Question

Prepare a three minutes speech on behavioural change in adolescents

Answer 1

Hi,

The teen years are a challenging time for both teenagers and their parents. Teenagers, stuck between adulthood and childhood, must contend with a number of physical and psychological changes. This manifests itself in behavioral changes and, unfortunately, many of the attitudes and actions of your typical teen can resemble behavior that might signify substance abuse or a mental health issue. So, how does a parent know what to look for and what it means? It is mostly a question of nuance and context. Here are some key behavioral changes and ways to distinguish between typical teenage behavior and the signs of alcohol or drug abuse.

Secretiveness

As part of asserting their independence, teenagers place a high premium on privacy. Children who never thought to conceal much of anything from their families suddenly become very protective of their world and selective about what they share with their parents. There is a difference, however, between craving privacy and being sneaky. For example, if your teen begins to lock his or her door that is not necessarily a problem. When your teen does answer the door, try to notice other things that might distinguish secretiveness that is secret or troublesome. These include: the smell of smoke, alcohol or drug in their room or clothes; illicit paraphernalia; odd behavior such as paranoia, extreme drowsiness, anxiety, or low responsiveness. As a parent, you know your teen best and should be able to discern between normal and furtive behavior, and always keep an honest, open, non-judgmental dialogue with him or her.

Moodiness

Everything in a teen’s world has heightened significance, which often translates into elevated and unpredictable emotions. However, if an emotion persists over an extended period or there’s a detectable pattern, your child might be using drugs or alcohol.  While it is not unusual for a teen to seem sullen, angry, sad, or distant at times or to experience mood swings, that should be the exception not the rule. Keep in mind that while these can be indicators of drug and alcohol abuse, they can also be signs of depression or a difficult situation you do not know about. The best way to know what is happening with your teen is to ask. Starting with questions about drug or alcohol use will probably not get you very far, whether your teen is abusing them or not. Expressing your concern and explaining the things you have noticed, however, could be the beginnings of a very important conversation.

Physical Appearance

It is not uncommon for teens to alter their appearance. What may seem drastic to you may just be them trying on a different persona. In large part, you have to pick your battles when a teen’s appearance is involved. For example, dyeing hair, applying elaborate makeup, or making unusual fashion choices are generally not a big deal. Conversely, significant weight loss or gain, sloppiness, decreased hygiene, and unusual skin pallor are all physical indicators something has changed and needs to be addressed. If your teen looks unhealthy, he or she probably is. While that can mean substance abuse, it can also indicate a mental health or other medical issue. In order for your conversations to be productive, these issues need to be addressed with particular sensitivity. These changes can be part of the normal growing process and are often a source of embarrassment. You should still address these issues with your teen.

Changes in Relationships and Interests

Teenagers frequently acquire new friends and interests. They may also leave behind friendships and activities from their past. All of this is normal behavior. It is alarming, however, if they actively avoid introducing you to these new friends or their old interests do not seem to be replaced with new ones. Grades are an excellent way of gauging your teen’s current situation. Slipping grades, while not uncommon, are a red flag and should not be ignored. Likewise, if your once enthusiastically athletic or artistic child suddenly has no interest in sports or the arts, you should at the very least ask why the switch has occurred. Maybe he or she just wants to try something different or the pressure of school does not leave much time and energy for those activities. On the other hand, more serious matters like depression and drug or alcohol abuse could be the underlying

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Answer 2

the age of 13-19 years. this period is called adolescence. during this period changes are observed inside (internal) and out side( external) the body.for example , changes in voice,growing tall etc.you will show interest to spend time with peers.the changes may be misleading.adolescents not show the interest to discuss about the changes with their parents. they have a lot of stress due to these changes and unable to decide whether they belong to adulthood or childhood.this is the period of confusion and transition.an individual reaches his/ her maximum height during adolescence period only.naturally in adolescence,boy and girls take care of their face and look frequently in mirror.they also feel worried of their pimples and acnes.the secretions of sweat and sebaceous gland in adolescents are very active.