West Ridge Academy's Tips On How To Identify A Troubled Teen

West Ridge Academy Academics- The Best Ways To Spot Trouble With Your Teen Parents, we understand that there are times when it is difficult to see signs of trouble with your teen. This article titled “West Ridge Academy Academics- The Best Ways To Spot Trouble With Your Teen” is here to help. We have four major ways to spot signs of trouble with your teen with drugs, sex, self-esteem, and school.

First – Drugs. There are many signs to look out for if your child is becoming addicted to drugs.

Your teen may begin to neglect their responsibilities at school, work, or home. Your teen may begin taking noticeable risks, probably while they are high, such as driving while on drugs, or becoming sexually active. Your teen may also begin getting into legal trouble, such as arrest for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, or stealing. Lastly, your teen may begin to have problems in their relationships, such as fights with boyfriend/girlfriend, they be upsetting their boss at work or principle at school, or a loss of old friends.

Second – Sex. Are you wondering if your teen is sexually active? If so some signs to look out for are, if your teen is more secretive about activities with boyfriends/girlfriends related to sexual activity trying to hide various forms of birth control. Some signs are more obvious than others.

Certain health signs can indicate sexual activity, such as recurring bladder infections, pain in the lower abdomen that is treated with antibiotics, and recurring yeast infections. Parents should not assume the cause and accuse the child, but discuss the possible factors and seek to inform and teach their child that sexual behavior can lead to serious consequences, especially in children who are too young to take on the responsibility of being sexually active Third – Self-Esteem. Adolescence is a time of extreme change. At the same time that teens are experiencing mood swings and insecurities from hormones, their bodies are growing and changing drastically. This may cause troubles with self-esteem. These changes from puberty, combined with a natural desire to feel accepted, mean it can be tempting for people to compare themselves with others. Teens may compare themselves with the people around them or with celebrities they see in magazines, television, and movies. You can help by being a good rolemodel, being positive, emphasizing other qualities over appearance.

Fourth – School. Have you noticed your teen having trouble in school? There is always a solution to help them with public school. Parents typically look for alternative high schools because their son/daughter is not succeeding in the "normal" high school environment.

Alternative schools service troubled teens who are failing in school because of add, ADHD, bipolar, depression, anxiety, anger, low self-esteem, drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and many other problems. Public school districts are required by law to offer alternative education to teens who struggle with succeeding in traditional schools. Alternative schools help prevent school drop-out by offering smaller class sizes for high school or middle school aged boys and girls, a more flexible curriculum, and better accommodation for behavioral problems.