Sudden Changes in Behavior in Teens

Adolescence is all about change, as your child gradually moves from dependence to independence and adulthood. Although you should expect your teenager to change as she advances and gains maturity, sudden changes could be a warning sign. Know the changes that should raise a red flag so you can parent your teen effectively.

  1. Social Changes

    • As an adolescent strives to carve out a separate identity from family, you may see sudden changes in behavior that surprise you, counsels social worker James Lehman, with the Empowering Parents website. For example, a child may decide that a long-held hobby isn̵7;t ̶0;cool̶1; anymore and she no longer wants to ride horses because she̵7;d rather play on the school softball team. While this may surprise you, it̵7;s common for a child̵7;s interests and focus to shift as she carves out her identity. Teens may make these changes suddenly, but they are not necessarily cause for alarm.

    Normal Attitudes

    • Teen attitudes can appear seemingly overnight, leaving you wondering if what you see and hear from your teen falls within normal parameters. Some of the typical behaviors you may observe include irritation, impulsiveness, some withdrawal to focus on friends and questioning boundaries. Mood swings are also common, according to the DrugFree.org website.

    Symptoms of Trauma

    • A teenager experiencing some type of emotional or physical trauma, such as abuse or bullying, may show sudden changes in behavior in reaction to the trauma. School effort, attendance and grades may drop precipitously. Irritation, frustration and withdrawal may also occur as a teen struggles to deal with the trauma. Teens don̵7;t always confide in parents about these situations, so behavioral changes may be your only clue that something is amiss.

    Symptoms of Substance Use

    • If a teenager begins using or abusing substances such as drugs or alcohol, you may notice sudden changes that fall outside normal parameters, advises the ChildHelp website. A teenager may begin having extreme mood swings with very high and then very low moods. You may notice periods of ̶0;spaciness,̶1; when your teen acts very low-key and inactive. A teen may make drastic changes in personal hygiene, grooming and clothing styles. Wearing long sleeves constantly could even indicate a concealment of drug use. If you notice paranoia, hallucinations, violent reactions and confusion, this could also indicate substance use. Extreme isolation and withdrawal could also indicate a serious problem.

    Parent Response

    • Whenever you notice sudden changes in your teen, do not ignore the changes, warns the Juvenile Consulting Services website. Communicate calmly with your teen about your concerns to open dialogue. By communicating in a supportive, nonjudgmental manner, you may succeed in learning details about what̵7;s going on to help you determine whether your teen is at risk or whether the changes are normal. If you still have concerns about your teenager after communicating with him, seek professional intervention for your teen.

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