My teen is so moody! Is this normal? Do I need to be concerned that there is something else going on?

Teens are developing into who they are. Many times parents are the last to know what is going on. Is your teen spending more and more time alone, are they withdrawn, playing video games all night, appear gloomy, depressed, and irritable, short tempered, snippy, grouchy, grumpy…? These can be signs of typical teenage moodiness.

Depression is very common among teenagers. They can appear fine with their friends but when they come home they turn into a different person. This is similar to leaving a small child at day care and them crying until you are out of sight. Kids know that their parents will love them no matter what. We may get mad at them but for the most part they trust they can let their feelings out around us.

So when should I become concerned about my teenager’s moodiness?

A big warning sign to watch for is, if the above type of behavior continues for more than two weeks. Other signs to watch for include: your teenager becomes volatile; angry; you see signs of alcohol abuse or drug abuse; or they start getting in trouble with the law or other authorities. Now it is time to take action.

Don’t ignore the behavior and think it will pass or “it’s just a phase.” Mood Disorders are basically an overwhelming sadness or depression, lack of interest in everyday activities or a disturbance in a person’s mood. Diagnosis and treatment is available and the sooner you get help the better your teenager will be.

For more information on treatment, contact Triumph Youth Services.

Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mood_disorder