TEEN REBELLION
All teens are rebellious — right? Emotional turmoil is just a normal part of growing up — tight? Wrong and wrong again, says psychiatrist Daniel offer of Chicago. Over the past five years, he has studied 30,000 high school students. Conclusion: Most teens are doing fine. If yours is having constant problems, it’s time to seek help.
For most adolescence is a time of questioning family values and experimenting with new ideas. But these days, teen rebellion usually trivial matters, such as not taking out the garbage or sneaking the keys to the family car, says Daniel Offer. Despite some inevitable growing pains, most teens are “well-adjusted, get along well with their peers and parents, and feel good about their bodies”.
So why do teens get the rebellious rap? Dr. Offer’s study targets a hardcore minority — about 20% who do run into trouble. But parents and schools often shrug off these serious changes as normal. The teen is “going through a stage” they believe.
How to tell the difference between a normal degree of defiance and deeper disturbance? Look for sudden changes: losing friends, a significant drop in grades, chronic cranking loss of appetite.
“If it lasts just a few days, forget it — that’s normal,” says Offer. But after three weeks of odd behavior, it’s time for a chat. If there is still no change, he advises join to “seek a good counselor or mental health professional”.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 3, 1987
