Tools for Teens to Cultivate Gratitude

 

We as human beings have a wonderful power. We have the power to change our thoughts, mood, and feelings with a simply choice. Although it might take some time to cultivate the mood we want, it's possible to go from anger to appreciation, from sadness to happiness, from sorrow to joy. 

Making this shift requires two things: awareness and the willingness to choose differently. For instance, first you need to be aware of the mood you're in. You first need to acknowledge what you're feeling. Then, once you're aware of how you're feeling, then you must be willing to shift your thoughts toward something more positive. It's not easy. It's sometimes easier to continue feeling angry or sad or frustrated. It might be hard at first to switch your thoughts to gratitude, for example, and positivity.

However, if you're willing to let go of the challenging emotion you have and instead focus on what's going well, you might experience a glimmer of hope, joy, and even love. For instance, you can focus on what's positive by exploring all the people, places, and things that you're grateful for. 

If you're experiencing self-criticism, self-judgment, or other forms of negative thinking that's putting you in a depressed or anxious mood, try using one of the following tools:

Journal. By writing out your thoughts and feelings, you let them go to the notebook, so to speak. And doing so helps to create clarity about your life. You create space in your mind for what's positive and what you're grateful for. Journaling also allows you to take an honest stock of your life and how your perceptions might change over time. Although last year you might have felt frustrated with your parents, for instance. This year perhaps you're feeling grateful for how they are there for you more often than you think. 

Make a gratitude list. Another way to quickly shift your mood is to write down what you're grateful for.  Write out all the facets of your life you have appreciation for. Write out what brings joy and happiness to your life. Make a list of the people whom you rely on and how they have helped out in the past. Write down the places you've visited that have brought you pleasant experiences. 

Write a thank you letter to someone who has supported you. Another way to step into a grateful mood is to think of someone who has provided you with their help. Would you like to acknowledge them in some way? What did they do for you that you feel grateful for? 

Write a thank you letter to yourself. Although it sounds odd, there are likely plenty of things you have done or said that have made a difference in your life. Did you work hard in Chemistry class so that you can pass the 11th grade? Did you write a letter to the local paper that got your school (and you) recognized for something special? What have you done for yourself that has paid off? Write about that. 

Use relaxation tools. When the mind and body are relaxed, your inner resources are more easily accessible. In this state, you might see your situation differently. An answer to your problem might come forward or an insight might arise that allows you to see a stressful or negative situation differently.  One way to relax the mind is through meditation. Or use guided imagery to go to various imagined peaceful places. You might also use deep breathing, particularly right in those intense moments. 

Teens, these are suggestions for creating a positive mood when you're feeling lost, confused, depressed, or frustrated. Use them to shift your mood and your perspective on life.

The Topic of Screening for Teen Depression Reemerges

 

Late in 2015, a federal advisory group encouraged doctors to screen teens for major depression. However, they threw in a caveat and said only if teens have access to mental health services. This caveat is important because it will do no good if a teen is identified by a medical doctor as having depression but then doesn't have a mental health provider who can properly diagnose and treat depression. 

There's a reason why this issue continues to come up among public health officials. And that is about thousands of teens who have depression never get treated. In fact, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (a panel of experts who advise the federal government on medicine and health policy) only 36% to 44% of children and adolescents with depression receive treatment. 

What makes matters worse is that untreated teen depression can get worse over time. It can lead to suicidal thinking and attempts of suicide. In some cases, teens lose their lives when it could have been prevented with mental health treatment. Furthermore, untreated depression also poses risks to teens, such as increasing the risk of sexual activity, pregnancy, and substance use. 

For all these reasons and more, screenings for mental illness has been a recommendation by federal health officials for over a decade. However, it is still not mandatory partly because of the necessity for adequate mental health services for those who are screened and identified. But also because of the costs that come with screening. 

Despite the clear benefits to screening teens, there are also some disadvantages. For instance, some parents are concerned that there will be over-diagnosis of teens as well as giving them life-long labels that they will have to bear. Another significant concern of many families is the fear that screenings will uncover illnesses in their teens that they do not have the financial resources or health insurance coverage to treat. There is also the problem of false positives – teens who appear to have a problem but don’t and are asked to participate in therapy and/or take medication. And lastly, some parents simply do not want their children treated despite a screening that pointed to a psychological disorder. Although there are some obvious reasons to screen teens for depression, many families have legitimate concerns. 

Despite the concerns and disadvantages to screening, public health officials recommend that doctors have teens sit down at a computer and fill out a short survey about their mental health. Yet, at this time, most medical doctors are not  screening adolescents for depression. There are some schools, however, such as those throughout Baltimore and Chicago that do extensive screening of their students. Students fill out short questionnaires, such as in Minnesota where they are required to answer anonymous surveys about drug use and depression. 

If you suspect that your teen is showing signs of depression, don't wait for a school administrator or medical doctor to share their opinion. Instead, take your teen to a mental health provider or visit the school counselor for information on how to get mental health for your teen.

How to Best Support a Teen with Borderline Personality Disorder

 

Teens with personality disorders deserve some time to grow before that kind of diagnosis is set in stone. Typically, teens haven't yet grown into their personalities. They haven't yet grown into their minds, bodies, and emotions. Because the brain is still in development during adolescence, there is still a lot to grow into as a teen. However, some teens might begin to show signs of having a personality disorder. 

A personality disorder is considered to be a mental illness in which there are long-lasting unhealthy behaviors, thought patterns, and inner experiences, which seem to hold true across many areas of a person's life. These unhealthy patterns and behaviors often go against the grain of what society is willing to accept. For instance, someone with a personality disorder might be aggressive, intense, socially awkward, self-harming, or overly emotional. The unhealthy patterns of a personality disorder tend to be unchanging or inflexible, bringing about significant distress in a person's life. However, because a teen is still growing, the symptoms that he or she experiences might not be the inflexible patterns of a personality disorder, but rather another psychological illness. 

Nonetheless, there are some teens who already show signs of a personality disorder. For example, Borderline Personality Disorder is an illness that some adolescents are diagnosed with. This illness can come with the following symptoms:

·         Extreme reactions, such as panic, rage, or frantic behavior.

·         A pattern of intense and stormy relationships with family and friends.

·         Swinging from idealizing others to extremely disliking them

·         Avoiding real or imagined abandonment

·         An inability to maintain a stable sense of self

·         Dangerous and impulsive behavior 

·         Self-Harming Behavior

·         Mood Instability

·         Chronically feeling empty

·         Inability to regulate feelings of anger

·         Signs of dissociation with reality

The deep-seated traits in a teen’s behavior is the primary indicator of Borderline Personality Disorder. Symptoms are chronic and typically represent a teen’s baseline. In other words, these symptoms are inherent in a teen’s usual behavior. For instance, a teen with this illness may experience impulsivity, irritability, and aggression may experience these symptoms regularly. Furthermore, teens with this illness tend to have mood swings, as indicated above. However, unlike Bipolar Disorder (classically known as an illness with extreme mood swings), teens with Borderline Personality Disorder experience mood swings that are abrupt, short-lived, and often in response to an external trigger.

To best support a teen with Borderline Personality Disorder, it's best to get them professional support. Therapies, such as Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, addresses the many difficulties a teen can have. Teens can also learn coping tools, build support networks, learn better relational skills, and boost their self esteem in therapy, all of which can equip them to better face the symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder. 

If you or someone you know experiences any of the above symptoms, contact a mental health professional assistance. With the right diagnosis, whether it's Borderline Personality Disorder or another illness, a teen can begin to receive proper treatment to address their symptoms.

Managing the Symptoms of Teen Bipolar Disorder

 

Bipolar Disorder is characterized by the swing of moods between mania and depression. It can be difficult for both a teen as well as his or her family to cope with this illness. The symptoms of this disorder can be tricky and challenging to manage. However, with the right tools and support, it can be done. This article will provide a clear description of the typical symptoms of bipolar disorder and the steps to take to manage them. 

There are two distinct experiences that come with Bipolar Disorder – mania and depression. Mania might feel good for a teen who is experiencing it because it can sometimes come with great creativity, wonderful insights, brilliant ideas, and feelings of invincibility. At the same time, mania can feel uncomfortable. Here are some additional symptoms of mania that can make it an uneasy experience:

·         Irritability

·         Intensity

·         Dangerous choices

·         Risky behavior with little awareness of any potential consequences

·         Belief in doing well might keep a teen from taking their medication

A teen who is manic might max out his parent's credit card, have unprotected sex with someone he or she hardly knows, or go gambling and bet his or her entire savings at the casino. Mania might at the surface seem like it's a version of happiness, but it's a mood that comes with significant risks. 

At some point, a teen with Bipolar Disorder will swing to the other side of the spectrum and experience depression. Bipolar disorder (bi meaning two) is characterized by the swing of moods between mania and depression, moving between both poles. An episode of depression can come with the following symptoms:

·         Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood

·         Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

·         Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

·         Loss of interest or pleasure in activities

·         Loss of interest in sexual activity

·         Decreased energy or fatigue

·         Difficulty making decisions, concentrating or focusing

·         Difficulty in memory

·         Restlessness or irritability

·         Oversleeping

·         Sudden weight gain or loss

·         Suicidal ideation

In order to best manage these experiences, there are some relied upon treatment methods that have been successful over time. The cycles between mania and depression can continue to worsen if not treated. And the swing between both these states can be incredibly uncomfortable and unsafe. Typically, treatment of Bipolar Disorder includes minimizing mood swings through the use of medication and therapy. Typical forms of treatment might include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, life skills training, psycho-education, and hospitalization, if necessary. When medication is combined with therapy, there is a greater chance of maintaining mental health and managing the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder.

If you're a teen experiencing the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder or if you haven't told an adult about your experience, talk to a parent, teacher, or school counselor about what's going on. The sooner you can get support for yourself, the better.