Getting Help for Troubled Teens: When and Where to Go

When your teenager starts to get out of hand you have to ask yourself some hard questions. The first step is to honestly evaluate how you think you're doing when communicating with your teen. Do you feel you are sharing valuable information and time? Or do you feel there is a communication gap and he's hiding something?

Low self-esteem

Out of touch with reality

Sudden personality changes and mood swings

Violent behavior

Drop in grades and school performance

Self destructive actions or language (suicide threats or extreme diet & exercise)

Reclusive tendencies

Debilitating fears

Any of those behaviors done on a frequent basis can indicate a problem. At this point you should seek outside assistance. Don't be too proud to ask for help.

If you feel your efforts aren't working (or aren't good enough) first enlist the assistance of your extended circle of friends and family. Get everyone involved to bolster the spirits of your teen. Show him that he has a support system in place that he can count in. Work on building back trust in your relationship. If your child opens up to another family member better than you, keep your resentment inside, the focus should be on helping your teen.

Sometimes you need to bring in professionals. Don't wait too long on this step if your child is getting out of control. A delay can be costly. But where should you turn next? Consider these options: