Knowing your teen has a mood disorder, and isn’t just being an angsty teen, is hard to do in every situation. This problem is particularly prevalent in adolescent males who typically test the boundaries. Yet when a parent suspects that something is wrong, taking action could help your son finally gain more control over their lives and future. At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery, we provide the tools you need to help your teen get the necessary support. To learn about the treatment options available, call our team today at 866.300.5275.
What Are Mood Disorders?
It is not uncommon for teens to struggle with feelings of frustration and stress. Mood disorders occur when these feelings and behaviors exist consistently. There are many examples of this, including the following:
- Major depression: Some teens display an irritable mood and feelings of helplessness, resulting in a diagnosis of depression. If these behaviors last for more than two weeks, seek help as soon as possible.
- Bipolar disorder: This condition leads to episodes of manic episodes, where they feel energetic and overly confident, and depressive episodes, leading to hopelessness and helplessness.
- Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia): This condition occurs when a depressed state lasts, in a low-grade for at least a year.
- Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: This mood disorder tends to be an ongoing condition in which the teen seems to have trouble controlling behavior and is always upset.
These mood disorders are challenging to live with on a day-to-day basis.
How to Spot the Signs of a Mood Disorder
When a teen has a mood disorder, it can be hard to pinpoint a cause. They may experience ups and downs, but they may also seem off to family members. Look for one of the three significant signs of mood disorders and then seek out help for them:
- Difficult behavior that does not improve is one of the most common symptoms of this condition. It can last for a long time, and nothing seems to help it improve.
- Those who have these types of disorders often have low-self esteem. They want to see improvements and be happy, but they do not usually know how to accomplish this. They may even have thoughts of self-harm as a result. Many times, they do not feel good enough.
- Constant feelings of sadness are another sign of a mental health problem. These feelings are a classic sign of depression and can show a teen needs help right away. If they talk about suicide or dying, that may indicate a need for immediate support.
Other signs of a mood disorder include problems focusing, difficulty making decisions, problems with relationships, and loss of interest in normal activities they used to love. Look for changes in personality and behavior that seem to come out of nowhere or are not fully understood. If you ask your son why he is acting out, and he says he doesn’t know, that’s an indication that something more is developing.
Call Foothills at Red Oak Recovery Today
When your teen is acting out and life is becoming troublesome, don’t expect change. Instead, seek out help for a mood disorder. Our team at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery offers a comprehensive treatment plan that can help. These treatments can give young men more control over their thoughts and feelings while also enabling them to make changes in their future. This type of treatment is available to you through our programs, including:
A mood disorder could be limiting your teen from living a healthy, productive life. Why not help them? Learn more about how our programs help adolescent males to find their way forward. Learn more about treatment and solutions we offer at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery by calling our team at 866.300.5275 or reaching out to us online for help.
