Puberty and Mental Health

All of the drastic changes in their bodies, moods, desires, and thoughts may be difficult to cope with – for both kids and their parents. It is common for teens to be overwhelmed easily during this developmental period or appear irritated and withdrawn from family because they rather spend time with their friends.

What is normal teen behavior and what is not

Normal teen behavior: 

  • Wanting to spend more time with peers and less time with family

  • Reluctance to get up early for school

  • Needing more sleep or developing a larger appetite during growth spurts

  • Sadness and anxiety following fights with friends, family or a breakup with a partner

  • Some light risk-taking or experimenting with sex, alcohol, drugs, or self-harming behaviors such as cutting. 

  • Turning to a beloved pet for comfort instead of a parent or friend

  • Worrying about physical appearance and trying to fit in

 

Teen behavior that should cause concern: 

  • Not wanting to spend time with either family or friends, i.e. shunning all social activity

  • Absolute refusal to attend school – especially if this behavior happens suddenly and accompanies other signs of distress and/or depression

  • Sudden changes in energy levels, i.e. sleeping abnormally long or not being able to sleep at all; sudden changes in appetite, i.e. consistent overeating or undereating accompanied by quick fluctuations in weight

  • Sadness & anxiety that doesn’t correct itself or decrease in intensity after a few days to a couple of weeks. 

  • Extremely risky behaviors and/or delinquent behavior, including disregard for house rules, parents’ concerns, or laws of society; turning to cutting as a form of emotional/physical release

  • Deliberately harming family pets or torturing/killing any animal

  • Sudden and significant changes in eating behaviors, over-exercising, and other indications of eating disorders

Rebecca White