Teenager in Crisis | Causation Factors, Signs, and When to Intervene

You raise your child, instill in them your values and morals, and watch them grow into an adolescent. When the teenage years seep in, changes in this young child you’ve grown to know well can be expected. However, there are times when changes in behavior, outlook, and attitude are so drastic and potentially damaging that you may feel you don’t know this person at all.

It is at times like this when parents must focus their attention and try to determine if the teen is in crisis. While something like residential treatment centers × Residential treatment centers
The Medical Dictionary defines residential treatment centers as, " Psychiatry Health care provided at a live-in facility to a person with emotional disorders who requires continuous medication and/or supervision or relief from environmental stresses." A residential treatment center is a temporary home for those seeking help with a therapeutic, or emotional ailment or rehabilitation. Individuals enrolled in a residential treatment center, receive personal care, attending groups and individual therapy sessions, training classes specific to the facility and perhaps a way to transition back into the 'real world.' Each residential treatment center is operated for the purpose of serving a specific population, providing solutions to the problems encountered. Have a question? Get an answer from a doctor now! When pertaining to troubled teens, residential treatment centers offer hope to emotionally and behaviorally struggling adolescents. Teens who display out of control, negative behaviors at home, suffer from mental and emotional disorders, or are currently battling addictions, are all good candidates for residential treatment.
(RTC) or therapeutic boarding schools × Therapeutic boarding schools
Therapeutic boarding schools are A therapeutic boarding school (TBS), alternatively known as boarding schools for troubled teens, is a boarding school based on the therapeutic community model that offers an educational program together with specialized structure and supervision for students with emotional and behavioral problems, substance abuse problems, or learning difficulties. Therapeutic boarding schools for troubled teens, much like a regular boarding school, require students to stay for a duration of 9- 12 months out of the year. While focusing on therapeutic rehabilitation, students also participate with their studies, as they would at a traditional boarding school. As of 2005, the United states reportedly had 140 therapeutic boarding schools. As of today, there are close to 300. Therapeutic boarding schools are widely considered to be the teenage equivalent of residential treatment centers. The main difference between the two is therapeutic boarding schools' emphasis on education as well as therapeutic and behavioral rehabilitation.
are often the last resort, there can be times when parental intervention and commitment to a good program are imperative to protect the teen and save their future.

Things That Can Lead to a Teen Crisis

All teens face different challenges and know how to cope with different situations, and the things each teen finds stressful enough to push them into crisis mode can vary. A teenager in crisis is in a situation of extreme difficulty, trouble, or even danger. Typically, a teen in crisis does not stem from a singular event; rather, a series of events or factors will lead to a catastrophic situation.

For some adolescents × Adolescents
Adolescents /ad.o.les.cent/ n.Noun The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term adolescent as a young person living in the transitional period between the years of puberty and adulthood until they reach the age of full maturity. Adolescents or teenagers, are living in a turbulent and trying time in a person's lifetime. If ill prepared, teens may flounder or display negative behaviors at home. Adolescents are prone to negative behaviors such as, drug and alcohol abuse and other chemical dependencies, sexual misconduct or acting out, failing grades at school and disrespect towards authority. It is for this reason that parents of adolescents need to be particularly mindful when they reach their teenage years. If a teenager is struggling during thus time of adolescence it, is crucial for parents to seek the right care for their son or daughter.    During this time, people are typically more susceptible to negative behaviors and dangerous habits.
, a crisis can stem from factors like a life change like parents getting divorced, struggles with schoolwork or meeting expectations, or even physical changes. For others, a crisis can radiate from seemingly simple things, such as a friend moving away or not making it on a team.

On a deeper level, some kind of issue or condition could be internally driving crisis situations. Unfortunately, these issues oftentimes get overlooked by parents trying to determine what’s going on, such as:

· Psychological issues, such as anxiety × Anxiety
  anx·i·ety n.noun Merriam- Webster dictionary defines anxiety as: : an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physiological signs (as sweating, tension, and increased pulse), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of the threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it Anxiety is a very common ailment that almost everyone experiences on an almost daily basis. However, anxiety effects some more than others and can cause severe emotional distress that is too much for an individual to handle. When anxiety plagues an individual so severely that it becomes a disorder, it is crucial that this individual receives therapeutic and emotional restoration in the form of psychological and therapeutic assistance. Teens who experience abnormal amounts of anxiety, tend to self medicate with intoxicants such as drugs and alcohol. When negative, self medication takes place, teens are at great risk of developing harmful coping mechanisms that may be life-long lasting. Anxiety /anx.i.e.ty/ n.Noun Anxiety is defined as the state of uneasiness or tension caused by the feeling of worry or nervousness caused by apprehension of possibilities of the future. Anxiety is a common emotional trait that many people face.  It affects our actions and can prevent us from making decisions.  Usually anxiety holds us back from the types of things that are outgoing or out of our comfort zone and it brings fear. Anxiety is a normal experience for most people and is a normal part of life.  However, when the anxiety reaches the level of a disorder then it can be dangerous.  This would include an intense, extensive, excessive and persistent worry or fear.  Another factor that is caused by an anxiety disorder can be anxiety, fear, or terror attacks when the intensity of anxiety becomes very high.  Types of anxiety disorders can include: social anxiety, separation anxiety and many different phobias etc.  
or mood disorders × Mood Disorders
Mood disorders /mood/ /dis·or·der/ n. Noun A temporary state of mind, emotion or feeling involved with the disruption of normal, physical or mental functions: a disease or abnormal condition. Mood disorders are the disturbances in a person’s mood. Commonly included are symptoms such as a decreased or loss of interest in almost all activities, a loss of self-confidence including the feeling of worthlessness, experience alternating emotions and tendencies. There is a lot of misunderstandings concerned with mood disorders, however, are likely the cause of a chemical imbalance in the brain known as neurotransmitters. Mood disorders can occur in anyone at any age, but usually the cause of mood disorders can be related to a medical condition, from substance abuse, through life events or other causes. Mood disorders can occur in anyone at any age. They may seem uncontrollable but can be helped and sometimes controlled through the involved meant with treatment centers.

· Prior or current trauma, such as past abuse × Abuse
Abuse /a·buse/ Abuse is defined as the improper usage or treatment of an entity, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices: crimes or other types of aggression. Abuse is a negative and real threat that many people face. Child abuse is a problem that is continually occurring. The main types of child abuse are physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglecting. When these types of abuse occur in a home, they often go unnoticed. The stress and fear of the abuse will usually cause the victim to remain quite about the problem. It is a difficult problem to find out and assess, but there are solutions. It is important that people are aware of signs of abuse. They may include unexplained injuries, changes in behavior, fear of going home, changes in eating and sleeping and lack of personal care or hygiene.
or current bullying

· Drug or alcohol × Alcohol
al·co·hol n.noun a colorless volatile flammable liquid that is the intoxicating constituent of wine, beer, spirits, and other drinks, and is also used as an industrial solvent and as fuel. When ingested, alcohol can be a deadly intoxicant. Teens and adults alike are more prone to make fateful and negative choices while drinking alcohol. A deadly intoxicant, alcohol has destroyed and ripped apart the lives of millions and yet, remains to be the drug of choice of troubled teens nationwide. Teenage minds are not yet able to fully appreciate the dangers that coincide with drinking. When drunk, teenagers commit and act out heinous activities which they would normally never commit or act out. Teenage pregnancy, driving under the influence, fighting and other consequences are more likely to occur while teens drink. Parents of teenage boys or girls who drink occasionally or struggle with the addiction of alcohol, need to seek immediate treatment for their son or daughter.
use or abuse

7 Signs Is Time To Intervene

When you realize your teen’s behavior is deeper than just typical erraticness and adolescent angst, you’ll be questioning when it’s time to intervene. Certain telltale behaviors should be taken as direct signs it’s time to step in, make some immediate decisions, and consider if something like residential treatment centers or therapeutic boarding schools can help.

1. Social Isolation – Social isolation is never healthy behavior for a teen, and it can be a sign of an emotional crisis. Pay attention to things like too much time spent on electronics as well, especially if these behaviors prevent your teen from being with the family or their friends.

2. Promiscuous Behavior – More than half of teens are sexually active by the age of 18, but there is a difference between typical sexual exploration and promiscuity. Promiscuity is having sexual encounters with multiple partners or not being discriminant about sexual partners, which could lead to pregnancy, shame and guilt, and even sexually transmitted diseases.

3. Violent Outbursts or Abusive Behaviors – Violent outbursts are associated with a teen in crisis. Violence could be directed to peers × Peers
Peers /peer/ Peers are the people of which a person associates. Peers have a strong influence on person’s thoughts, actions, and will also play a key part in how a person develops and will determine who a person will become. Peers always have an influence but occur especially in a person’s youth. Parents should make it a priority to inform children of how important their peer group is on them. Discussions about this topic can help to prevent children from choosing friends that could lead them down dangerous paths. Peers who involve themselves in negative behaviors will begin to oppose school and parents and can also influence others in the peer group to do the same. It is important to support the finding of positively influential peers for children. However, peers can also help uplift others to strive to become better and want success. Those are the peers you should surround yourself with and also your children.
(such as fighting at school), but it could also emerge at home with siblings or even you. Abusive behaviors on ay level are a sign that it is time for an intervention.

4. Ongoing Drug or Alcohol Use – Teens may experiment with drugs or alcohol out of curiosity, but any ongoing use or abuse must be addressed as it could be a sign of a bigger problem.

5. Disregard of Self Care and Hygiene – Extreme changes in eating or sleeping patterns, weight gain or weight loss, and lack of grooming are all things to pay attention to. Things like not showering, not changing clothes, and generally not caring about outward appearance, is not typical teen behavior, and this can be linked to severe depression × Depression
Depression /de·pres·sion/ Depression is defined as a mental condition characterized by feelings of severe despondency and dejection, typically also with feelings of inadequacy and guilt, often accompanied by lack of energy and disturbance of appetite and sleep. Statistics has shown that diagnosis of depression is growing at a very dangerous rate. Globally, depression affects over 350 million people of all ages. Depression has been linked to other negative health outcomes, such as obesity, heart disease, and stroke. Compared to those not affected by depression those who face it are more likely to be unemployed and have a higher chance of divorce. Most people that suffer from depression do not seek care or attention. Since this is a global issue, many efforts are made to help those who are suffering depression. It is important for those that face depression to find help so that they can overcome this plague that millions of people face.
.

6. Self-Harm or Suicide Talk – Romanticizing death or mentioning suicide must be taken seriously. Suicide is the leading cause of death for teens, and self-harm may be connected to suicidal tendencies.

7. Changes in Grades or Commitment to School – Commitment to school is a big deal as it paves the way to future goals. Falling grades, cutting classes, and generally not caring about succeeding can be a sign of crisis.

How Therapeutic Boarding or a Residential Treatment Center Helps a Teen in Crisis

Something like a residential treatment center (RTC) or therapeutic boarding school can be one of the best decisions you ever make as a parent for a teen in crisis. These programs offer intense therapy × Therapy
n.noun ther·a·py Therapy is a treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder or disease. Therapy generally consists of two kinds: medical and psychotherapy. Medical therapies treat diseases of the human body such as cancer. Psychotherapies treat the mind of therapeutically or emotionally damaged individuals. Different Types of Psychotherapy: - Psychoanalytic Therapy - Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy - Group Therapy - Behavior modification - Biofeedback - Collaborative therapy - Family therapy - Marriage counseling - Music therapy - Parent management training - Relationship counseling - Social Therapy - Systemic therapy - Therapeutic community - Twelve-step programs - Wilderness therapy Therapy for troubled teens has become an increasingly popular opportunity for troubled adolescents today. Therapies are offered at many services for troubled teens such as, wilderness therapy programs, residential treatment programs and boarding schools for troubled youth. The most effective type of therapy greatly depends on the individual teen and what psychological and emotional issues the particular adolescent struggles with.
, ongoing counseling × Counseling
coun·sel·ing The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines counseling as the provision of assistance and guidance in resolving personal, social, or psychological problems and difficulties, especially by a professional. Counseling can come in many different forms. These forms include, but are not limited to, child development, eating disorder, substance abuse, rehabilitation, mental health and educational counseling. The type of counseling needed for an individual depends on the type of issues or problems he/she happens to be facing. Counseling Troubled Youth Counseling offers hope to all kinds of troubled youth. Teens who struggle with personality disorders, emotional trauma, psychological disorders and/or learning disabilities, are all great candidates for counseling. These types of teens are often times, in desperate need for some type of counseling, and if some form of counseling is not achieved, are at high risk of fateful, dire consequences. These consequences may include drug addiction, imprisonment, or in some cases, even death.
, and programs designed to empower a troubled teen so they can get away from destructive outlooks and behaviors. These programs can be the lifeline for a teen that is headed in the wrong direction in life. To find out more about residential treatment programs for teens, reach out to us at Zion Educational Systems for advice.