Eating healthy, exercising regularly, and staying fit are very important but are not enough, especially in teens. Teenagers undergo a lot of changes in both their bodies and minds. They are prone to mental health disorders too. Knowing more about such disorders can help parents and other adults around to intervene or guide in the right manner.
A mental health disorder, also known as mental illness, affects a person’s ability to function effectively. Mental health disorders can affect a person’s mood, behaviour, thought process, and also the way they eat.
The extent of impact, the duration, and the response to the illness vary from person to person. Some may find ways to overcome it, some may seek help, and some may never recover.
Some common mental health disorders are:
● Depression
● Anxiety
● Bipolar disorder
● Schizophrenia
● Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
● Post Traumatic Disorder
● Panic Disorder
● Personality Disorder
The adolescent stage is the time for physical, mental, and emotional changes that shape the personality to a great extent. Teenagers are also the most vulnerable population, stuck between “not a child anymore” and “not yet an adult”. They want to be independent but are not mature enough to handle the stress and pressure that comes with the expectations.
According to WHO, one in seven teenagers between the ages of 10 and 19 suffers from a mental disorder. This accounts for 15% of the teenage population. Many of these teens are unable to address the issues the right way and end up committing suicide, making it the third leading cause of death among 15 - 29-year-olds.
The mental health disorders in teenagers do not stop with just affecting them during their teens, they extend well into their adulthood. Failing to address the mental health issues in time can impact the person they become. It can impair their physical and mental development and also limit their opportunities to grow and lead a fulfilling life as an adult.
This does not mean all teenagers who suffer from mental health disorders grow into depressed or unsuccessful adults. Many of them may go on to achieve great things in their lives and even succeed more than others, but the mental health issue may be forgotten, hidden or just ignored. This can be dangerous to themselves and sometimes even to others around them.
The more a teen’s exposure to risk factors, the higher their chances of suffering from some mental health issue at some point or the other.
Some common risk factors that can affect a teen’s mental health are:
1. Peer pressure
2. Social Media Exposure
3. Unfavourable or abusive living conditions
4. Discrimination or exclusion
5. Social stigma
6. Poor quality of family relationships
7. Absence of one or both parents
8. Gender norms
9. Expectations from family and teachers
10. Unhealthy lifestyle
11. Early marriage or sexual exposure
12. Abusive relationships
13. Developmental issues
14. Intellectual disability
15. Health conditions
This list is long when it comes to factors affecting mental health. This shows that one’s mental health is quite fragile and can be easily impacted by common or regular happenings around them.
So, why are different teenagers affected differently despite having similar exposures? The difference lies in the intensity and duration of the exposure, the teen’s support system, and their maturity in handling such tricky situations.
Anxiety disorder is the most common type of emotional disorder in teenagers. Anxiety is very common among various age groups. A good dose of anxiety can help teenagers perform better at school, in sports or anything they care about. It becomes a disorder to worry about when the anxiety does not go away even after the completion of the specific event. It can make one worry beyond proportion and interfere with one’s daily activities.
Common anxiety symptoms to watch out for in your teenager:
● Looks agitated or restless
● Very sensitive to criticism or any feedback
● Overly worrying about things that may never happen
● Avoiding situations that can cause anxiety
● Being self-conscious or withdrawn
● Inability to concentrate or finish schoolwork
● Sleeping troubles
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a common type of behavioural disorder in young children and adolescents. Teenagers suffering from this disorder may seem “childish” or immature in their behaviour.
Common symptoms of ADHD in teens are:
● Difficulty in sitting still in one place
● Difficulty in following instructions and rules
● Difficulty in managing time, prioritising tasks and completing assignments
● Trouble paying attention
● Impulsive or risky behaviour
Feeling sad is very common. It is a common emotion everyone experiences. Depression is when a teenager continues to feel low or sad for a prolonged period of time. They stop showing interest in or enjoying what they used to do. Depression can set in slowly or be an after-effect or some specific incident or trauma. Some teenagers feel depressed even without a valid reason or could just be a lack of motivation.
Common symptoms of depression in teenagers are:
● Feeling sad, withdrawn or guilty for no apparent reason
● Frustration, anger, outbursts or irritation over small matters
● Loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy
● Decrease in or lack of communication with family and friends
● Drop in grades or underperforming in school (initially performed well)
● Sudden talks of death, suicide or hurting themselves
● Overthinking or fixating on past events.
The pressure of maintaining the perfect body size, shape or weight leads to eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia nervosa. Contrary to popular belief, eating disorders do not affect just girls, as many boys or males at birth are very conscious about their size, too. Eating disorders can become very dangerous and lead to medical complications or even premature death.
Common symptoms of eating disorders to watch out for:
● Strict diet restrictions
● Binge eating episodes or overeating when stressed
● Vomiting soon after a meal
● Refusing to eat anything high in calories
● Overly conscious about the food they eat
● Constant worry about weight and size
● Irritable or withdrawn
● Anorexia nervosa and Bullimia nervosa are two common eating disorders in teen
If you suspect your teenager could be suffering from some mental disorder, you can try the following:
1. Seek professional help if they do not communicate or may cause harm to themselves or others around them.
2. Let them express their feeling and emotions freely. Do not try to interfere or correct them. Letting out all the pent-up emotions can help.
3. Acknowledge their emotions and try to empathise. Dismissing their feeling, no matter how trivial or silly it may sound, will only deepen their depressive thoughts.
4. Try to engage them in some physical activities that can help them focus on something other than their problems. This can also increase the flow of the feel-good hormones and help change their mood.
5. Let them develop a new hobby or socialise more. Both can help shift their focus and improve their mood.
6. Encourage them to join support groups if they refuse to communicate or seek professional help. Mingling with like-minded teens can open their minds and help them feel seen.
7. Keep a close watch on their food and physical habits. Encourage them to follow a healthy lifestyle, including better food, regular exercise, quality sleep and other healthy habits.
8. Teach them not to focus on public opinions and ignore negative comments from their peers.
9. Talk to them about body positivity and help them accept their bodies for what they are instead of trying to drastically change them due to peer pressure.
10. Encourage them to start writing in a journal. A safe space to let out and express all their frustrations, fears, and worries can help.
Teenagers are vulnerable despite their tough attitudes. If you notice drastic changes in your teen, talk to them. Keeping the communication channel open can help avoid or improve many mental health issues. Providing them with the right help at the right time can make a big difference in how the teen handles difficult situations.
The most common mental disorders in teenagers are anxiety, depression, ADHD, OCD, eating disorders and behavioural disorders.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental issue. It affects the teen’s ability to focus on some task, sit still in a place or control impulses. It can also interfere with their time management and organisational skills.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health issue. It can cause extreme mood swings and change the teenager’s activities and energy levels. Teens suffering from this illness can engage in risky activities, harm themselves, have difficulty socialising and perform poorly in school.
Yes, eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia nervosa are common among adolescents and young adults.
