During the transition from childhood to adulthood, teens experience many emotional, hormonal, intellectual, physical, and social changes. Combined with other stressors, they easily feel overwhelmed and develop certain mental health issues. In particular, mood disorders in teens can lead to life-threatening situations. These situations can be avoided through proper mental health treatment.

At Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®, we understand the effect that teen mood disorders can have. It can often lead to self-medication with drugs or alcohol. In some cases, the act of self-medication can quickly lead to addiction. In many cases, it’s vital to seek treatment from a teen mental health treatment program, such as that of our co-occurring disorder treatment center. Finding treatment can significantly improve the symptoms of the mental health condition, as well as the addiction.

Call us at 866.300.5275 to learn about treatment options for teen mood disorders. We offer a teen mood disorder treatment program that may be able to help your teenaged boy lead the life he deserves.

What Are Teen Mood Disorders?

Also called affective disorders, mood disorders are mental health illnesses that cause drastic changes in mood. Unlike a typical bad mood, mood disorders in children and teens involve intense, difficult-to-manage emotions and thoughts. These emotions and thoughts are also persistent. Because of that, most teens can’t simply get over them on their own.

According to researchers and other experts, mood disorders in teens are some of the most under-diagnosed health issues. The reason is that teens and adults often experience different symptoms. As a result, it can be difficult to recognize that there’s a problem. However, not diagnosing and treating the conditions puts them at risk for behavioral disorders, including substance use.

What Are the Most Common Mood Disorders in Teens?

When it comes to children and teens, some mood disorders are more common than others. Major depression is one of the most prevalent. It causes an irritable or depressed mood that lasts for at least two weeks. Also, many teens lose interest in activities that they usually love to do.

Also, bipolar disorder is one of the most common in teens. It involves extreme shifts between depressed and elevated moods.

Persistent depressive disorder or dysthymia is another common mood condition that causes an irritable or depressed mood for one year. When they can’t control their behavior and are persistently irritable, they could have disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.

Why Do Teens Develop Mood Disorders?

There’s no single cause behind the development of mood disorders in anyone. Some contributing factors include a chemical imbalance in the brain, genetics, and living environment.

Also, mood disorders in children and teens can develop because they have medical problems. For example, they could develop depressive symptoms when they suffer from injuries, chronic conditions, and cancers. Substances, including legitimate medications, can induce depression as well.

What Are the Treatment Options?

It’s important for families to seek help for their teens at a mood disorder treatment center. Such a facility can provide a range of treatment options and tailor its services according to each teen’s needs. Some of the treatment options that are available at a mental health treatment center include individual therapy, family counseling, and medications.

When teens come to Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®, we begin by performing a complete evaluation of their physical and mental health. This evaluation allows our staff members to understand the needs of the teens we treat. Once we have completed this evaluation, we begin creating an individualized treatment plan. We tailor this treatment plan to the teen’s needs, which can significantly improve the chances of long-term recovery. We offer a range of holistic and evidence-based therapeutic options, such as:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy – A form of psychological treatment that helps patients understand the thoughts and feelings that influence behaviors.
• Dialectical behavior therapy – A type of therapy designed to help people change patterns of behavior that are not helpful, such as self-harm, suicidal thinking, and substance abuse.
• Family therapy – A form of counseling that seeks to reduce distress and conflict by improving the systems of interactions between family members.
• Equine-assisted therapy – A therapeutic approach that involves interactions between patients and horses to promote emotional growth and learning.
• Experiential therapy – A therapeutic technique that uses expressive tools and activities, such as role-playing or arts and crafts, to re-enact and re-experience emotional situations from past and present relationships.

With these treatment options, many of the teens we treat can find the tools they need to manage their mood disorders.

Find Adolescent Mental Health Treatment Now at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®

Do you think that your teen has developed a mood disorder? Help is available at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery®. We’re an outpatient adolescent treatment center NC residents trust to guide teen boys aged 14 to 17 into recovery. In addition to mood disorder treatment, our team addresses many mental issues with a variety of services, including:

• Anxiety treatment program
• Trauma treatment program
• Substance abuse treatment
• Eating disorder treatment
• Process addiction treatment

Don’t risk your teen son suffering consequences from an untreated mood disorder. Learn more about how we treat mood disorders in teenaged boys. Call us at 866.300.5275 or use our online contact form to speak with our friendly and knowledgeable staff today.