Friday, September 25, 2015

Anxiety Disorders in Teenagers

At El Pueblo Boys' & Girls' Ranch Inc., young people have access to a variety of services for mental and emotional well-being. For youth aged 10 to 17 who struggle with anxiety and similar disorders, El Pueblo...an Adolescent Treatment Community provides residential, short-term, or outpatient treatment as appropriate.

Most adolescents experience short-term or situational anxiety every now and again. The feeling is a normal stress response and can help teens to avoid dangerous behaviors. However, for some teens, anxiety becomes persistent or constant. It can interfere with the teen's education, social life, and everyday functioning. This level of anxiety is dangerous not only to the teen's immediate well-being, but also to his or her future functioning, as untreated anxiety in teens can have enduring implications on mental health.

Teenagers with anxiety disorders often feel or seem tense, restless, or agitated. They may worry disproportionately or expect the worst case scenario and are often unable to calm themselves. Teen anxiety may also present itself with physical symptoms, such as sore muscles, heart palpitations, sleeplessness, or headaches. Anxiety may cause a teen to become socially withdrawn, isolated, or unusually self-conscious. Teens who show these symptoms may require outside intervention, and it may be up to a caring adult to suggest and encourage such support.                            

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Inpatient Treatment Can Be Good Option for Adolescents in Crisis

A Colorado-based facility, El Pueblo Boys' & Girls' Ranch Inc. treats children and adolescents with mental and behavioral health challenges. In addition to providing longer-term support for patients, El Pueblo…an Adolescent Treatment Community provides short-term care for adolescents who are displaying unsafe behaviors. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), strategies to support adolescents in crisis are important measures that can help prevent suicide among individuals in this age group.

As the American Academy for Pediatrics (AAP) explains, suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19. Although there is no test to definitively identify an individual’s suicide risk, adolescents with a personal history of depression or family history of psychiatric disorders are at higher risk of suicide. Any adolescent who expresses suicidal ideation and has a clearly defined method or plan for self-harm should undergo evaluation by a mental health professional.

A residential stay at a mental health facility is often the best option for adolescents contemplating suicide. During residential care, adolescents can receive a full psychiatric and medical evaluation, along with commencement of needed treatment.