabling parents believe they’re supporting their teens. But what they’re really doing is enabling substance abuse or whatever the problem their adolescent is experiencing.

WHAT DO ENABLING PARENTS LOOK LIKE?
To understand enabling, think of it this way. Support × Support
Support / sup·port/ n. Noun Support is defined as the act or instance of supporting; serve as a foundation for something else. Support can be given to many different ways. Through the encouragement to perform and progress and also through being there for someone who needs help. Support is usually shown through family and peers but can come from anywhere from support centers, rehab centers, and treatment centers. Without a support, confidence would be very difficult to find. Support is key to getting through trials and problems. The ability to have someone that is supporting you and encouraging you to move forward and progress is important to growth and change. Especially with youth, that as they are trying to find out who they are that they feel supported in all of their doings. This is important because as support and encouragement is shown the youth feel confident to become the best they can be.
means ‘to bear or hold up.’ When your teen cannot do something on his own, you may need to hold him up or support him. For example, if your teen has a broken leg, you may need to support your teen by driving him to school rather than requiring him to walk a couple of blocks to get there.

Enabling, in contrast, is ‘to make possible or easy.’ Let’s say your teen doesn’t have a broken leg but refuses to walk to school. If you accommodate him, you’ve made it easy for him not to get to school on his own. That’s enabling.

Parents that enable do so in a variety of ways. Denial and justification are common enabling behaviors. Often, parents disregard the obvious, opting instead to deny (both to themselves and others) that their teen has a problem, such as substance abuse. To the extent that enabling parents do acknowledge it, they may find excuses, such as ‘he’ll grow out of it’ or ‘I drank when I was his age, and I turned out okay.’

Enabling parents also repeatedly come to the rescue or bail their teen out of trouble rather than allowing their teen to experience natural consequences. If your teen goes to jail for drinking and driving, you bail her out. If she blows all her money on an expensive wardrobe then can’t pay her car insurance, you cover it for her.

Enabling substance abuse or bad behavior can also be seen in the blame game. Rather than helping teens take responsibility for their actions, enabling parents join their teen in blaming others for the adolescent’s problems. Alternatively, parents that enable may blame their teen for substance abuse or another problem and cop a negative attitude toward their adolescent, which only makes things worse.

Other things parents that enable do include:

• taking on responsibilities for their teen
• accepting excuses
• trying to control the behavior
• minimizing the problem
• blaming themselves
• lying to others to hide the behavior or protect their adolescent

SUPPORTING YOUR TEEN
To truly support your teen requires changing your patterns and making a conscious effort to stop enabling. You need to discontinue empowering the addiction × Addiction
The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as "Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response." Similar to other chronic diseases, addiction may involve cycles of relapse and a mental state of remission. If untreated, or serious attempts of recovery, the progression of addiction can easily result in dire, sometimes fatal, consequences. Addiction can take many forms, from eating disorders to drug addiction and even gambling. Whatever the affliction, or choice of addiction, the teenage psyche and overall well being is at greater risk than that of a fully developed adult. Teens who don't receive adequate rehabilitation for their addiction are almost certain to carry their addictive qualities into adulthood. Parents of a teenage boy or girl suffering from addiction should seek viable treatment options immediately before the addiction progresses further.
or problem behavior and instead empower your teen.

Supporting your teenager involves assisting them with things they’re not capable of doing themselves. It means helping them to develop coping strategies and build resilience. In supporting your teen, it’s crucial to acknowledge their difficulties and feelings, so they feel understood and validated.

But it isn’t your job to eliminate your teen’s troubles. Such a disposition would feed into the concept of potentially enabling substance abuse, bad behavior, or whatever your teen’s problem. Instead, work with your teen to help her find and acquire the tools and skills needed to develop the power to change and overcome her difficulties.

Rather than threatening, pleading, shaming, or offering incentives, offer your love and attention as well as praise for taking steps toward change and small achievements.

Don’t ask for promises from your teen, particularly if the problem is addiction or related to a mental disorder. Not only will this likely anger your adolescent, but addiction is too powerful for an addict to be able to make guarantees. Supporting teenagers requires accepting they may falter.

If your teen is in treatment, whether outpatient or at a residential treatment center, learn about your teen’s addiction, disorder, and/or treatment. By learning what you can about the problem and what helps and hinders, you’ll have the tools to be a more supportive parent.

Finally, to be a supportive parent, you must prioritize your own wellness. Caring for a teen with a mental health × Mental health
Mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”1 It is estimated that only about 17% of U.S adults are considered to be in a state of optimal mental health. The mental health in teenage boys and girls is a crucial issue and concern for parents. Teens, for a variety of reasons, tend to struggle with mental health more than adults or children who have not yet reached their teens. This is because of the turbulent time that comes with adolescence and the individual teen's inability to cope with said turbulence. Parents of troubled teens who struggle with mental health issues, actually have a plethora of treatment options to choose from. The type of treatment option that best fits the individual teen, greatly depends on the individual teens mental health issues.
condition, addiction, or other problems can take a real toll on your emotional and physical health. You may tell yourself your child comes first. But if you don’t take care of yourself, how will you adequately support your child? So, when life feels overwhelming and you’re tempted to let your own needs slide, remind yourself that caring for yourself is an essential part of caring for your teen.