Dealing with mental health disorders presents a challenge for parents of teens and adolescents. If your son also develops a substance use disorder, it can put an emotional strain on your entire family. At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery in North Carolina, we offer therapy for teen mental health disorders.
Teens suffer from numerous mental health disorders, from gaming addictions to eating disorders to anxiety. We chose three common mental health illnesses your son may face to help you learn more about the topic. Rest assured, when you turn to us, we perform thorough psychiatric testing to diagnose your son’s mental health disorder. To learn about how we can help your son, reach out to Foothills at Red Oak today at 866.300.5275.
Anxiety
Anxiety affects many adolescents and teenagers, causing them to fear everyday events. Possible causes of teenage anxiety include the following:
- Watching the news
- Pressure to succeed
- Social media
- Bullying
- School safety drills
- Tests and assignments
Generalized anxiety disorder or GAD describes a condition in which your son worries about things he cannot control. If your son has anxiety for days in a row, he may have GAD. Some people with anxiety disorders experienced panic attacks. During a panic attack, your son may have physical symptoms that last for several minutes. Often, teens and adolescents with this condition have a panic attack even if they are not in danger. Conversely, with a social anxiety disorder, your son may face irrational anxiety if he has to interact with others.
The following techniques may help your son get his anxiety under control:
- Counseling sessions
- Breathing techniques, meditation, and other holistic healing techniques
- Eating nutritious meals
- Getting enough sleep
- Stepping away from a stressful situation to relax
- Eliminating alcohol or drug use
Borderline Personality Disorder
If your son has a borderline personality disorder or BPD, he may experience intense emotions that make it difficult to build stable relationships. Some emotional instability comes with adolescence and teen development. However, if your son has frequent bouts of irrational behavior, he may have a borderline personality disorder.
The symptoms of borderline personality disorder include the following:
- Mood swings
- Intense anger
- Unstable relationships
- Fear of abandonment
- Unclear self-image
- Self-harm
Our team of licensed therapists has many years of experience in dealing with teen mental health disorders. We would love to help your son learn better ways to channel his emotions.
Substance Use Disorders
If your son turns to drugs or alcohol to deal with anxiety, depression, or other mental health disorders, we can help. Our teen addiction treatment center staff helps your son find better ways to cope with his thoughts and feelings. Common substances abused by teens include a range of substances, including alcohol, marijuana, and prescription drugs.
We’ll customize your son’s treatment plan to deal with his substance use or mental health disorders. If your son has co-occurring issues, we treat them simultaneously to give him a chance at a full recovery.
Substance use disorder impacts your child’s development as follows:
- Stunted growth and development
- Reckless behavior, violent outbursts, and self-harm
- Heart disease or high blood pressure (develops over time)
- Brain damage
Signs of Substance Abuse
The signs of substance abuse include the following:
- Declining grades
- Poor performance at work
- Spending more time alone
- Lack of interest in former hobbies
- Bloodshot eyes
Treatment for Teen Mental Health Disorders in North Carolina
At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery in North Carolina, we treat teen boys with substance use disorders and mental health disorders. Our unique program includes continuing education to help your son keep up with schoolwork. Contact us at 866.300.5275, or contact us online to find out more about how to enroll your son in an effective teen treatment program so he can enjoy a full life free of addiction.
