- The American Academy of Pediatrics explains: Teenagers experience major changes physically, emotionally and mentally. These changes can be confusing to parents and caregivers. Teens are getting ready for adulthood. And that means they need to start breaking free from parents. It's completely normal for teens to spend less time with their parents and more time with their friends. They may reject your advice and attention. But they also want you there, just in case.
You may notice that teens:
- See themselves as invincible
- Seem irritable
- Have poor impulse control
- Overreact to situations
When you notice something is "off," you may be tempted to chalk it up to adolescence, but it is important for parents/guardians to be cognizant of changes in their child's behavior.
When teenagers get depressed, you may notice that they:
- Withdraw from family AND friends
- Have trouble with more than one area of life (school, work and friends)
- Have major changes in behavior, sleep, or appetite
- Are sad and irritable most of the day
- Stop enjoying things that used to make them happy
- Appear sad or anxious all the time
- Stop caring about the future
