LCPS Student Support Services presents: A Balancing Act: Teenage Moodiness What’s Typical, What’s Not? April 30, 2015

Welcome Parents! The Adolescent Brain The Adolescent Brain Teen Moodiness Teen Moodiness What’s typical? What’s Not? What’s typical? What’s Not? Middle-School Stress Middle-School Stress – or is it a medical concern? depression? anxiety? – or is it a medical concern? depression? anxiety? How is YOUR teen coping? How is YOUR teen coping? What can YOU do? What can YOU do?

The Teenage Brain It is NOT just a younger version of an adult brain It is NOT just a younger version of an adult brain The greatest changes to the parts of the brain that are responsible for functions such as self-control, judgment, emotions and organization occur between puberty and adulthood. The greatest changes to the parts of the brain that are responsible for functions such as self-control, judgment, emotions and organization occur between puberty and adulthood.

Remember when you were a teen?....middle school can be stressful!!....middle school can be stressful!! Pre-teens and teens are adjusting to so many different factors: biological, physical, social, and emotional that they are going to be MOODY! Pre-teens and teens are adjusting to so many different factors: biological, physical, social, and emotional that they are going to be MOODY!

What causes teenage moodiness? Moodiness is part of a teenager’s growing development into adulthood, particularly due to the biological, physical, and hormonal changes that are experienced. As they age, it is typical for teens to question, “Who am I?” in an attempt to figure out their own identity and where they fit in. Moodiness is part of a teenager’s growing development into adulthood, particularly due to the biological, physical, and hormonal changes that are experienced. As they age, it is typical for teens to question, “Who am I?” in an attempt to figure out their own identity and where they fit in.

Teen Moodiness What’s Typical? Sad Mood; tearfulness Sad Mood; tearfulness Anger/Irritability Anger/Irritability Mouthiness/Disrespect Mouthiness/Disrespect Wanting privacy Wanting privacy Weight/appetite changes Weight/appetite changes Sensitive to criticism Sensitive to criticism Somatic complaints Somatic complaints Defiance Defiance Asserting independence Asserting independence What’s not? Pay attention to differences in terms of: Severity/Intensity Severity/Intensity Duration Duration Domain Domain

When it is NOT typical…. It is normal for teenagers to be moody; however, teens can suffer from clinical depression, as well as other mental health concerns. It is normal for teenagers to be moody; however, teens can suffer from clinical depression, as well as other mental health concerns.

Other factors that impact teen moodiness that may warrant additional attention Difficulty with relationships Difficulty with relationships Family stressors Family stressors Traumatic event, loss or grief Traumatic event, loss or grief Undiagnosed medical concern Undiagnosed medical concern Chemical imbalance in the brain to include depression or anxiety Chemical imbalance in the brain to include depression or anxiety Substance use/abuse Substance use/abuse

Red Flags of Depression Sad or depressed mood (longer than 2 weeks) Sad or depressed mood (longer than 2 weeks) Sharp differences in eating/sleeping habits Sharp differences in eating/sleeping habits Loss of interest in activities Loss of interest in activities Intense anger/irritability (esp. in males) Intense anger/irritability (esp. in males) Excessive tiredness Excessive tiredness Withdrawal from friends/family Withdrawal from friends/family Self Injurious Behavior Self Injurious Behavior Feelings of worthless/guilt Feelings of worthless/guilt Thoughts of death/suicide Thoughts of death/suicide

Signs of Suicide Alienating/isolating self from friends/family Alienating/isolating self from friends/family Violent actions, aggressiveness, rebellious behavior, or running away Violent actions, aggressiveness, rebellious behavior, or running away Strong feelings of hopelessness Strong feelings of hopelessness Giving away possessions Giving away possessions Talking/writing about death or not being around Talking/writing about death or not being around

Statistics Not all depressed people are suicidal; however, 90% of suicidal people suffer from a mental health disorder, such as depression. Not all depressed people are suicidal; however, 90% of suicidal people suffer from a mental health disorder, such as depression. Suicide is the 3 rd leading cause of death in children and (CDC 2005) Suicide is the 3 rd leading cause of death in children and (CDC 2005)

Facts about Depression & Suicide Depression funs in families Depression funs in families Females are twice as likely to be depressed than males Females are twice as likely to be depressed than males Self Injury is a risk factor for depression and suicide Self Injury is a risk factor for depression and suicide Talking about suicide does not make someone want to commit suicide Talking about suicide does not make someone want to commit suicide

Good News Depression is preventable and treatable Depression is preventable and treatable

But what if it’s anxiety? Things to look for: Meltdowns Meltdowns Tearfulness Tearfulness Trouble transitioning Trouble transitioning Excessive need for reassurance Excessive need for reassurance Avoidance/Feeling Isolated Avoidance/Feeling Isolated Easily overwhelmed Easily overwhelmed Over-reactive Over-reactive Quiet/Overly Chatty Quiet/Overly Chatty Types of Anxiety disorders Separation Anxiety Separation Anxiety Panic Disorder Panic Disorder Social Phobia Social Phobia Obsessive Compulsive (OCD) Obsessive Compulsive (OCD) Generalized Anxiety (GAD) Generalized Anxiety (GAD) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

How do you help your moody, depressed or anxious teen? Keep lines of communication OPEN …..but how?

Communication Do’s: Find time to talk with your teen Find time to talk with your teen Listen without lecturing Listen without lecturing Validate and understand the context of their feelings Validate and understand the context of their feelings Offer support and be available when they need to talk Offer support and be available when they need to talk Show love and patience Show love and patience Use humor Use humor Show respect to them and their friends Show respect to them and their friends

Communication Dont’s Ask a lot of questions (interrogate them) Ask a lot of questions (interrogate them) Don’t give up if your teen shuts you down Don’t give up if your teen shuts you down Overreact, criticize or pass judgment Overreact, criticize or pass judgment Don’t try to talk them out of their feelings, even if they seem silly or irrational to you Don’t try to talk them out of their feelings, even if they seem silly or irrational to you Don’t ignore concerns, particularly if they express hopelessness or thoughts of self harm Don’t ignore concerns, particularly if they express hopelessness or thoughts of self harm

How to help a moody or depressed teen: Normalize eating/sleeping patterns Normalize eating/sleeping patterns Increase physical activities Increase physical activities Spend time with them Spend time with them Increase social activity Increase social activity Find new/fun activities or hobbies Find new/fun activities or hobbies Visit your doctor to rule out any other medical concerns Visit your doctor to rule out any other medical concerns

Healthy home environment Allow for open communication and trust around expressing feelings. Allow for open communication and trust around expressing feelings. Talk and model healthy coping strategies. Talk and model healthy coping strategies. Spend time together. Spend time together. Provide healthy boundaries. Provide healthy boundaries. Establish and follow through on rules and expectations. Establish and follow through on rules and expectations. Avoid putting to much pressure and emphasis on outcomes and more recognition on the effort. Avoid putting to much pressure and emphasis on outcomes and more recognition on the effort. Appreciate the strengths and individuality of your child. Appreciate the strengths and individuality of your child.

To Treat or Not to Treat Remember: physical, emotional, and intellectual changes are normal in adolescent development Remember: physical, emotional, and intellectual changes are normal in adolescent development The key is CHANGE- in physical appearance, personality, friends, interests, attitudes, and behavior The key is CHANGE- in physical appearance, personality, friends, interests, attitudes, and behavior

When in Doubt-Go with Your GUT Trust your parental instincts Trust your parental instincts Act quickly if you suspect trouble Act quickly if you suspect trouble early identification and prompt intervention is KEY to good outcome early identification and prompt intervention is KEY to good outcome Ask for professional help: Ask for professional help: Objective/nonjudgmental (another pair of eyes) Objective/nonjudgmental (another pair of eyes) Help to visualize the situation and make suggestions Help to visualize the situation and make suggestions Can enhance parent/child communication skills Can enhance parent/child communication skills Serves to validate concerns and identify solutions Serves to validate concerns and identify solutions

How to seek out professional help Rule out any underlying medical concerns that could be a contributing factor to symptoms Rule out any underlying medical concerns that could be a contributing factor to symptoms Talk therapy (with a clinical counselor, social worker or psychologist) is often a good initial treatment Talk therapy (with a clinical counselor, social worker or psychologist) is often a good initial treatment The treatment professional may recommend a medication evaluation The treatment professional may recommend a medication evaluation Make sure the professional specializes in working with adolescents Make sure the professional specializes in working with adolescents

School Resources School Mental Health Professionals School Counselors School Counselors School Social Workers School Social Workers School Student Assistance Specialists School Student Assistance Specialists School Psychologist School Psychologist Types of Groups Types of Groups Young Women's Groups Young Women's Groups Young Men's Groups Young Men's Groups COA COA Substance Abuse Prevention Substance Abuse Prevention Recovery Recovery Student Assistance – Assessment provided by LCMH therapist Student Assistance – Assessment provided by LCMH therapist

YOU hold the KEY!!