Author: ROWI

The teenage years are a time of significant physical and emotional changes, and it’s common for teenagers to experience mood swings. These changes can be challenging for both the teenager and their family members to navigate. In this article, we’ll explore what normal teenage mood swings are and how to handle them.

What are teenage mood swings?

Mood swings are rapid and intense changes in a person’s emotional state. They are a normal part of human development and can be triggered by a range of factors, including hormonal changes, stress, anxiety, and social pressures.

During adolescence, hormonal changes are a significant factor that can lead to mood swings. Hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone fluctuate wildly during puberty, leading to unpredictable changes in mood.

Other factors that can contribute to teenage mood swings include changes in relationships with family and friends, academic stress, and self-esteem issues. Teenagers are also more prone to stress and anxiety than adults due to their  changing brain chemistry  and the pressure to fit in.

How to handle teenage mood swings

Teenage mood swings can be challenging for both the teenager and their parents or guardians to deal with. Here are some tips to help manage mood swings:

1. Validate their feelings: The first step in managing teenage mood swings is to validate their feelings. Let them know that it’s normal to feel moody, and that you understand that it can be challenging. This can help your teen feel heard and understood.
2. Encourage open communication: Encourage your teenager to talk openly about their feelings. Create a safe and non-judgmental space where they can express their thoughts and emotions without fear of criticism or punishment.
3. Maintain a routine: A regular routine can help regulate mood swings. Encourage your teenager to maintain a consistent sleep schedule, eat nutritious foods, and engage in regular physical activity.
4. Manage stress: Stress can contribute to mood swings. Help your teenager identify sources of stress and teach them healthy coping mechanisms, such as deep breathing, meditation, or exercise.
5. Seek professional help if necessary: If your teenager’s mood swings are severe or interfere with their daily life, seek professional help. A therapist or counselor can help your teenager develop healthy coping mechanisms and provide support during difficult times.

Mood swings are a normal part of teenage development, but they can be challenging for both teenagers and their families to manage. Understanding the factors that contribute to mood swings and implementing healthy coping mechanisms can help teenagers navigate this challenging time. By creating a supportive environment, maintaining a routine, and seeking professional help when necessary, parents and guardians can help their teenagers thrive during this exciting and transformative stage of life.

How ROWI Can Help

ROWI Teen & Parent Wellness Centers can help you and your teenager with professional mental health support.  Each of our clients receives a treatment plan that will support them in meeting their goals. Programs are individualized in order to meet each client and family where they are at in the process. To find out more, use our contact us form or call our Admissions Team at 805-356-3477, and one of our helpful coordinators will assist you in completing an application, scheduling an assessment, verifying your insurance, and get you, your family, and teen started on your journey to mental wellness.

As teenagers navigate the ups and downs of adolescence, they may struggle with mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. While traditional weekly therapy can be effective in addressing these concerns, Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOPs) offer a more comprehensive approach that may be better suited to the needs of teens.

IOPs are structured treatment programs that provide more support than traditional outpatient therapy, but do not require 24-hour inpatient care. Instead, IOPs provide a higher level of care than traditional outpatient therapy, while still allowing teens to maintain their daily routines, attend school, and live at home. 

Why IOP’s are a Valuable Option for Teens Struggling with Mental Health Issues:

1. Increased frequency of therapy sessions: One of the primary benefits of IOPs is that they offer more frequent therapy sessions than traditional outpatient therapy. This means that teens receive more support and can work through their issues more quickly. IOPs typically involve several therapy sessions per week, which can be a significant increase from traditional outpatient therapy, which may only involve one session per week.
2. Greater support from peers: In an IOP, teens have the opportunity to connect and co-regulate with peers who are going through similar experiences. This can be incredibly valuable, as it can provide a sense of community and support that may not be available in traditional outpatient therapy.
3. More comprehensive treatment: IOPs typically offer a more comprehensive approach to treatment than traditional outpatient therapy. This may include individual therapy, group therapy, family therapy, and other forms of support. This approach can help teens address their issues from multiple angles, leading to more successful outcomes. 
4. Flexibility: IOPs offer greater flexibility than inpatient treatment, allowing teens to maintain their daily routines and attend school. This can be particularly important for teens who may not want to disrupt their lives by taking time away from school or other activities.
5. Eliminate the need for higher level of care:  With frequency, community support and comprehensive service delivery, IOP programs can mitigate needs for acute care or higher levels of support.

Overall, IOPs can be a valuable option for teens struggling with mental health issues. While traditional outpatient therapy can be effective, IOPs offer a more comprehensive approach that can provide teens with the support they need to overcome their challenges. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, it may be worth considering an IOP like ROWI’s as a treatment option. 

 Contact us to learn more and to get support for your teen. 

PHP vs. IOP for Teen & Adolescent Mental Health Treatment 

As your child approaches their teenage years, they will face a number of different challenges, both physiological and psychological. It can be difficult for your teen to navigate the variety of changes that face them, from puberty and hormones to social issues like bullying and peer pressure. As a parent/caregiver, it can be just as difficult to find ways to support your teen during this time.

In order to provide support, it is important to understand the variety of challenges your teen may be facing. During puberty, males and females will experience a variety of physical changes including hair growth, muscle growth, changes in voice, breast development, menstruation, and acne. Your teen may also experience changes in body shape, including height and weight. 

Oftentimes, when our physical appearance changes, we also experience psychological and social changes. Socially, teens face issues of peer pressure, bullying, sexual activity, drug/alcohol use, social media pressure, etc., on a daily basis. When not properly coped with, these stressors and issues can lead to symptoms of anxiety, depression, risk-taking behaviors, academic problems, and thoughts/engagement in suicidal ideation and self-harm, to name a few.

Options for Teen & Adolescent Mental Health Treatment

There are a variety of options for adolescent mental health treatment. Mental health treatment can range from weekly talk therapy to intensive residential programs. If your child is experiencing any of the above symptoms–especially symptoms related to safety– it is highly recommended and important to talk with your teen and a mental health professional to determine an appropriate level of care.

Partial Hospitalization Program

Partial Hospitalization (or “PHP”) is a structured, outpatient program that is an appropriate treatment option for individuals who need additional support with executive functioning, positive peer interaction, and are able to maintain safety while at home. Most PHP programming is Monday through Friday for a minimum of 5 hours per day.  While in PHP, your teen will receive comprehensive services, from individual therapy and group therapy to medication management. One of the many benefits of PHP level of care is that, despite the intensiveness of the program, those that participate in PHP will return home at the end of each day.  The main goal in PHP is stabilization so that your teen can acclimate to their normal routine. Other benefits of being in PHP include: having a space to learn and practice coping skills, increased social contact, having a daily routine, a space to process one’s depression and anxiety, and constant safety planning. Once PHP treatment is completed, it is recommended that your teen step down to Intensive Outpatient (“IOP”).

Intensive Outpatient Program

Intensive Outpatient or IOP is mental health treatment that individuals can participate in while still engaged in school and/or work. Typically, IOP is 3 hours of programming per day for 3-4 days per week. IOP is the perfect treatment model for individuals who need more than weekly therapy but are able to maintain enough safety to function successfully in school or at work. IOP is a great step-down option for anyone who was previously in a PHP level of care because IOP takes the skills one has learned in PHP and gives space for an individual to apply it in their day-to-day life. In IOP, you have the structure of treatment with the flexibility of life.

How ROWI Teen Can Help Your Family

To get started with ROWI Teen & Parent Wellness Centers, submit a request or simply call our Admissions Team at 805-356-3477 and one of our helpful coordinators will assist you in completing an application, scheduling an assessment, and verifying your insurance to get you, your family, and teen started on your journey to mental wellness.                                    

Anxiety in Adolescents

ROWI

August 2, 2022

Did you know that ROWI offers on-site mental health treatment programs for teens and adolescents during the summer months? Our summer programming is also focused on improving mental wellness in teens ages 12-18 and is based upon the most current evidence-based clinical practices, integrating positive approaches to patient care. While our school year PHP programs incorporate academic instruction, our summer programs focus on:

• Comprehensive Bio-Psycho-Social Assessment with a behavior program designed to address your child’s specific needs
• Medication evaluation, intervention, and review as needed
• Therapeutic groups, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectic behavioral therapy, social skills, and mindfulness
• Holistic and recreational therapy groups such as surf, art, meditation and music.

Why Mental Health Programming for Teens in the Summer is Important

Summertime = down time.  This time is an opportunity for teens to build the skills they need to better function at home, in the world, and then when it’s back to school time. This is a time for teens and adolescents to build healthy relationships and work on self esteem, anger management, and other life skills.

 

Sample Day of Summer Teen Mental Health Program Activities

Please call 805.356.3477 to learn more and get your teen or adolescent the support they need.

A diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder typically occurs in toddlerhood or early childhood.  It is possible for physicians, clinicians, and parents to miss or overlook the sign of Autism until late childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood.  People that are diagnosed later often have received another diagnosis while the underlying Autism went undetected.  Many people with Autism have a co-morbid (co-occurring) diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and/or Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Even when a person is diagnosed later in life, the symptoms will have been present since they were very young.  Though they may have been masked, in order to qualify for an Autism diagnosis, symptoms must have been present from early childhood.

Why do some children receive an autism diagnosis later in life?

The symptoms of Autism may be masked for many reasons and therefore diagnosis during early childhood did not occur.  People with Autism that are high functioning are usually of average or even above-average intelligence.  In many situations, children with undiagnosed Autism have immense strengths that do not raise many red flags in the elementary school settings.  When children are able to do well in school, perform well on an IQ test and communicate it will usually send parents, teachers, and pediatricians to explore other options for a child’s unexpected or unusual behaviors.  When academic work becomes more abstract and social interactions become more complex these children/adolescents begin to show more challenges in the home, school, and community settings. 

Some research suggests that females are less likely to be diagnosed at a young age.  A 2015 study titled “Sex and gender differences in autism spectrum disorder,” reports that symptoms of autism manifest differently in females and tend to display better functional social skills and awareness than males on the autism spectrum.

What are the early signs of autism disorder?

There are some signs to be aware of if you are unsure if your loved one may be on the autism spectrum but is undiagnosed. Some of the signs to look for are being overly anxious in social situations, appearing blunt or rude without intention, avoiding eye contact or giving uncomfortable eye contact, difficulty making and/or maintaining friendships, and difficulty understanding what others are thinking and feeling (theory of mind), having exquisite knowledge about a narrow topic of interest, engaging in strict routines and becoming dysregulated when change occurs, difficulty understanding social norms and social cues and high levels of sensory sensitivity (smells, tastes, textures).

If you think you or your loved one may have an autism spectrum disorder your physician or a mental health professional can support and guide you to find the appropriate referrals for a neuropsychological assessment.  These assessments are usually completed by a clinical psychologist.  When a diagnosis occurs later in life, there are appropriate therapies and ASD programs including cognitive behavioral therapy, social skills training, and behavioral therapy that can help a person to gain more insight into themselves as well as increase socially appropriate interactions and behaviors.

Having a loved one diagnosed later in life may come with guilt due to not recognizing the signs earlier.  It is important to remember that receiving a diagnosis for many people that have an autism spectrum disorder begins a journey toward self-awareness and acceptance.