Mental Health Problems

Mental Health Problems

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Mental health problems can strike anyone at anytime.

The onset of a range of mental disorders and mental health related problems will often occur during adolescence. 

Troubled teenagers can be affected by a number of mental disorders. Adolescence is a time of change and these changes can bring about issues that may lead to full-blown mental disorders if not given proper attention. Teens are at a time when they may be seeking validation and if they do not find it, they can very easily fall victim to Eating Disorders, Depression, and ultimately even thoughts of suicide. Troubled teens with problems with hostility or aggression may fall victims to Conduct Disorder or Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Adjustment Disorder may also be a common disorder that afflicts teens going through a number of changes as they step into adolescence.
The following are mental disorders that can affect the troubled teenager:

Eating Disorders

There are several types of eating disorders, but there are 3 major kinds: Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, and Binge-eating disorder.

Anorexia nervosa – Those afflicted with anorexia may appear quite strange with their food. They may cut and chew their food in tiny amounts or chronically pass up entire meals. Generally, obsessive calorie-counting and excessive exercise may be distinct characteristics of the disorder.

Bulimia nervosa – Those afflicted with bulimia typically binge a large amount of food at a single time and then purge by self-induced vomiting or laxative/diuretic abuse in order to make up for the amount of calories consumed. This disorder is often called the “binge-purge cycle.”

An irrational fear of gaining weight accompanies both disorders.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder


The disorder may be generally described by impulsive acts, difficulties with one’s attention span, and hyperactivity. It must be known that at present ADHD can be treated, yet a cure does not exist. There are several issues your teenager may suffer from that are related with ADHD such as social problems with family or other peers, school troubles, and academic struggles. He or she may have behavioral issues as well.

Conduct Disorder

A teen struggling with the disorder may experience difficulties managing their anger, adhering to guidelines, and generally keeping one’s behavior under control. But this may sound like quite a number of teens during the rocky stage of adolescence. Conduct Disorder (CD) may be recognized by a constant outline of behavior wherein another’s basic rights and social norms and guidelines are dishonored.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Troubled teenagers who experience an intense emotionally disturbing incident which may or may not involve physical abuse, can develop a condition afterwards known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) wherein painful flashbacks of the incidents cause apparent stress. The stress which becomes present after the incident can be sourced to the intense fear which develops within the teen after going through such a threatening experience. A common cause of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is sexual abuse.

Adjustment Disorder

Adjustment Disorder may manifest in troubled teenagers who react to a number of stressful occurrences or a particular stressful encounter. Anxiety and depression often accompany Adjustment Disorder. Difficulties in coping as well as problems with social skills may occur. Usually the disorder manifests within 3 months of the particular traumatic incident. The disorder should normally last up to six months, yet if the issues behind the Adjustment disorder are not addressed the disorder may last longer.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-Compulsive disorder may be described by obsessive thoughts and in turn the compulsive actions which go with them. These obsessive thoughts and compulsive actions significantly affects how one functions in society. It may put a considerable amount of stress on the manner in which one interacts with others in his or her normal environment (may it be the workplace or at school).

Mood Disorders

Mood disorders may be classified as either Depression or Bi-polar (Manic-depression) syndromes. Bi-polar or Manic-depression may be described by abrupt changes in temperament ranging from euphoria or mania to depression and sadness. Depression on the other hand is characterized by despair and prevailing sadness. One suffering from this disorder can very easily become enveloped in one’s feelings. The sufferer having problems functioning in society is characteristic of mood disorder. If experiencing depression, he or she may lose interest in what once gave him or her joy or entertainment. Bi-polar disorder’s swings of mania can significantly affect how those around him or her perceive the afflicted.

Reactive Attachment Disorder

A troubled teenage suffering from Reactive Attachment Disorder may be characterized by a lack of affection for one’s family. This lack of affection could be traced to a number of reasons. When the basic needs of a child are ignored or not met during the formative stages, the probability of Reactive Attachment Disorder developing is higher. Stress hormones are actually higher in those children that do not get the attention they need during their infancy and first years. This causes a reaction from the nervous system.


Oppositional Defiant Disorder


Behavior patterns distinguished by anger, aggression, violence, and rebelliousness may be signs that Oppositional Defiant Disorder has developed in your teenager. Teenagers struggling with this disorder may frequently believe that they have all the right to feel such anger. They may turn to their parents or school authorities and accuse them of being unfair or harsh. This is particularly the way they justify their violent behavior. Set guidelines at home may be ignored as the teenager challenges authority.

For further information on a disorder refer to the specific articles of the mental disorders;

  • Teen Depression  ( 5 items )
    Around 5 out of 100 teenagers get depressed each year.  Sure, everybody feels sad or blue now and then. But if you’re teen is sad most of the time, it could be effecting all aspects of their life.

  • Suicide  ( 6 items )
    Teen suicide is something no parent would ever want to have to deal with. Here are the warning signs.

  • Adolescents and Eating Disorders  ( 13 items )
    Eating disorders are generally long-term mental disorders which can affect troubled teenagers and in turn call for long-term solutions. Depression, anxiety disorders (like obsessive-compulsive disorder) and substance abuse may also accompany an eating disorder. Complete recovery may be achieved if you catch the signs of a developing eating disorder in your teenager and decide upon proper treatment as early as possible.

  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)  ( 3 items )
    Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) – How do you know if you teen is suffering from ADHD? What treatment options do you have?

  • Conduct Disorder  ( 1 items )
    “Conduct disorder” descibres  a group of behavioral and emotional problems in teenagers. Children and adolescents with this disorder have great difficulty following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way.

  • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)  ( 2 items )
    Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can result from any traumatic event that is witnessed by a person, occurred in a person’s life, or happened to a friend or family member of that person. PTSD can be caused from physical abuse, sexual molestation or family violence.

  • Adjustment Disorder  ( 2 items )
    A teenager with adjustment disorder will often experience feelings of depression or anxiety or combined depression and anxiety. As a result, your teen may act out behaviorally against the “rules and regulations” of family, work, or society. In some teens, an adjustment disorder may manifest itself in such behaviors as skipping school, unexpected fighting, or recklessness.

  • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder  ( 2 items )
    OCD usually involves having both obsessions and compulsions, though a person with OCD may sometimes have only one or the other.  Althought not common in teens, the onset of OCD can often occur during adolescence.

  • Mood Disorders  ( 2 items )
    Mood Disorders (often referred to as bi-polar) will effect 7-14% of children before the age of 15. 20-30% of adult bipolar patients report having their first episode before the age of 20.

  • Reactive Attachment Disorder  ( 2 items )
    Attachment disorder is a condition that affects individuals ability to form meaningful loving relationships with other human beings. It is often diagnosed as depression, ADHD or Bi-polar Disorder.

  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder  ( 1 items )
    Behavior patterns distinguished by anger, aggression, violence, and rebelliousness may be signs that Oppositional Defiant Disorder has developed in your teenager. This type of disorder can prove to be destructive to your teen’s school and home environments. It particularly targets those with authority in a child’s life.

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