The Maze of Finding Help for Your Teen
When your teenager has a mental health disorder or is misusing substances, getting them the right help can be extremely difficult, even daunting. It’s easy to feel lost and powerless sorting through the search results for treatment, and even more difficult to discern what is true and what is just noise, among the endless advice and information.
If your child is in therapy or was recently discharged from a short-term treatment or rehab, making this choice is even more difficult. On the one hand, we want to make sure we are making the right choice and find a solution that will really help our child heal. But, what we’ve tried has not worked. Our confidence is decreasing and our fears are increasing.
The truth is that not all treatments work. Many teens continue to struggle after rehab or a crisis, some relapse or return to risky behaviors. The right treatment takes time, and some teens need more support and time to learn, grow and find their way.
Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster
Finding the right help for a struggling teen, especially one who is misusing substances or having mental health issues, is one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make. Our own emotions, worries, fears, and frustrations can cloud our judgment. The sheer volume of conflicting information online about treatment for teens can make you feel confused and powerless. Feeling overwhelmed under these circumstances is understandable, but you do not need to face this alone.
In this article, we will share resources to help you make this difficult decision. We will also discuss common parental fears and review the conditions and signs that indicate when long-term treatment is the better course of action.
Parental Doubts and Fears about Teen Treatment
If your teenage child has been in crisis, completed rehab or is leaving a short-term program, the pressure to find the right treatment is daunting, and the sense of urgency compounds it since we don’t want them to lose any gains they’ve made.
If you feel like you’ve tried everything you can and nothing has worked, it is completely normal to question whether treatment will really work this time. Worrying about the impact sending your teen to a treatment center might have on your relationship is also understandable. These feelings and questions are just a normal part of this tumultuous journey.
There is hope for you and your family, so don’t give up! Finding treatment is a turning point, not just for the teen but for the entire family.
Effectiveness of Short-Term Treatment for Struggling Teens
When your teen is in crisis, programs like wilderness therapy, drug rehab, and short-term inpatient treatment are an important first step to stabilization. Unfortunately, parents aren’t often told that for their teenager to find true, lasting healing, they must go beyond addressing the recent behaviors. It’s important to understand that true healing requires a more comprehensive approach that addresses the underlying issues.
Treatment must help the teen understand the root causes of their actions, how co-occurring conditions affect their behavior, and learn new coping skills to manage the feelings that led to their crisis. This approach is empowering; it helps them change their behavior, make better choices, and achieve true healing.
Why Some Adolescents Are at Higher Risk for Substance Use and Behavioral Problems
You know firsthand that the teenage years are like a rollercoaster of emotional highs and lows for your teen and you as a parent. Yes, a lot is going on as kids try to figure out who they are and, more importantly, who they want to be. Sadly, when a kid becomes an adolescent, something happens to their brain, and suddenly, the good kid you love and know becomes someone you don’t recognize.
Understanding how the brain develops during adolescence can give you valuable insights into your child’s behavior and mood changes. Although challenging, these changes are a normal part of growing up. With the right support, your family can thrive and remain connected.
Impulsivity and Risk-Taking
Experts tell us that the areas of the brain that help kids make decisions and manage their impulses are still in development during adolescence. This can lead to impulsive actions, making them more likely to:
- Act impulsively
- Be totally self-involved and entitled. Adolescents don’t have a clue about what’s really happening around them, the havoc they are causing, or how their actions affect the family.
- Start to experiment, test boundaries and take significant risks.
Amid the daily battles, we as parents quickly forget that teenagers don’t think about consequences. Their brains have not developed the ability to foresee long-term consequences. So, when a teen says they “don’t know” why they did something, it may just be true; they haven’t thought it through.
Adding drugs, alcohol or both into the mix is like pouring gasoline on a fire. Substances exacerbate impulsivity and worsen their ability to make good choices. This makes teens more vulnerable to spiraling into dependence and addiction.
Addiction: A Brain Disease Complicated by Mental Health
The American Psychiatric Association defines addiction as a brain disease. Addiction changes how the brain functions and its structure. These changes result in intense cravings and significant personality changes. Teenagers self-medicate and use substances to get relief or escape the feelings that results from their mental health struggles or behavioral issues. Sadly mixing substance use or misuse and mental health disorders is disastrous. Experts refer to this toxic combination as co-occurring mental health issues.
Understanding the Impact of Teenage Mental Health Problems
Did you know that in the United States, one in six children experience a mental health disorder each year? Recognizing and intervening early makes a difference in your child’s recovery and long-term healing. Unfortunately, studies show that – as many as 50% – of teens with mental health disorders go undiagnosed and untreated.
Why is there such a high rate of undiagnosed mental health disorders in teens? Teens are very good at hiding their emotional struggles due to fear, shame and stigma. When we don’t realize our kids are struggling, it is easy to misinterpret the signs and conclude that their actions are typical teenage behavior like teen angst, rebellion, or defiance.
To truly help our kids, we need to recognize and understand the signs of mental health disorders and not attribute misbehaviors and mental struggles to “typical teenage” behavior.
Key Signals of Mental Health Issues in Teenagers
- Mood Disorders (e.g., Depression, Bipolar Disorder)
- Depression:
- Persistent sadness or hopelessness
- Withdrawal from friends and activities
- Changes in appetite or weight, fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Thoughts of death or suicide.
- Bipolar Disorder:
- Extreme mood swings
- High energy levels and impulsive behavior during manic phases
- Severe low energy and feelings of worthlessness during depressive phases
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Rapid speech and racing thoughts.
- Depression:
- Anxiety Disorders (e.g., Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder)
- Excessive worry or fear
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Sleep disturbances
- Physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches
- Avoiding social situations.
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Inattention
- Difficulty focusing
- Hyperactivity
- Impulsivity
- Trouble organizing tasks
- Frequent daydreaming.
- Trauma-Related Challenges (e.g., Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD)
- Re-experiencing traumatic events through flashbacks or nightmares
- Avoiding any reminders of the trauma
- Heightened responses that seem excessive, like being easily startled.
- Chronic tension
- Exaggerated responses and reflexes
- Negative changes in thoughts and mood
- Eating Disorders (e.g., Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa)
- Preoccupation with weight, food, or body image.
- Drastic changes in eating habits
- Unexplained weight loss or gain
- Excessive exercise
- Avoidance of meals.
Choosing the Right Teen Treatment Center
Once you realize your teen needs professional help, the next step is to choose the right teen treatment center. We understand this is the hardest decision you will ever make for your child. It is easy to feel overwhelmed, but by considering these key factors, you can make a more informed decision.
Comparing outpatient and residential treatment for teens
The Turning Winds Difference: Unique Therapy Program and Approach
Turning Winds offers a hybrid therapeutic model that combines the strengths of residential treatment, therapeutic boarding schools and wilderness/adventure therapy. This balanced and multi-faceted approach is unique and encourages positive changes through:
- Evidence-Based Care: Our treatment integrates cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for thought patterns and behaviors:
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation
- Family therapy for building and strengthening healthy family relationships.
- Experiential therapies for personal growth.
- Personalized Academic Support: While in treatment, our students continue their education:
- We offer flexible academic programs
- The opportunity to earn transferable credits
- Start college-level courses
- Unique Inspirational Experiences: Our therapeutic experiences are designed to help teens develop resilience and contribute to their personal growth.
- Adventure therapy and outdoor activities
- International travel with meaningful community service helps them understand other cultures and develop leadership skills.
Accreditations and Insurance
Turning Winds is accredited by Cognia. Cognia is evaluates schools and systems to ensure they meet or exceed educational benchmarks. This well-known international independent organization assesses the effectiveness of our academic program guaranteeing we adhere to high standards. As an out-of-network provider, we work with all major insurance providers.
Insurance companies offer coverage often for many of the services we provide including:
- residential care
- partial hospitalization
- intensive outpatient care
When you contact us, our team will verify your insurance benefits and help you understand your coverage options.
Personal Stories and Support
At Turning Winds, we believe in the power of stories and shared experiences. For instance, Jane shares the transformative journey her son, Alex, experienced at our center:
“We were lost and didn’t know where to turn. Seeing Alex struggle was heartbreaking. Turning Winds not only helped him overcome his addiction but also brought our family closer. The compassionate staff and comprehensive care gave us hope and a new beginning.”
These stories of recovery are a testament to the potential that exists within every teen to heal and grow. Listen to a mother discuss her decision to send her teenage son to treatment in a recent podcast.
Finding Hope and Healing: Choosing the Right Teen Treatment Center
If you believe your teen needs residential treatment, don’t wait to reach out. Early intervention can make a world of difference. Turning Winds offers a nurturing environment where your teen can heal and grow. Our evidence-based programs and holistic approaches ensure a balanced path to recovery.
Call us at 800-845-1380 or visit our website to learn how we can help your family find the peace and support you deserve.
