How can you tell if your teen’s temperament is a simple display of anger or a signal of a disorder at hand?
Teenagers can be notorious for their mood swings at the period of adolescence so distinguishing between anger or a full-blown disorder can get tricky. But here’s where keen observation can come in.
Before your paranoia sinks in or you choose to jump to any conclusions just yet, try to step back and observe. It may prove especially helpful if you list down, make a note of, or write down the characteristics or behaviors your child is portraying. This may be the primary and most basic step involved in assessing your teen’s temperament.
Review your observations
Following this, take time for yourself to go through the list or notes and review if in your perspective your teenager needs more observation. If this is the case, then you may take it to the next level. Observe again another time your child displays problem behavior or temperament. This time, when you review your child’s actions try and sort out characteristics that seem to belong or cluster together. Once you have done this, keep your notes together for important future reference.
When to consider professional help
If your child’s temperament ceases to act up then you may choose to confront your teen and talk to him or her about the manner of his/her behavior. You can even go over the characteristics you observed with him/her, discussing the particular ones which significantly bothered you and in what ways. If he/she responds to this talk without heavy conflict or tension and with easy comprehension, your suspicions of a full-blown disorder may be put to rest. But if your child’s temperament does not cool down or taper off to a settling period, or if a clear discussion with him/her about his behavior is practically impossible, then you may choose to seek professional help. Discuss with the professional
But keep in mind that choosing to seek professional help does not automatically mean that your teenager is now diagnosed with some kind of disorder. But all the same, you may not just dismiss the possibility as well.
Take the notes that you have and discuss them with the counselor or psychologist, after this he may decide to observe your teenager for himself. The psychologist may then make his own conclusions regarding your teenager’s temperament. From here your teen may get involved as therapy may begin from this point if the professional finds it appropriate. |
