What is a normal teenager?
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What is a normal teenager?
| Tue, 08-29-2006 - 8:00am |
Wow!! Who knew raising a teenager would be so hard!! I'm so glad I've found this board!! I will try to make a long story short. Two years ago we moved to a new state. My kids (dd 13 and ds 8 then) did not want to move. After a while they came around and loved where we moved to. There was another corporate "shake up" and we moved back to our original state. We put the kids back into the schools they were at previously. My ds is fine. My dd (now 15) hates (her words) it here. We've been back a year and her mood hasn't changed. She has a ugly attitude about everything and I don't know what to do. She "hates" her school, her life, herself, etc. She thinks she fat (she's actually skinny). Just everything is going down the tubes. The school she is in is a four star school, excellent academics, etc. She says "everyone" there does drugs, drinks or is having sex, therefore she doesn't want to be around them. I know every kid is not into all or any of that but I'm sure it exists. I'm proud of her for having such high morals but she can be extremely judgemental. I'm trying to find a way to deal with her negative thinking. I've talked to her about positive self talk. She doesn't want to hear it. She told me the other day she thinks she's bi-polar. I truly don't think she is but I'm not a doctor. She is extremely emotional, crying one minute and laughing the next. She seems to be working angry into that too now. My dh says she a typical teenager. Sometimes I think she is other times I'm not so sure. It appears to me sometime she's manipulating us with all of this. I've tried to sympathize and talk to her but she always ends up mad at me and says I want her to be perfect. I don't want her to be perfect nor do I expect it. She's always set high goals for herself and now she doesn't even want to talk about any goals. I don't push her I let it go. I can tell you if I saw someone else's child talk to their parents like she talks to me I would think the child needed to be grounded a good while. I haven't grounded her because I'm not sure what's really going on here, power struggle, attention, etc. I guess what I'm wondering is if this is truly normal or if I should seek out a counselor? Is it just time I put my foot down and say enough?

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As the mother of a Bipolar child, who will be 13 in October, I can tell you that knowing what is normal teen and what is Bipolar can be difficult at times.
Since BP in children and adolecents looks different than it does in adults,it's possible that the check list you looked was for adults with the condition, in which case you didn't get a clear picture of what bp looks like in a teen. I suggest that you consider having a psychiatric evaluation done if there is any family history of the disorder, or if there is family history of depression and/or anxiety. Bipolar disorder is hereditary and often there is a history of other mood disorders within the family.
Here is a check list that may help.
These are commonly seen behaviors. Not all behaviors are seen in every Bipolar child/teen. However, it is a good guideline to follow to help you decide if a psychiatric evaluation is warrented.
• crying for no apparent reason
• an expansive or irritable mood
• depression
• rapidly changing moods lasting a few minutes to a few days
• explosive, lengthy, and often destructive rages
• separation anxiety
• defiance of authority
• hyperactivity, agitation, and distractibility
• sleeping too little or too much
• night terrors
• strong and frequent cravings, often for carbohydrates and sweets
• excessive involvement in multiple projects and activities
• impaired judgment, impulsivity, racing thoughts, and pressure to keep talking
• dare devil behaviors
• inappropriate or precocious sexual behavior
• delusions and hallucinations (both auditory and visual hallucinations can be present)
• grandiose belief in personal abilities that defy the laws of logic (ability to fly, knows more than the teacher or principal)
• extreme irritability
I hope this helps. Bipolar disorder is a lifetime condition which has no cure. However, it can be controled through medication and changes in lifestyle. I wish you the best.
Stacy
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