Poor mental health in young adults is more than feeling blue. It can impact many areas of a teen’s life. Youth with poor mental health may struggle with school and grades, decision-making, and their health.
Mental health problems in youth often go hand-in-hand with other health and behavioral risks like increased risk of drug use, experiencing violence, and higher risk sexual behaviors that can lead to HIV, STDs, and unintended pregnancy.
Because many health behaviors and habits are established in adolescence that will carry over into adult years, it is very important to help youth develop good mental health.
Mental health symptoms in Youth Self Development might include:
• Feeling restless, wound up, or on edge
• Becoming fatigued easily
• Struggling with concentration
• Experiencing irritability
• Feeling muscle tension
• Having difficulty keeping worry levels under control
• Struggling with sleep, such as difficulties falling asleep or staying asleep, or not feeling well-rested
Social anxiety disorder symptoms include:
• Feeling very anxious at the thought of being around others, and struggling to talk to other people
• Experiencing extreme self-consciousness and fear of humiliation, embarrassment, rejection, or offending people
• Worrying about being judged
• Feeling anxious days or even weeks ahead of a social event
• Avoiding places where other people will be
• Struggling to make and keep friends
• Blushing, sweating, or trembling around others
• Experiencing nausea around other people
And signs of depression include:
• Feeling persistently sad, anxious, or empty
• Experiencing hopelessness or pessimism
• Struggling with irritability
• Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
• Losing interest in hobbies or activities that used to be enjoyable
• Struggling with fatigue or lack of energy
• Moving and/or talking more slowly than usual
• Feeling restless
• Struggling with concentration, memory, and/or decision-making
• Experiencing unexplained changes in appetite or weight
• Having thoughts of death or suicide
• Unexplained aches or pains that don’t go away when treated
Keep in mind that having just one symptom on this list doesn’t mean your teen is experiencing a full-blown crisis. Biological changes, including the hormone shifts all tweens and teens go through, can affect your child’s mood, school performance, and more. But if you consistently see one or more of these signs, it’s time to open a conversation about mental health with your teen.
Let us assist you with your Self Development and Mental Health journey.