Whether a teen is struggling with a mental illness or is simply going through a hard time, it’s important that they have the support and tools needed to cope in a healthy way. That’s not something we’re born knowing how to do. It’s something we learn.

Although growing up is rarely easy, some young people have a more difficult time than others. So, what do you need to know about how to help a teenager with mental health issues?

There are different types of mental health conditions, treatment programs, and therapy options. There are some dos and don’ts that can be helpful for parents to know if a child comes to them for support. All of it can be overwhelming. If you’re here, you’re doing a great job.

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center is a leader in Arizona youth behavioral health services. We provide Joint Commission-accredited mental health and addiction treatment services for teens and adolescents, supporting young people and their families with their unique needs in mind.

How to Help a Teenager with Mental Health Issues: Why Treatment Matters

Worldwide, about 1 in 7 people aged 10-17 have a mental health disorder.[1] But, anyone can struggle with their mental health. Adolescent and teenage years are often very challenging times, riddled with change, pressure, and new responsibilities.

Anyone can benefit from therapy. Teens may get mental health services to:

• Manage stress.
• Learn how to express and cope with feelings in healthy ways.
• Reduce symptoms of mental health disorders (people with some mental health problems may recover fully, no longer meeting criteria for a disorder).
• Navigate situations or events, like grief, loss, or life transitions (e.g., moving, divorce).
• Build problem-solving skills and increase self-efficacy.
• Treat substance abuse and lower relapse risk.

These are just some examples of therapy outcomes and goals. We work from an individualized perspective and are here to help your teen meet theirs.

Finding Out More About Mental Health Support for Teens and Adolescents at Artemis

Our center is a supportive environment for young people and their families. Here’s a little bit about who we help, the treatment options at Artemis, and some of the main therapies we use.

Who We Help: Conditions Treated Successfully

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center helps teens and adolescents looking for mental health care in Arizona. We work with concerns including, but not limited to:

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
• Mood disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder).
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
• Trauma.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Anxiety disorders.
• Emotional dysregulation.
• Personality disorders.
• Schizophrenia and related disorders.
• Eating disorders.
• Self-harm.
• Substance abuse.

Our diverse team of experts makes it possible for the youth in our programs to get the effective, tailored care they deserve.

What Therapies Are Used in Effective Adolescent Mental Health Care Settings?

There are many types of therapy that are considered evidence-based. At Artemis, we take a personalized approach that combines the most effective treatments for your child’s concern(s) and needs. These may include, but aren’t limited to:

• Dialectical behavior therapy.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy.
• Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing.
• Supportive holistic treatments and healthy activities (e.g., yoga, physical activity).
• Experiential therapy (e.g., expressive arts).
• Acceptance and commitment therapy.
• Psychodynamic therapy.
• Motivational therapies.

Medication management services are available for youth who benefit from or already take medication. Though not all teens will need medication, it’s important to have a provider you can trust if they do.

Getting Involved in Your Child’s Care

At Artemis, family involvement is strongly encouraged. Visitation is allowed. If your child is in residential inpatient treatment, you can come see them. Clients at all levels of care are encouraged to participate in family therapy alongside group and individual therapy sessions.

Family members also play an important role in aftercare planning and supporting youth at home. Our team will work with you to create optimal circumstances for your child. Things like structured routines and school accommodations, for example, benefit many teens and adolescents.

Dos and Don’ts for Supporting Teens and Adolescents Struggling with Mental Health

Parents and other loved ones can be an incredible support for young people who are struggling with their mental health. Here are some dos and don’ts if you’re wondering how to help a teenager with mental health issues.

Do:

• Stay calm.
• Listen and validate.
• Seek professional help.
• Keep an open dialogue about mental health.
• Help teens create safety plans*.

Don’t:

• Get angry. Take a moment to cool down before you talk if you need to.
• Dismiss or minimize. Some events might feel bigger to teens than they do to adults. Rather than focus on the event itself or try to fix it, focus on your teen’s feelings.
• Ignore it. Mental health issues are easier to treat early.[2] If left unaddressed, they often worsen. They can affect everything from physical health to relationships, school, and work.
• Make it about you. Mental health challenges can happen to anyone. It doesn’t indicate a flaw in you or your family. Express empathy for the teen’s distress and let them know you’re there.

*A safety plan is something people make to turn to during times of active crisis or distress. It includes things like coping strategies and phone numbers (e.g., hotlines, friends) to call when they need support. Therapists may help teens make safety plans as part of their care.

Call Artemis for Proven Teen Treatment Program Support

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center works with teens of all backgrounds and walks of life who are dealing with a wide range of mental health concerns. We have a multidisciplinary team of providers with a wide range of specialties.

Our center in Tucson accepts most forms of insurance. We’re passionate about the quality of care we provide and are determined to make the highest-quality treatment services accessible to youth and families.

Call our admissions line for trusted youth mental health services in Arizona today. It will always be confidential and cost-free, so please reach out for support and options now.

Emergency and Crisis Resources for Teen Mental Health (Nationwide and Arizona Specific)

Artemis is not a crisis center. If you or your teen needs immediate support, the following resources can help.

Connections Tucson Crisis Response Center

• Connections provides walk-in crisis care for teens and adults.
• Phone: (520) 301-2400
• 2802 East District Street
• Tucson, AZ 85714
• Open 24/7/365.

Arizona Statewide Crisis Lifeline

• Call 1-844-534-HOPE (4673).
• Text 4HOPE (44673).

TeenLifeline

• Call or text 602-248-8336.

YouthLine

YouthLine is a free peer support hotline for youth up to age 24. To get in touch with Youthline:

• Call 1-877-968-8491.
  Text teen2teen to 839863.
• Email teen2teen@linesforlife.org.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline

• Call or text 988.

Crisis Text Line

• Text “HOME” to 741741.

The Trevor Project

The Trevor Project is for LGBTQ youth aged 24 and under.

• Call 1-866-488-7386.
• Text “start” to 678-678.

Teens can also start a chat on The Trevor Project’s website.

References

1. World Health Organization. (n.d.). Mental health of adolescents. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
2. Early identification of mental health issues in young people. Mental Health America. (2025, July 10). https://mhanational.org/position-statements/early-identification-of-mental-health-issues-in-young-people/

Emotion regulation is a skill we all need. It’s the ability to monitor, assess, and modify how we respond to our feelings. When you have the skills to regulate your emotions, you can manage stress and respond appropriately to situations.

Emotional dysregulation is a common challenge. It means that a person has trouble regulating their emotional reactions. They might experience more emotional pain than they otherwise would. This may be reflected in their behavior.

Ideally, when a person struggles to regulate emotions, it’s detected early in life, and they’re able to learn the skills they need to better regulate emotions through therapy. If this sounds like your child, you might ask: What are the signs of emotional dysregulation in teens?

There are indicators parents can look for. For example, a teen might lose their temper easily, feel out of control, or struggle to keep friends. Artemis Adolescent Healing Center helps teens find relief through healthy emotion regulation skills.

What are the Signs of Emotional Dysregulation in Teens? Understanding What to Look For

Emotional dysregulation can present in different ways. For some, it’s more internal. In other cases, it’s expressed outwardly – think of things like temper tantrums and risky behavior. Both can seriously affect a person’s life. It’s important not to overlook it or wait for it to go away.

Emotional regulation skills are learned rather than entirely innate. They take time to develop. Watching and waiting only prolongs pain. Here are some common signs of emotional dysregulation in teens.

Impulsive Behavior: Is Your Teen Acting Impulsively Regularly?

When people don’t have the emotion regulation skills they need, they may say or do things they later regret when agitated or distressed. For example:

• Engaging in high-risk behavior (e.g., reckless driving, self-harm, substance abuse).
• ‘Flying off the handle.’ Being easily angered, saying truly cruel or vengeful things.

Quick actions can have long-term consequences. It tends to decrease as we get older. But, impulsivity doesn’t go away on its own with age for some. More severe impulsivity in teens requires professional help.

Are Loss of Temper or Angry Outbursts Commonplace?

All teens get angry. They might slam doors. They may roll their eyes or make sarcastic remarks. That’s expected. Here’s what’s not:

• Violent or aggressive behavior. Causing harm to people or animals, property damage, and starting physical fights.
• Extreme, frequent verbal outbursts (e.g., yelling, shouting).

Take any form of violence seriously. Speak with a mental health professional right away.

Is Your Adolescent Shutting Down, Dissociating, or Going Numb When Overwhelmed?

Some teens tend toward more external signs of severe emotional distress, like emotional outbursts or risky behaviors. Others shut down. They might be unable to think, react, or engage when overwhelmed emotionally. Getting quiet or isolating socially is common.

A child may even dissociate. Dissociation means feeling detached from your feelings, body, or self. It’s a possible reaction to intense stress. This can be common in trauma survivors. There are other causes, too.

Healthcare providers can help teens manage dissociative episodes. Teens who get so overwhelmed that they often feel numb or shut down may also need support. It’s a sign that their brain and body are under too much stress. Having the tools to manage that matters.

Does Your Teen Feel “Out of Control” Emotionally Often?

Everyone gets upset. However, if a teen feels out of control emotionally, it’s a sign to seek help for emotional dysregulation. Feeling out of control can mean different things. For example:

• Rapid mood swings.
• Trouble controlling emotional reactions (e.g., acting in anger, feeling like they can’t help it).
• Greater difficulty calming down when upset than what’s typical for their developmental stage and the situation at hand.

Emotion regulation skills taught in therapy can mitigate out-of-control feelings. It can also help mitigate the consequences that can come from them.

Are There Disproportionate Reactions to Small Annoyances?

Does your child have frequent, intense reactions or overwhelming emotions to small things? For example, minor annoyances most would get over quickly? This is a good illustration of what emotional dysregulation can look like.

Others (even people their own age) might wonder why they are so upset, but the distress they’re facing is very real. It’s just one way emotion dysregulation might affect interpersonal relationships.

Does Your Teen Have Trouble Keeping Stable Friends?

Social challenges are one of many possible complications of difficulty regulating emotions. Teens who struggle with emotion regulation might get angry at others. They might push people away or feel misunderstood.

This can make it hard to maintain friendships. If a teen has social problems linked specifically to emotion regulation issues that go unresolved, it can affect their quality of life a lot.

Do Emotions Get in the Way of Goals or Activities for Your Teen?

Do intense emotions and behavioral symptoms get in the way of things your child needs or wants to do? For example, school or hobbies. If strong emotions interfere with daily life activities, it’s a sign to seek mental health support, regardless of the cause.

This is something that adults deal with, too. Learning emotion regulation skills now means that emotional dysregulation is less likely to affect things like work as they get older.

Our Effective Treatment Approaches for Emotion Regulation in Teens and Adolescents

Artemis offers multiple treatment approaches that can be used to help teens learn how to regulate emotions. In many cases, professionals and treatment centers use a combination of therapies, such as the following.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based treatment. It’s used for people of all ages who need help with a range of concerns, such as:

• Mental health conditions.
• Stress.
• Trauma.
• The emotional impact of physical health problems.
• Sleep problems.
• Low self-esteem.
• ADHD.

CBT focuses on how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are interconnected. One of the things it does is help people identify and challenge unhelpful or unrealistic negative thought patterns. These are called cognitive distortions.

Take all-or-nothing thinking (one of many cognitive distortions) as an example. ‘All-or-nothing’ thoughts can make things feel more extreme than they are. Learning how to challenge this kind of thought can reduce the power it has.

CBT also uses techniques like goal setting, stress reduction, and role-playing. It’s a common non-invasive treatment used in individual and group settings.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) helps people who experience emotions intensely.[1] In our DBT groups, a therapist will often do things like guide adolescents through things like:

• Mindfulness skills.
• Naming emotions.
• Expressing how they feel in healthy ways.
• Checking facts to see if feelings match the situation.
• Reducing vulnerability to intense reactions through self-care (e.g., getting enough sleep, avoiding substances, healthy routines).

These are just some examples of what your teen might work on. Many find that DBT helps them pause before reacting. It focuses on finding ‘wise mind’ (the balance between emotional and rational mind).

Family Therapy Sessions

In our mental health programs, teens typically engage in multiple therapy groups, as well as once-weekly (or more) individual therapy sessions. Family sessions are used in addition to groups and individual therapy.

When teens are in treatment for emotional dysregulation, family therapy sessions might focus on:

• Understanding each other better.
• Finding problem-solving strategies to use together.
• Communicating effectively.

There are many different family structures. Family therapists acknowledge this. Immediate and extended family members are welcome to attend and often do.

Trauma Informed Care

Many teens have lived through traumatic events.[2] Trauma-informed care is a compassionate framework that prioritizes emotional safety, trust, collaboration, choice, and empowerment. It recognizes the impacts of trauma and possible paths for recovery.

Various therapies can be adapted or used for trauma. For example, CBT, DBT, and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy. However, employing trauma-informed providers matters.

Artemis provides effective trauma therapy for youth. Our professionals are trauma-informed, here to help kids move at their own pace and break through barriers.

What are the Most Possible Causes of Emotional Dysregulation in Teens?

Anyone can struggle with emotion regulation. However, there are possible causes.[3] These include:

Mental Health Conditions

Many mental health conditions affect emotion regulation. For example:

• Depression.
• Bipolar disorder.
• Anxiety disorders.
• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.
• Borderline personality disorder.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder.

A healthcare professional, such as a teen and adolescent psychiatrist, can diagnose mental disorders.

Traumatic Events and Stress

Trauma can disrupt how the nervous system responds to daily life occurrences. They can make people enter fight-or-flight mode when, in reality, they are safe. Chronic stress affects the brain and body similarly.

Neurodevelopmental Differences

Conditions like attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder, can affect emotion regulation. These aren’t mental health disorders. But, they affect behavior and often impact mental health.

Seeing a mental health professional who specializes in ADHD can be highly beneficial in this case. Artemis provides ADHD treatment for teens. We have experts on staff who understand the impact ADHD can have on emotion regulation.

Brain Conditions or Injuries

Brain conditions and injuries may lead to mood swings and problems with emotional regulation. For example, traumatic brain injury (TBI) can cause behavior problems.[4] This can be a challenge for parents and caregivers.

With treatment, behavior, changes in mood, and emotion regulation can improve. Therapy can be a part of this process. 

Choose Artemis for Teen Emotional Dysregulation Treatment

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center provides personalized care for youth affected by emotional dysregulation and its underlying causes. We work with diverse mental health disorders and related concerns that affect teens and adolescents. For example, trauma and grief.

Inpatient and outpatient programs are available at our center. Outpatient programs let your child balance therapy with school. Inpatient programs provide more intensive care. They can be ideal for those with more severe symptoms.

Learn more about therapy for your teen today. Please call our confidential admissions line to get started finding supportive options now.

References

1. Professional, C. C. medical. (2025b, September 17). Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT): What it is & purpose. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/22838-dialectical-behavior-therapy-dbt
2. Va.gov: Veterans Affairs. How Common is PTSD in Children and Teens? (2018, September 18). https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/common/common_children_teens.asp
3. Professional, C. C. medical. (2025d, November 18). What is emotional dysregulation?. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/25065-emotional-dysregulation
4. Coping with behavior problems after Brain Injury. Brain Injury Association of America. (2023, August 25). https://biausa.org/public-affairs/media/coping-with-behavior-problems-after-brain-injury

Young adult drug use is happening at unprecedented rates. And many kids have not developed the unshakable self-confidence needed to overcome peer pressure.

Some teens also struggle with school, social relationships, or their home life, which can cause stress that contributes to adolescent substance use.

We see families struggling with these issues daily.

With so many risk factors, it’s natural to worry about what your teen is doing when you aren’t around. But is a drug test for teens a good fit for my child, you may ask. And, if they have a positive drug screen, what are the next steps?

Don’t worry – we have the answers covered. Keep reading to learn more about the pros and cons of drug testing your teen, other signs of teenage drug use, and how Artemis Adolescent Healing Center and our accredited substance abuse program for adolescents and teens can offer effective support options.

Should You Drug Test Your Teen?

Parents were once teenagers themselves, and this is one of the reasons they are wary of what their kids are doing when they aren’t around. They may believe that teenagers lie to stay out of trouble.

But are there any benefits of giving your teen random home drug tests if you suspect drug use?

Is A Drug Test for Teens A Good Fit for My Child?

The American Academy of Pediatrics does recommend drug testing when working closely with an addiction specialist. When paired with treatment, regular teen drug tests work as a preventive tool to discourage use.

When a counselor or parent does an at-home drug test, however, it can have negative impacts on the trusting relationship. Your teen may distance themselves from you or feel hurt by your concerns. For this reason, the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend that parents administer teen drug tests at home.

How Drug Testing Affects the Parent-Child Relationship

Teenagers are rebellious. Even when you encourage openness and honesty, they may not tell you the truth if you start asking questions. And, if you start accusing them of using alcohol or drugs, there’s a possibility they may do it just to spite you.

Even after your teen has tested positive for alcohol or drug use, they may feel that you do not trust them if you force them to take drug tests. A false negative test can worsen this relationship if you punish them for failing. They may even use someone else’s urine, try drugs that cannot be detected on a drug test, or use other methods to escape detection.

What You Can Do Instead of Drug Testing an Adolescent

If you are worried about your child using drugs, express your concerns to their pediatrician. Even if something else is going on, it’s worth learning what your teen is struggling with.

There are also instances where your child might need to pass a drug test for an evaluation while participating in sports or if they have legal troubles. Consulting with a professional at Artemis can help answer any questions and help you decide how to proceed.

Be Aware of the Most Common Signs of Teenage Drug Use

Being aware of the other symptoms of drug use can be useful if you suspect your teen is using alcohol or drugs. However, keep in mind that several types of mental issues and unmanaged stress can cause similar symptoms. Signs include:

• Loss of interest or hobbies
• Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much
• Mood swings or emotional overreactions
• Increased anxiety or paranoia
• Glazed-over or red eyes
• Slurring
• Worsening grades or skipping school
• Hanging out with a new group of friends

Many parents panic about drug use without realizing that these concerns can also be related to depression, anxiety, or other mental issues. They can also result from high levels of stress. For example, your child might struggle in the weeks before they have to perform on an important test.

When you are unsure of what your teen is struggling with, reach out to Artemis and our caring staff for an intake screening and honest answers.

Are At-Home Drug Tests for Teens Considered Reliable?

There is no way to guarantee that your teen will not participate in alcohol or drug use just because you regularly give them an at-home drug test.

And, there is a higher risk of a false positive or negative when using an at-home test. These are not as reliable as urine drug tests, saliva tests, blood tests, or hair tests from a medical professional.

Additionally, even though at-home tests do detect drugs, most are not as thorough as a medical drug screening.

For example, a 5 panel urine test might detect amphetamines or marijuana present, but it won’t don’t detect psychedelics, alcohol, ecstasy, or inhalants. Some drugs also are only detectable for up to 72 hours after use on a urine drug test.

There is also a risk of a false positive on home drug tests. Certain medications or foods might cause a false positive and when testing for marijuana substance use, it stays in the system so long it’s impossible to know whether your teen has quit.

Finding Accredited Substance Abuse Treatment for Teenagers

Unfortunately, 75% of high school students have admitted to using addictive substances including nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, benzodiazepines, cocaine, amphetamines, and psychedelics. Twelve percent of these teens also meet the criteria for a substance use disorder.

Even though 12% of adolescents is a lot, there are not as many high-quality addiction programs for teenagers as there are for adults.

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center provides inpatient and outpatient treatment options for teens who are struggling with alcohol use, drug use, or mental health. Following admission, your child will consult with one of our experts on a substance abuse assessment. This information will be used to craft a personalized addiction program, leading to better long-term results.

Artemis also accepts many commercial insurance plans for our teen rehab programs. We make it easier for your child to get professional help, regardless of insurance carrier.

The Elements of a Comprehensive Treatment Plan

Whether you decide that inpatient or outpatient care is best for your teen, we use a holistic approach to healing rather than stand alone treatment. Elements of our addiction programs include individual therapy, group counseling, medication management, medical detox, nutritional support, and recreational therapies.

Through the course of treatment, your teen will work closely with a qualified mental health professional who can give them insight into the reason(s) they are struggling with alcohol or drug use. They’ll focus on finding motivations to stay clean and learn coping strategies for those times when they are at risk of relapse.

Family therapy may also be recommended. This helps teens express their needs to their parents and discuss past issues in a non-judgmental environment. Family therapy also helps you learn how to best support your teen if they are struggling with addiction or mental health issues.

By teaching skills using evidence-based programs, rather than just focusing on helping your adolescent detox, we help them lay a strong foundation for continued sobriety.

Get Support Options for Teens Using Drugs at Artemis Today

As parents, we naturally want what is best for our teenagers. Sometimes, that comes in the form of helping them seek treatment, even if they resist our help.

You can do what’s best for them by reaching out to our caring staff at Artemis. With customized treatment plans and unmatched levels of support, together we can change the path your teen has wandered down. It is never too late to get them help and turn their lives around.

Please reach out confidentially now for support options and to learn more!

References

• American Academy of Pediatrics. (2014). Testing for drugs of abuse in children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 133(6), e1798–e1807. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2014-0865
• Johnston, L. D., Miech, R. A., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., Schulenberg, J. E., & Patrick, M. E. (2021). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975-2020: Overview, key findings on adolescent drug use. Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan. https://monitoringthefuture.org/
• Levy, S., & Knight, J. R. (2008). Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment for adolescents. Journal of Addiction Medicine, 2(4), 215–221. https://doi.org/10.1097/ADM.0b013e31818a8c7a
• National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021). Drug testing. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/drug-testing
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2020). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP20-07-01-001, NSDUH Series H-55). Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/
• The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. (2011). Adolescent substance use: America’s #1 public health problem. https://drugfree.org/reports/adolescent-substance-use-americas-1-public-health-problem/

Parents need to know what to look for, and what to avoid, when seeking help for their kids.

If you make a quick Google search for ‘where to send my defiant teenager,” you might get suggestions for therapeutic boarding schools and wilderness programs.

Unfortunately, there are documented instances of programs that can cause long-term harm to youth. In many cases, these can be identified via signs like unlicensed providers and methods like ‘kidnapping’ teens in the middle of the night.

This is not to put parents off from seeking help. There are many effective and safe programs for defiant teens. It’s important to know what to look for, and Artemis Adolescent Healing Center is here to help.

As a Joint Commission-accredited adolescent treatment center in Tucson, AZ, we offer inpatient and outpatient programs for teens struggling with a range of mental health challenges, substance misuse, and defiant behaviors of all kinds.

What are the Most Common Expressions of Defiant Behavior in Teens?

When should you seek help? Defiant behavior in teens is usually marked by signs like:

• Violent behavior.
• Purposefully causing emotional distress to others.
• Extreme or uncontrollable mood swings.
• Persistent issues with authority figures.
• Vandalism or property damage.
• Frequent angry outbursts.
• Reckless driving.
• Stealing or theft.
• Substance abuse.

Defiant behavior does not mean that your teen is a ‘bad kid.’ It’s important not to brand them this way. It can stick with them and create a cycle of negative behavior.

The Importance of Early Intervention

If possible, early intervention is ideal. Seeking help for behavioral issues early on may:

• Prevents new or worsened physical health risks. For example, youth who use substances are at a greater risk of developing more severe substance use disorders later. Early intervention can reduce substance use and associated behavioral outcomes.[1]
• Prevent new or worsening legal issues. Teens may or may not have encountered legal issues yet, depending on the circumstances. Regardless, professional intervention is crucial for those at risk.
• Provides emotion regulation skills to navigate concerns like anger, anxiety, stress, or trauma, mood swings, and feelings of depression. Teenagers will always have mental health to take care of (because we all do), whether they do or do not have a diagnosable mental health condition. Being able to cope with life’s challenges matters and can help set your child up for success. 
• Give teens and families tools for academic support and future planning.
• Reduces parental frustration and uncertainty.

In cases of early intervention, teens may be more able to participate in treatment options like intensive outpatient programs as opposed to residential care. When this is the case, outpatient programs can prevent the need for higher levels of care later on.

One important note – even if your teen has had persistent issues with defiant behavior, it is not too late. It can take more time. But there are evidence-based practices like those used in our programs that can help.

Mental Health Challenges and Teen Defiance

Usually, there are underlying mental health issues that teens showing defiant behavior need support for. These can include, but aren’t limited to:

• Conduct disorder.
• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).[2]
• Personality disorders.
• Difficulty with anger management.
• Trouble with impulse control.
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
• Substance use disorders.
• Trauma.

Mental health problems and defiant behavior are not anyone’s fault.’ Family members can help by seeking professional treatment, participating in family therapy sessions, and working with providers to make changes at home.

Creating Opportunities for Replacement Behaviors

A significant part of what we do in treatment is help teens find appropriate behaviors they can use to replace defiant behaviors. This can involve:

• Replacing harmful behaviors with healthy outlets. For example, turning to physical activity instead of reacting in anger, violence, or aggression.
• Helping teens pause to reduce impulses. Sometimes, what comes between a teen’s ability to replace a harmful behavior in the first place is impulse control. In that instance, treatment can help teens pause and consider their actions before reacting.
• Fostering a sense of autonomy. Helping teens identify what is within their control and how they can express themselves so that they do not need to turn to maladaptive behaviors to feel independent.

Root causes can inform the best approaches for behavioral change. We’ll work with your teen to understand the root cause of defiant behavior so it can be addressed appropriately.

Wondering ‘Where to Send my Defiant Teenager?’ Looking at Our Evidence-Based Programs at Artemis Adolescent Healing Center

Artemis has a multidisciplinary team of licensed, qualified, and compassionate providers. We involve family in the treatment process; you’ll know exactly what’s going on with your child’s care.

Inpatient Treatment Center Services

Our residential treatment programs for teens provide around-the-clock support. Staff are present 24/7. Teens get daily therapy, including:

• Groups and group therapy sessions (daily).
• Individual counseling (at least once per week).
• Family therapy sessions (about once weekly).

All clients at Artemis get individualized treatment plans. Nutritious meals and snacks are provided. Visitation is allowed. If teens are or would be in school at the time of their program, we can help families make arrangements.

Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)

The PHP at Artemis is similar to our residential program in terms of the amount of therapy it provides. Teens in PHP can expect to come to our center for therapy for most of the day, five days per week. However, they’re able to live at home while in the program.

PHP can be an alternative to inpatient care for teens who do not need or benefit from 24/7 access to staff. In other cases, it is the next stop after residential treatment, helping youth ease their transition back into typical daily life.

Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)

Our intensive outpatient program (IOP) is one step down from PHP. Rather than attending therapy for most of the day, teens participate in therapy for a few hours each day, 3-5 days per week.

With more flexibility than PHP, IOP is ideal for adolescents who are ready to balance responsibilities like high school or GED classes with therapy.

Sometimes, it is an ideal starting level of care for youth with more minor symptoms. For many teens navigating serious defiant behavior, however, IOP is an important transitional step after PHP.

Outpatient Program (OP) and Follow-Up Care

We generally recommend that teens take a step-down approach, regardless of the care level they start in. This is to ensure that new, healthy habits and routines solidify. And, that teens and families have the support they need each step of the way.

After IOP, clients can attend our outpatient program. This entails about 1-2 therapy sessions per week.

What Kinds of Therapy are Used for Defiance in Teens?

Regardless of the level of care your teen is in, we use the most effective treatment methods. Types of therapy used for defiant teens in our programs may include but are not limited to:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a popular, non-invasive treatment. It can help defiant teens understand how their thoughts inform their actions and vice versa. Strategies like cognitive reframing are used to help teens reframe maladaptive thought patterns.

A goal-oriented therapy, teens in CBT for defiant behavior often set and work toward goals with the help of their therapist. Therapists help teens through obstacles by talking things through and helping them build important problem-solving and coping skills.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy is frequently used to help teens navigate challenges like impulse control, anger, and difficulty regulating emotions. It was initially created for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Now it is used for many different mental health concerns.

Motivational Therapy Techniques

Motivational therapies can be used to address concerns like substance abuse. These are usually short-term. The goal is to increase motivation for behavioral change. This can mean teens are more apt to participate in treatment and make progress.

Experiential (Hands-On) Therapies

The term experiential therapy is broad. It encompasses hands-on therapies like adventure therapy and expressive arts. These are used to help teens find healthy coping mechanisms. They promote a broad range of life skills, like the ability to communicate and work effectively with others, while supporting self-esteem and confidence.

Family Therapy for Defiant Teens

Family therapy sessions involve meeting with a mental health professional as a family unit. So, that could be you as a parent, your team who is in treatment, signs, and anyone else close to them. During these sessions, your family might focus on:

• Conflict resolution.
• Healthy emotional expression.
• Communication techniques to use in daily life at home.
• Finding ways to reduce and avoid power struggles.

There are a lot of different goals that families might set. Overall, the objective is to increase harmony and establish more positive family dynamics.

Immediate Actions to Take

Even if your teen is not in an active crisis right now, there are some protective measures families with defiant teens may want to take. Most notably, these include:

• Remove any items your team could use to harm themselves or someone else. For example, guns, knives, and medications with the potential for overdose.
• Build a list of emergency and crisis resources. These can include crisis phone lines, text lines, and walk-in centers or emergency rooms near you.

Every teen is different. Some may be open to discussing their needs right now; others might take time to talk about their mental health. Make it known that you’re there to listen.

Emergency and Crisis Help for Defiant Teens

While we provide effective treatment, our center is not an emergency or crisis service. Parents and teens who need to talk to someone right now may benefit from the following resources.

National Parent Helpline

Call or text 855-427-2736

Available 24/7

988 Lifeline

Call or text 988 (or chat online through their website)

Available 24/7

Avoiding Harmful Programs for Troubled Teens

You want to choose a treatment center that helps – not hurts. In most cases, you’re in good hands. That said, here are some steps parents can take to avoid harmful programs for troubled teens.

• Clarify how often teens see licensed providers. Ideally, your child will be in regular individual and group therapy sessions led by a licensed provider. Some programs (e.g., certain wilderness therapy programs) provide teens with only an hour of therapy per week, if that. They’re otherwise left to walk through the woods in a group. Usually, alone (or mostly alone) with other teens. Alternatively, they may be left with unlicensed staff members.
• Ask about food. Many wilderness therapy programs give the kids a small set of items (e.g., dried beans, rice, peanut butter) they must prepare themselves, potentially without the means to wash their hands or cook using anything but a self-made fire. Ask the treatment center about what meals are like for the kids.
• Showers and personal care. Also, in some wilderness therapy programs, showers may be provided once per week or less. They’re often short, and kids do not often have access to the toiletries necessary to get clean.
• Healthcare and first aid. Your teen should have immediate access to healthcare and first aid if needed.
• Check in about family involvement. A lack of family involvement or contact is a red flag; family therapy should be encouraged. Kids should be able to make phone calls to you within the first month, even if they’re time-limited.
• Inquire about transit. If a program wants to come in and ‘ambush’ your teen on admissions day, that is a red flag. Some programs force parents to let strangers pull their child out of bed at night. This is traumatic, not therapeutic.

There are many great treatment centers for teens out there. By looking out for red flags, families can make sure that their kids get the professional support they need.

Choose Artemis for Support to Overcome Defiant Behavior in Your Teenager

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center works with a broad range of mental health and behavioral problems in teens. We hold ourselves to the highest standards. Our role is to empower teens and families from an individualized perspective, helping clients thrive and meet their goals.

The programs at our center in Tucson are covered by most forms of insurance. You can verify your teen’s healthcare coverage in a few minutes or less by calling our admissions line.

Whether you have a question for our team or are ready to find help for your adolescent today, please call the phone number on our website to connect with a staff member.

All calls are confidential, so please reach out for supportive options now.

FAQs Regarding Effective Programs for Defiant Teenagers

What’s the intake process at Artemis like?

The intake process at Artemis is simple. Parents can generally expect to move through the following steps.

• Insurance verification.
• Pre-intake.
• Confidential assessment.
• Choosing a program.
• Starting treatment.

Our warm and caring staff members will walk you through the process.

How do you differentiate typical teen rebellion vs defiant behavior?

Typical teen rebellion is developmentally appropriate. It is normal and healthy for teens to question things, test some boundaries, and act without thinking here and there. Defiant behavior is outside of what’s appropriate for a child’s developmental stage.

Frequency and intensity are two key things to look out for. If defiant behavior is frequent and severe, it is critical to seek professional help. This may be indicative of a condition like ODD.

Is defiant behavior always ODD?

No. Even though defiance is a core symptom of ODD, it can be attributed to other causes. ODD is characterized by long-standing patterns of defiance (lasting six months or more). Youth must meet the full criteria for the disorder to be diagnosed. This includes ruling out other conditions.[3]

References

1. Aacap. (n.d.-a). Oppositional defiant disorder resource center. https://www.aacap.org/aacap/Families_and_Youth/Resource_Centers/Oppositional_Defiant_Disorder_Resource_Center/Home.aspx
2. B;, C. T. (n.d.). Effectiveness of early interventions for substance-using adolescents: Findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis. Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22697269/
3. Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD): Symptoms & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025h, December 16). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9905-oppositional-defiant-disorder

Mindfulness is an important life skill. It involves focusing on the present moment. Learning how to use mindfulness sets teens up for success in more than one way. It can help you make good decisions, communicate effectively, and self-soothe.

Another advantage of mindfulness? It’s cost-effective.

Once teens learn mindfulness techniques, they can apply them to their daily lives. With these benefits in mind, what are some effective and engaging mindfulness activities for teens?

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center uses mindfulness interventions in our programs. This helps teens develop healthier coping mechanisms, gain emotional insight, and handle daily life stressors.

Let’s go over 11 kinds of mindfulness activities for teens and how to use them.

11 Mindfulness Activities for Teens – Games, Activities, and Exercises to Try

Here are 11 ways teens can start practicing mindfulness now.

1. Breathing Meditation & Techniques

Breathing exercises are popular for a reason. They’re free, and you can use them anywhere. Better yet, they’re an effective way to reduce stress and anxiety.[1]

Here are a few mindful breathing techniques to try.

• Extended exhale breathing.
• Slow breathing with pauses and holds.
• Box breathing. A repeated cycle of inhaling for four seconds, holding your breath for four seconds, releasing your breath over the course of four seconds, and holding the exhale for four seconds before starting again.
• Deep belly breathing.

Mindful breathing can be simple. Take deep breaths. Inhale and exhale slowly. Some use YouTube videos or mindfulness apps to guide them through breathing exercises.

2. Naming & Observing Emotions Without Judgement

It can be tempting to tell yourself how you think you ‘should’ or ‘shouldn’t’ feel. However, being able to name what you feel without criticism can be critical for self-awareness. This exercise is straightforward. Using radical acceptance, acknowledge your emotions:

• ‘I am sad.’
• ‘I am angry.’
• ‘I am nervous.’

Then, you can take steps toward emotion regulation. If you’re angry, for example, identifying that you feel this way means you can use healthy coping skills. You’re less likely to push it away, and it’s less likely to get the best of you.

3. Mindful Listening Exercises

Mindful listening encourages nonjudgmental awareness of sounds. Meaning, it’s not so much about whether you like or dislike what you hear. To use mindful listening, teens can:

• Observe naturally occurring sounds. If you’re at home, you might notice the sound of grass being cut outside, the clock ticking, or cars driving by.
• Listen to music. Really focus on the sounds in the song. Concentrate on identifying each instrument and the moments when it gets louder or quieter.
• Paying close attention to white noise and other pre-recorded soothing sounds (e.g., trains moving, bird sounds).

Active listening is another way to practice mindfulness. Doubling as a crucial communication skill, active listening means intentionally focusing on, understanding, and responding to others.

4. Mindful Writing Practices

Mindful writing practices are free or nearly free. Helpful mindful writing exercises for teens and adolescents include:

• Gratitude journaling. Writing about things you’re grateful for. Many people use bullet point lists, taking about five minutes per day to jot down what they’re grateful for in relation to that specific day (e.g., a nice breakfast, a nature walk, seeing a friend). Even better, gratitude is associated with mental health benefits like a reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms.[2]
• Short mindful writing sessions for emotional shifts. Sit down to journal when your emotions change or intensify. Write about how you feel. Be candid. Let it be your safe space.
• Habit tracking. Frequently encouraged in therapy, habit tracking involves committing to certain habits (e.g., meditating, stretching, not using your phone before bed) and checking them off daily. Some add notes about how these habits make them feel to aid motivation.
• Mood tracking. Mood tracking entails keeping a daily record of your mood and emotions. Ideally, include any factors (e.g., lack of sleep) that may have affected your mood. You can use this information later to see what helps and what hurts.

What if you’re stuck? Try journaling prompts for mindfulness. Look for one that speaks to you. They can be found online or in guided mindfulness journals.

5. ‘Classic’ Grounding Techniques

Grounding techniques calm the nervous system. They help people alleviate stress and feelings of anxiety. Many mindfulness activities double as grounding techniques. But here are some well-known go-tos.

• Visualization. Close your eyes and visualize a happy, relaxing place or scenario. For example, picture yourself on the beach. Focus on all of the soothing sights and sounds you imagine.
• 5-4-3-2-1 grounding exercise. Identify five things you can see, four you can feel, three you can hear, two you can smell, and one you can taste.
• Phrases and affirmations. Ground yourself through mantras like “I am safe.”
• Counting backwards from 100.

Like breathing exercises, these grounding techniques are discreet. Many teens find exercises like these valuable. They can be used to promote a better emotional state in diverse situations.

6. Sensory Tools & Exercises

Sensory tools and exercises involve anchoring present moment awareness through touch, sight, sound, and movement. For example:

• Use fidget spinners, stress balls, or ‘pop its.’ Pay close attention to how they feel in your hands and any sounds they make as you use them.
• Play with putty. Notice how it feels, stretches, and smells.
• Scents (e.g., smelling candles, aroma therapy).

You can use almost any item nearby to cultivate mindfulness in a pinch. You might even pick up a pen, mug, coin, or water bottle. Focus on how it feels and what it looks like.

7. Art and Creative Mindfulness Activities

Creative activities are a natural opportunity to apply mindfulness. You can use nearly any creative activity as a chance to concentrate on physical sensations (e.g., smells, touch, sight, the amount of pressure you put on a pen or pencil). Here are some ideas.

• Mindful doodling.
• Mindfulness coloring books for teens.
• Connecting breathwork to art. Draw what you envision your breathing pattern would ‘look like.’
• Make an item of your choice with clay. Pay close attention to how the clay feels in your hands as you use it.
• Stippling/dot art.
• Jewelry making.
• Collages.

Creative arts are known to support mental health in daily life.[3] Of course, they provide an excellent opportunity for self-expression. Art can also relieve stress, help people connect with each other, and promote attentiveness, among other benefits.

8. Use Games to Support Mindfulness

Games make teaching teens mindfulness fun. Easy to find games that can be adapted or used to support mindfulness include:

• I-Spy.
• Puzzles.
• Word games.
• Memory games.
• Stone stacking.
• Jenga.

Games aid mindfulness because they require your attention, patience, and presence. An added bonus? Playing games as a family can also facilitate parent-child bonding.

9. Mindful Movement Activities for Teens

Mindful movement activities can take many different forms. Similar to art, physical activity tends to provide natural mindfulness opportunities. If suitable, teens might try:

• Tension and release. Tightening and relaxing your muscle groups, one by one. Following a guide for progressive muscle relaxation is a great way to learn how to do this.
• Mindful walking. While taking a talk, notice all of the sounds and sights around you. Pay attention to how your body feels.
• Balancing. Balance on one foot. Or, use a tool like a BOSU (both sides up) ball.
• Shaking your arms by your sides.
• Jogging in place.
• Jumping jacks.
• Swimming.
• Stretching.
• Yoga.

Mindful movement is great for body awareness. Body awareness involves paying attention to physical sensations. It supports the mind-body connection and can help you tune into your health needs. For example, if you notice muscle tension, you can address it.

10. Body Scan Meditation

Body scan meditation is a very popular mindfulness technique. Follow these steps to complete a body scan meditation.

• Find a comfortable position. Many lie down or sit in a chair.
• Settle in and breathe deeply. Close your eyes. Take a few deep, slow breaths to anchor yourself to the present moment.
• Starting from your head to your toes (or vice versa), pay attention to how your body feels. Spend about 20-30 seconds on each body part (e.g., head, jaw, ears, neck, shoulders, arms).

As you move through the scan, observe how each part of your body feels without judgment. Tense? Warm? Cold? Like movement-based activities, this is a solid mindfulness practice for body awareness.

11. Cognitive Reframing: A Helpful Way to Reframe Thoughts

Commonly taught in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive reframing requires mindfulness. It involves three main steps:

• Awareness. Recognizing or ‘catching’ negative thoughts or distorted thinking patterns.
• Challenging. Ask yourself if the thought is accurate, helpful, or rational.
• Reframing. Modifying negative thoughts to be more helpful and realistic. For example, challenging the thought ‘no one there will like me’ with ‘I can’t know that they won’t like me for sure because I haven’t met them yet.’

Cognitive reframing is important for emotional regulation. But it can also support other essential skills. For example, problem-solving.

How Artemis Adolescent Healing Center Uses Mindfulness Activities for Teens as a Component of Treatment

Both our residential inpatient and outpatient rehab programs teach mindfulness. Teens may work on mindfulness exercises at Artemis in groups or in individual therapy settings.

Group Mindfulness Activities

Group mindfulness activities at Artmis involve engaging in activities led by a mental health professional with peers. For example, a therapist may guide a group through mindfulness meditation or breathing exercises.

Mindfulness in Individual Counseling

Individual counseling lets your teen focus on their own unique needs privately in one-on-one sessions. This can include identifying the mindfulness activities that work for them and when to use them.

Combining Mindfulness Interventions With Other Treatments

For a comprehensive approach, we combine mindfulness interventions with other treatments. These may include, but are not limited to:

• Family therapy.
• Psychoeducation.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
• Trauma-focused therapies.
• Motivational interviewing therapy.
• Creative arts therapies.
• Adventure therapy.

All clients at Artemis always get personalized care plans. We work closely with adolescents and families to support clients in meeting their individual goals.

Incorporating Mindfulness Into Daily Life as a Teenager

Incorporating mindfulness into everyday life often involves identifying mindfulness practices or activities for specific situations. For example, using discreet techniques (like breathing exercises) when you’re overwhelmed at school.

You can also create morning and evening routines that involve mindfulness. This could mean following a guided meditation before bed. Or, committing to a few minutes of mindful stretching each morning.

Who are Adolescent Mindfulness Activities For?

Artemis teaches teens mindfulness activities in a supportive environment. We use mindfulness-based interventions to help youth navigate the following conditions, among others:

• Anxiety disorders.
• Life transitions and adjustments.
• Trauma treatment for PTSD and complex trauma (CPTSD).
• Mood disorders.
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• Sleep issues.
• Anger management and impulse control issues.
• Stress.
• Substance abuse.
• Grief. 

This isn’t a comprehensive list. At the end of the day, mindfulness skills are for everyone. Incorporating mindfulness activities now helps teens build skills they can use for the rest of their lives.

Reach Out to Artemis and Learn More About How Mindfulness Can Help Your Teen

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center is a JCAHO-accredited leader in teen mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment. Our providers use a whole-person approach. By incorporating mindfulness training into programs, we help teens gain benefits such as self-regulation and emotional balance.

While at-home mindfulness resources are helpful, teens sometimes need more support, and that is okay. Whether your child needs inpatient treatment or a lower level of care, such as our intensive outpatient program, we’re here to help.

Programs at our center are covered by most insurances. We can verify your teen’s coverage in a few minutes or less.

To get in touch with our team in Tucson, call our admissions line confidentially today.

References

1. Bentley, T. G. K., D’Andrea-Penna, G., Rakic, M., Arce, N., LaFaille, M., Berman, R., Cooley, K., & Sprimont, P. (2023a, November 21). Breathing practices for stress and anxiety reduction: Conceptual Framework of Implementation Guidelines based on a systematic review of the published literature. Brain sciences.
2. Diniz, G., Korkes, L., Tristão, L. S., Pelegrini, R., Bellodi, P. L., & Bernardo, W. M. (2023, August 11). The effects of gratitude interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Einstein (Sao Paulo, Brazil).
3. How creative arts support mental health in daily life. The University of Arizona Health Sciences. (2026, February 23).

In our teen years, the brain isn’t fully developed. Youth may act out without understanding long-term consequences. With this in mind, it can be tough for parents to differentiate typical teenage experimentation and rebellion from risky behaviors.

Mental health issues and risky actions tend to go hand in hand. Getting help is crucial. It means your teen can develop the skills they need to overcome challenges. It can also prevent increasingly severe behaviors, symptoms, and outcomes.

What are the signs of risky behavior in teens? If your adolescent shows behavior that is more dangerous than what’s typical for their developmental stage, it’s a sign that you should seek support.

As a leader in compassionate behavioral health treatment, Artemis Adolescent Healing Center is here to help. Let’s go over ten serious warning signs of risky behavior in teens and how to respond as a parent.

10 Serious Warning Signs of Risky Behavior in Teens

While some risk-taking is common among adolescents, anything that puts your child or other people at risk is something to pay close attention to.

Here are 10 signs of risky behavior in teens to look out for.

1. Physical Abuse, Violent Behavior, or Threats

Any teen can get moody or upset. Violence is a different story. Any form of physical abuse or assault isn’t okay. Whether it’s directed at authority figures, siblings, animals, or someone else, it’s a warning sign to address immediately. Similarly, it’s vital not to overlook violent threats.

2. Stealing and Theft

When very young children take things, it is usually not an issue. Typically, they don’t yet understand that what they’re doing is wrong. When it comes to older children, it’s a different story. Teens might steal for many reasons.[1]

When it’s not because they can’t afford something they need (like food), some causes could be:

• Thrill seeking.
• Impulse control issues.
• A need for attention.
• Peer pressure.

Theft is also associated with some mental health problems. It’s linked to a higher risk of criminal activity in adulthood. And, it can come with legal repercussions.

Therapy can address the root causes. The goal is to prevent high risk behaviors at a later age, when the consequences may be even more serious.

3. Property Damage and Destruction

Although they may not involve physical harm to others, property damage and destruction are forms of violent behavior.[2] They can be signs of mental health concerns like conduct disorder. Like theft, these can lead to legal issues. It’s something parents should seek help for right away.

4. Underage Drinking and Drug Use

People who start using drugs and alcohol at a younger age are more likely to develop a substance use disorder. Since teens do not yet have fully developed brains, the risk of severe, lasting damage from substances is also higher.

Early intervention can help reduce the risk of increasingly severe substance use disorders. If a teen has a substance abuse problem–whether it’s alcohol, stimulants, misuse of prescription medications, or other drugs–it shouldn’t be passed off as a phase.

5. Unsafe or Reckless Driving

The likelihood of a motor vehicle crash is higher for those aged 16-19 than it is for any other age group. It’s the leading cause of death for teens in the US.[3] Risk factors for car crashes in teens include but aren’t limited to:

• Not wearing a sweatbelt.
• Speeding.
• Drinking.
• Using drugs.

All of these are dangerous behaviors. They could endanger your teen’s life and the lives of others.

6. Self-Harm and Suicidal Ideation

Regardless of the cause, self-harm and suicidal ideation are always of serious concern. Even though they don’t always go together (self-injury does not necessarily indicate suicidality), both are signs of emotional distress and a need for professional help.

7. Unprotected Sexual Activity

Among high school students surveyed in 2023, 48% of those who had sex did not use a condom.[4] Just one night of unprotected sex can have long-term consequences:

• Sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
• Unwanted pregnancies.

Those in their teenage years need access to effective, inclusive sexual health education and contraceptive methods. Furthermore, families are encouraged to have open discourse about sexual health.[5]

People have unsafe sex for different reasons. If risky sexual behavior is a manifestation of impulsivity that pairs with other changes in behavior or daily functioning, it could be a sign of a mental health condition.

8. Dating Older People

If your teenager is dating someone who is too old for them, it is a major warning sign. Relationships with older people create power imbalances. These situations can create an opportunity for:

• Control and manipulation (e.g., manipulating teens to isolate themselves from family and friends).
• Increased emotional and mental health challenges.
• Lasting patterns of abuse.

This type of relationship may also increase the likelihood of other risk-taking behaviors. For example, unprotected sex and substance abuse.

9. Excessive Technology Use

Most teens use technology. Excessive use of technology, however, can be more serious. One study found that adolescents who spend five or more hours on digital devices per day are 70% more likely to have suicidal thoughts or actions than those who spend an hour or less.[6]

Non-school related technology use in teens may be a problem if:

• It is excessive.
• It causes sleep disruption.
• The teen shows signs of social media-driven distress.
• They show signs of withdrawal (e.g., irritability) when unable to access devices.
• Tech use interferes with responsibilities and self-care. For example, personal hygiene and school assignments.

Parents should also be wary of unsafe online behavior in teens. For example, cyberbullying, sharing personal information (e.g., what school they go to) with strangers, or accessing harmful (e.g., hateful, sexually explicit) material.

10. Eating Disorder Behaviors

Regardless of body size, eating disorder behaviors are something to be concerned about. These can include, but aren’t limited to:

• Food restriction.
• Binge eating.
• Purging (through vomiting, excessive exercise, laxative use, or restriction).
• Eating non-food items, like chalk or clay (in cases of PICA).

Eating disorders can be fatal. If left unaddressed, they often get worse. Early detection and intervention are important for recovery.[7]

Normal Teen Behavior vs Risk Taking

Normal teen behavior tends to include:

• Irritability.
• Changes in friend groups, interests, and fashion.
• Spending more time with friends and peers instead of family members.
• Independent thought, sometimes questioning rules or authority.
• Testing boundaries.

Teens can do impulsive things. They might test the waters. For example, a teen might push back on their curfew. Typical rebellion is often situational or linked to specific frustrations.

Risk-taking behavior is more intense. For example, drinking while driving, ongoing drug use, or constant lashing out.

How to Respond to Warning Signs

It can be tempting to get angry at kids who display risky behaviors. However, it is important not to call your teen a ‘bad kid,’ a ‘juvenile delinquent,’ or to act as though it is a fixed part of their personality in any way.

When talking to teens, use a calm tone of voice. Be firm if you need to. Follow through with boundaries and consequences. If you’re angry, taking a moment to think through your response before reacting can be helpful.

Be mindful of the signs of mental health concerns. For example, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, or personality disorders. Understand that these are treatable. They aren’t your or your child’s fault.

Take any requests for help seriously. Listen. Validate their feelings (e.g., ‘that sounds hard.’) Stay involved and present, even if they withdraw.

Safety Planning and Immediate Steps

Overcoming mental health challenges and risky behavior can take time. But there are some steps parents might need to take immediately to protect their kids. For example:

• Remove access to any weapons or other lethal means. Prescription medicines with the potential for overdose, guns, and anything else teens might use to harm themselves, or others should be removed if they are at risk or might be.
• Build a safety plan. A safety plan usually includes a list of resources, such as helplines, emergency rooms, crisis centers, coping skills, and people teens can talk to when they are having a hard time.

Our team can help you figure out the next steps. We work on things like coping skill development, family dynamics, impulse control, and emotion regulation, depending on the needs of each individual client.

Inpatient vs Outpatient Treatment for Adolescents

Artemis offers a full continuum of care. This includes detox, inpatient care, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient programs for teens.

Inpatient care can be most suitable if:

• Your child would benefit from around-the-clock supervision. This can be important in teens who have trouble controlling risky behaviors, like self-harm. Inpatient care can help with stabilization and the development of healthier patterns.
• Your teen requires intensive therapy. Inpatient care provides daily therapy. If youth have more severe symptoms, this can be essential.

Outpatient programs can be ideal for:

• Teens who are transitioning out of a higher level of care (e.g., they’re leaving residential inpatient treatment and their team says they’re ready to step down to an outpatient program).
• Teens who are able to balance school with treatment.
• Teens with less severe symptoms.

If you’re not sure which program is best for your teen at this time, we can help.

Call Artemis for Support Addressing Risky Behavior in Teens

Personalized care for risky behavior in teens matters. Such behaviors can be associated with many different factors. They are best addressed with evidence-based treatments that target root causes as needed.

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center is an accredited treatment center for teens and adolescents in Tucson, AZ. We provide deeply personalized care, with loved ones closely involved in the process.

Call our admissions line for help navigating the signs of risky behaviors in teens today. Whether your teen needs inpatient care or less frequent outpatient therapy, our compassionate team is here. All communication is strictly confidential, so please reach out to get supportive options now.

References

1. Aacap. (n.d.-b). Stealing in Children and Adolescents. Stealing in children and adolescents. https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Children-Who-Steal-012.aspx
2. Aacap. (n.d.). Violent behavior in children and adolescents. https://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_Youth/Facts_for_Families/FFF-Guide/Understanding-Violent-Behavior-In-Children-and-Adolescents-055.aspx
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-g). Risk factors for teen drivers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/risk-factors/index.html
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.-g). Sexual risk behaviors. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/youth-behavior/risk-behaviors/sexual-risk-behaviors.html
5. World Health Organization. (n.d.-a). Alarming decline in adolescent condom use, increased risk of sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies, reveals new who report. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/29-08-2024-alarming-decline-in-adolescent-condom-use–increased-risk-of-sexually-transmitted-infections-and-unintended-pregnancies–reveals-new-who-report

Parents of teens worry a lot, and that includes about teen drug use. At first glance, it might look like curiosity or peer influence. You might even think that it’s a “normal” part of growing up, but you still may ask: Why do teens turn to drugs?

The problem is that drug use often comes from somewhere deeper.

As parents of teens, we worry about a lot, but perhaps nothing as much as teen drug use. It looks like curiosity or peer influence on the surface.

But most of the time, drug use comes from something deeper. It’s caused by stress, emotional pain, or mental health struggles your teen doesn’t quite know how to express.

Artemis Adolescent Healing Center understands the importance of getting to the bottom of what’s really going on with your teen.

This means differentiating between experimentation and recognizing signs that your teen needs help. To this end, our resource will provide general factors that lead to teen drug use, as well as look at how to identify if your child needs support and treatment options.

What Causes Teen Substance Use?

Your teen might try drugs for any number of reasons. Sometimes it’s just curiosity. Or your teen is trying to fit in with peers.

Other times, your teen’s risk factors cause curiosity to become a problem. Things like family history, stress, or underlying mental issues can make substance use much worse.

Underlying issues aside, your teen’s brain is still developing. Young adults don’t think about the long-term impact of teen drug use, and how it can lead to drug addiction issues for the rest of their lives. They’re only thinking about how it makes them feel in the moment.

Does Peer Pressure Lead to Teen Drug Use?

Your teen’s peer relationships matter. They look to their friends for acceptance and identity. Friends give young people a sense of belonging.

These peer relationships are important because this is your teen’s support system. Unfortunately, if they are spending time with a crowd that normalizes drug use, it can sway their choices.

Even without direct peer pressure, they may not say “no” because they want to feel included. The risk is even higher if your teen feels disconnected at home. It is a simple truth for many young people: teens use drugs to fit in, despite the negative consequences that can arise.

Does Low Self-Esteem Contribute to Drug and Alcohol Use in Teens?

Yes, low self-esteem can be another contributor to teen drug use. Your teen may be looking for validation from their peers. Or, they are turning to drugs to provide a false sense of confidence, so it’s easier to fit in.

What Role Do Mental Health Issues Play in Teenage Substance Abuse?

Untreated mental illness is a big predictor of teen drug use. If your teen is dealing with ADHD, depression, anxiety, mood instability, or trauma, they might look to drugs for relief. Or, they might be using drugs to “feel better”.

In this situation, it’s important to get young people help for both issues. Otherwise, after recovering from drug abuse, there’s a greater chance your teen relapses.

Is Using Drugs and Alcohol a Type of Self-Medication?

Yes, your teen might turn to alcohol or drugs as self-medication. For example, turning to weed to calm anxiety or stress. Or, using stimulants to help them focus or boost their mood.

With self-medication, drug use feels helpful in the moment. But it’s all too easy for young people to get dependent on whatever substances make them feel “normal.”

When your teen turns to drug abuse to self-medicate, they’re also missing an opportunity to use healthy coping mechanisms. They learn the wrong way to feel better. Over time, they become reliant on the drugs, and mental symptoms get worse.

How Can I Support My Teen if They Have a Mental Health Disorder?

Teens can have a hard time asking parents for help. You can make it easier by keeping communication open and being empathetic, instead of judgmental. Validate their emotions when they share and try not to punish them for honesty.

A professional evaluation can also be a useful tool. At home, keep routines consistent, encourage good food and good sleep, and try to reduce stress. All of these things support emotional stability.

Is it Normal for Teens to Experiment with Drugs?

Even though drug use is “normalized” (with research showing many teens try alcohol or drugs at least once), it doesn’t mean that it’s safe. It also doesn’t have to be the norm for your teen.

Part of this comes from adolescents being naturally curious. They also take more risks during the teenage years, whether putting themselves in dangerous situations or abusing substances.

The problem is that even using drugs occasionally affects your teen’s brain development, emotions, and academics. It also increases the risk of later drug use.

What’s the Difference Between Experimentation and Substance Use Disorder?

Experimenting with drugs is infrequent, situational drug use. It can be risky, but it usually isn’t so severe that it affects your teen’s life.

If they have a substance use disorder, however, they don’t have as much control over their use. They feel compelled to keep using even if there are consequences.

Your teen will have cravings for the drug, and there’s a growing impact on school, their home life, relationships, and mental health.

If you’re worried that your teen is developing a disorder, watch for warning signs like:

• Mood and behavior changes
• Increased conflict at home
• Using substances alone or in secret
• Loss of interest in hobbies
• Skipping school or declining grades
• Withdrawal symptoms or increased tolerance

The sooner you recognize these signs in your teen, the better. Addiction is one of those things that gets more severe (and harder to overcome) the longer that you are battling it.

How Can I Talk to My Teen About Substance Use?

Talking about drug use starts with a calm, sober conversation. Be prepared to listen and keep questions open-ended. Your goal should be to hear your teen out, not get your point across.

When it is your turn to express concerns, don’t exaggerate or threaten. Instead, talk about things your teen actually cares about. For example, how they feel, their long-term goals, and the possible consequences to their adolescent brain if they continue to use drugs or other substances.

What if My Teen Doesn’t Want to Answer Questions?

Teen resistance is common, whether it’s refusing to answer questions or arguing about chores. But feelings of shame or fear of being punished make it even less likely that your teen will talk to you.

This can be frustrating, but keep your cool. You might not get answers in the moment, but this keeps the door open for future conversations.

It’s still possible to set clear expectations about safety and substance use while seeking outside support. Therapists and adolescent treatment professionals are often able to engage teens in ways that parents cannot.

Can I Force My Teen to Get Help?

Many parents have found themselves wondering about their options if their teen flat-out refuses to get help. Laws vary by state, but in Arizona, parents or legal guardians can consent to mental health or substance abuse treatment for minors.

This makes it possible to start evaluation or treatment even with resistance from your teen.

Even so, it’s best to avoid forcing your teen to get help if you can avoid it. Treatment works better when teens feel supported, not forced. They become more willing to participate in care.

Remember that seeking help isn’t about punishing your teen. It’s about protecting their well-being and giving them the chance to heal.

Find Support for Teenage Drug Use at Artemis Adolescent Healing Center

Learning that your teen is experimenting with illicit drugs can leave you afraid and with a lot of questions. The best place to start is responding with empathy and support. From there, you can get them the help they need.

At Artemis Adolescent Healing Center, our accredited programs help teens address substance use and underlying mental health needs. We can help you with early intervention and finding the right level of care. This helps your teen rebuild with confidence, stability, and hope.

Every call to our facility is kept in strict confidence, so please reach out for support options now.

References

1. Cantor, C. Sept 27 2023. Substance Use Disorder and Mental Illness Often Go Hand in Hand. Both Must Be Addressed. Columbia University Department of Psychiatry.
2. Riggs, P. Nov 19 2024. Teens Self-Medicating with Drugs and Alcohol. Child Mind Institute.

Does it feel like your teen is going through a big period of change?

Change is normal, but depression looks different than your typical adolescent changes. Your teen may not laugh like they used to. Or, alternatively, they’re spending more time alone and seem constantly exhausted.

For teens, feelings of depression can be hard to brush off. They can make it harder to function at home, school, and even socially. You want to help, but a residential treatment center might not seem like the right answer, or may not be feasible for other reasons.

In this case, what are good alternatives for inpatient depression rehab for teens?

Residential care isn’t the only answer. Artemis Adolescent Healing Center is here to help you explore outpatient options, so you can decide on the type of depression treatment best for your teen.

What Outpatient Treatment Programs Can Help with Teen Depression?

Outpatient programs like IOPs and PHPs help your teen manage depression without feeling isolated from their support system. They’re an option for treatment without stepping away from life completely.

This is a good choice if your teen isn’t struggling with self-harm or suicidal thoughts. This situation doesn’t always need 24/7 supervision.

Young people in outpatient programs participate in individual and group counseling, receive psychiatric support if needed, and build skills. It’s very similar to inpatient rehab, just with the chance to go home after treatment.

This also gives a unique opportunity to practice coping skills and regulating emotions. They learn to manage mental health symptoms while being heavily supported.

What Do Intensive Outpatient Programs for Teens Offer?

Intensive outpatient programs (IOPs) are more structured than weekly therapy sessions. Still, they don’t have the same commitment as a residential treatment program. Depending on what your teen needs, sessions last for a few hours at a time, several days per week.

Group and individual counseling play a big part in IOPs. Evidence-based approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), or family therapy may be recommended. Medication management and crisis stabilization can also help teens who need more than therapy to heal. 

IOPs have the major benefit of letting your teen practice coping skills in real life between sessions. Families also get the chance to play a bigger role in teen recovery.

What Are Partial Hospitalization Day Programs for Adolescents?

Partial hospitalization programs (PHPs) are more of a commitment than an IOP, but your child stays connected to family life. They are similar to an IOP because they stabilize during a crisis.

They are similar to an IOP, but might also include academic coordination because of the time spent away from school.

PHPs are best for teens whose depression significantly affects their mood, safety, and/or daily functioning. Sessions last several hours, sometimes five days a week. Still, your teen gets the comfort of coming home and sleeping in their bed at night.

What Does Ongoing Support and Care for Depressed Teens Look Like?

With mental illness, symptoms can often be managed. But this doesn’t mean they go away completely. Depression is similar.

Even after a structured treatment program, continued support makes sure your teen has someone when depressive symptoms get worse. This might look like going to peer support groups, having a plan in place at school, and regular therapy.

Parents can also help at home. Having a routine, eating well, and good sleep all impact mental health. By supporting your teen in getting these things, they’ll be better able to manage depression.

How Can Family Involvement and Family Therapy Support My Teen’s Mental Health?

Family can be a big part of healing for teens and young adults. It’s a reminder that even though depression is isolating, your teen isn’t alone. Encourage honest communication and be supportive. Try to reduce stress at home, so that treatment is more effective.

Going to treatment as a family can also help. It’s a chance to connect with your teen more. At the same time, they’ll learn that it’s safe to share how they are feeling. Therapy is also a good way to understand the things contributing to your teen’s symptoms and how you can help.

Can My Teen Transition to Outpatient Care After Completing Residential Programs?

Yes. Sometimes, outpatient treatment is the next step following residential care. Think of it like a bridge. Your teen can apply what they’ve learned in treatment to their real life, while still getting a ton of support.

It makes the transition from (or coexistence with) adolescent mental health treatment and their academic responsibilities and social life much easier.

How Do I Know if Inpatient Programs at Residential Facilities Are a Better Fit for My Child?

Many teens benefit from outpatient care like therapy, but sometimes, more supervision is needed. It’s a good choice if your teen has major depressive disorder with suicidal ideations. Or, it can help teens struggling with depressive symptoms and substance abuse.

Inpatient treatment may also be the better fit if your teen is struggling with dual diagnosis. This means living with depression alongside trauma, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, or other mental health conditions.

There’s nothing wrong with getting your teen help. These are complex issues that can’t always be managed at home. And, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, suicide is the eighth most common cause of death for people ages 10-64.

Not sure what route to take? A professional mental health assessment can help choose the most effective level of care. This means matching treatment intensity to exactly what your teen needs.

At Artemis Adolescent Healing Center, we always try to provide the right amount of support to stabilize your teen, while avoiding unnecessary disruptions whenever possible.

What is Inpatient Care at a Residential Treatment Center Like?

As part of residential care, your teen has 24-hour clinical supervision in a structured, therapeutic setting. Your teen will participate in daily group and individual therapy sessions. Often, academic programming is a part of this, too.

Some teens benefit from being in a safe environment where it’s easier to monitor severe symptoms. They also get a break from things that might be stressing them at home or school. Once your teen’s mental health crisis passes, it’s typical to transition to less-intensive support services.

Find Support Options for Teen Mental Health Challenges at Artemis Today

It can often feel impossible to get your teen help if you’re deciding what to do alone. But you don’t have to.

We have helped many teens with both our inpatient and our outpatient offerings at Artemis Adolescent Healing Center, by providing a balanced way to heal from mental health disorders like depression.

Every teen’s path to healing looks a little different. The rightt approach is one that gives your teen the exact level of care they need, without them feeling detached from home, school, and important relationships.

Call us confidentially today to learn more about how guidance, compassion, and family involvement can have a meaningful impact on your child’s fight against depression.

References

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Nov 22 2024. About Suicide. SAMHSA Website.
2. Tomas, J. and Lenka, S. Feb 2 2023. Prevalence of Dual Diagnoses Among Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Conditions. National Library of Medicine.

Would you call your teenager “headstrong,” “opinionated,” or even “argumentative”? If so, this is not unique: these are words a lot of parents use to describe their kids during their adolescent years. And it can start to seem like more a constant struggle than isolated incidents. 

Many parents begin to wonder, “Is it normal for teens to argue with parents all the time?”

Arguing can be a sign of your teen’s independence. But if it’s constant, or comes with anger or emotional outbursts, arguing can also become a problematic behavior.

At Artemis Adolescent Healing Center, we understand that addressing combative teen behaviors like these starts with the “why” behind your child’s arguing. We can help you get to the bottom of this and provide support to help your family learn to communicate better.

Read our resource to learn more about the natural of argumentation in adolescents, and remember we are only a confidential call away for immediate support.

Why Does My Teen Argue So Much?

A big reason for arguments during the teen years is your child’s developing brain. Teenagers don’t have impulse control yet. They are ruled by emotion because their prefrontal cortex is still developing.

And, even though you’ve been a teenager yourself, your child has never seen you like that. They feel judged or misunderstood when you don’t see their side of things.

This can make them fight against your rules, believing they’re unfair, and that you ‘just don’t understand.’. Paired with their growing desire for independence, it’s easy to see where tensions can arise.

Is Conflict a Normal Part of Parenting Teens?

As we touched on above, lots of parents find themselves arguing with their teenager. But is it normal or something more?

Conflict in some forms is normal in relationships, whether between siblings, spouses, or parents and teens. It isn’t always a big deal for your child not to agree with you. They are going to have their own opinions.

This might look like trying new styles, hanging out with new friends, or asking if they can paint their room. Arguing is normal behavior, but it can also get to be too much if it disrupts daily life and creates regular challenges for parents or other family members. 

When is Arguing a Normal Behavior?

Arguing usually comes from a disagreement at its root. Your teen might have different wants, values, or beliefs than you.

And research suggests that when done right, arguments during adolescence help your teen become more confident. It’s an important part of their transition from small child to adult.

The most beneficial arguments are a model for how your teen should act in the future. They show healthy communication habits.

This looks like giving your teen a chance to express their opinion, and truly listening. They should also hear you out, which can often be trickier, but is achievable.

When Do Combative Teen Behaviors Become a Warning Sign?

Adolescence comes with big emotions, and it may be easy for your teen to cross the line from feeling passionately to activating aggressively. Or, they might refuse to hear you out at all.

If your teen gets physical, breaking things, or being cruel to siblings or animals, it’s a sign they need help. Threats, extreme emotional instability like intense rage or mood swings, or behavior so severe it causes disruptions at school, home, or in friend groups are other signs.

How Do Mental Health Challenges Contribute to Teen Defiance and Anger?

When your teen is struggling with conditions like depression, anxiety, ADHD, or trauma, defiance or anger are a lot more likely during times of conflict.

For many teens, anger comes from a place of being defensive. They’re trying to protect themselves from feeling overwhelmed, whether it’s their emotions or stress that are causing these feelings. Mental health issues make it much harder to keep emotions and stress in check.

How Does Family Stress Escalate Conflicts?

Any kind of family stress can make arguing worse. Everyone already feels tense from dealing with work stress, financial problems, health issues, divorce, or other major life changes.

Family stress makes life feel unpredictable, and this makes small disagreements feel much bigger than they are.

Your teen is especially sensitive to household tension, even when you try to hide it. They notice tone, mood, and conflicts that don’t have anything to do with them. Your teen might respond by withdrawing, or they may become irritable, overwhelmed, or out of control.

Are There Any Long-Term Impacts of Constant Fighting on Teens?

Some weeks, arguments might feel constant. This has a big impact on the whole house. It disrupts daily peace, and teens who experience constant arguments with their mom or dad often feel misunderstood, rejected, or emotionally unsafe.

They don’t have an outlet, and this can affect relationships with teachers, authority, and other adults, too.

Too much arguing and instability in the teen years has lasting consequences. Your teen might experience lower self-esteem. Or, lasting feelings of anger, sadness, and isolation. It becomes harder for them to focus at school, regulate emotions, and build healthy relationships.

To cope, they might shut down emotionally or isolate. Your teen could even look for relief outside the home, through unhealthy relationships, risky behaviors, or substance use.

What Are Some Better Ways Parents Can Respond to Teen Anger and Defiance?

You can’t respond well until you hear your teen out. Connect by asking questions about what matters to them. Or, ask the “why” behind their requests. Like, why do they want to stay out past curfew or dye their hair? Respect their why and don’t belittle them.

When parents try to understand their child as their own unique person, it gives a foundation to build on. This doesn’t mean always agreeing with your teen.

When you give your opinion, though, do it in the same way you’d like your teen to. Be calm. Help them understand your point of view, or the consequences they may not have thought about.

Make the conversation open-ended, and avoid telling your teen they can’t do things because “I said so.” Compromise can also be used if what they are asking isn’t unreasonable.

What Communication Strategies Actually Work with Combative Teens?

Arguments don’t have to cause conflict. There is a right way to argue, and adults can help by modeling what this looks like.

Avoiding bullying, threats, the use of wounding words, or bargaining that isn’t done in good faith. Actions like these make it harder for your teen to trust you (and your judgment).

When is it Time for Families to Seek Extra Help?

All families argue, but if conflict feels constant, intense, or impossible to resolve, it might be time to call in outside support. This is even more true if arguments lead to yelling, threats, property damage, or aggression.

If your teen is dealing with mental health issues, extra support can also help. This might look like depression, anxiety, or sudden personality changes. School refusal or substance use can also be caused by tension at home.

It’s also okay not to know if you need support. An evaluation can help parents know how to best support their teen’s well-being.

What Types of Therapy Might Help with Arguing During the Teen Years?

Therapy is a good place to start if arguing during the teen years feels impossible to manage.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) helps your child recognize thought patterns that cause conflict. For example, when your teen feels misunderstood, they act impulsively. CBT helps them recognize why they feel that way. Then, they can identify it, pause, and then express themselves better.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) helps with intense feelings. Your teen learns to tolerate discomfort. They also learn to communicate, even when they’re overwhelmed.

Targeted therapy can help if your teen is dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other mental health conditions. At Artemis Adolescent Healing Center, we tailor our therapeutic approach to fit your teen’s needs. They get exactly the right level of support.

What Role Does Family Therapy Play in Improving Parent-Teen Relationships?

Honesty can be hard. But family therapy makes it easier. You’ll work with a therapist who makes it easier to see things from a new perspective. Everyone can share their feelings and opinions, without blame, misunderstanding, or other obstacles.

The work done in therapy helps your teen express frustration and their needs at home. It becomes easier to feel less angry and talk about things without shutting down.

Parents benefit from therapy too. You’ll learn to set boundaries and still hear your teen out. This makes your relationships stronger and makes it easier to disagree without big arguments.

Find Support for Combative Teen Behaviors at Artemis Today

Frequent arguments can stress you and your teen. But they don’t have to define your relationship. Healing comes through understanding, healthier communication, and the right support.

Artemis Adolescent Healing can help your family break free from the cycles of anger and emotional distance. Call us today to find out how our compassionate, evidence-based care can bring your family closer together.

All outreach is confidential, so please do not hesitate to call us for supportive options now.

References

1. National Health Service UK. March 21 2023. Teen aggression and arguments. NHS UK.
2. Neighmond, P. Jan 3 2012. Why a Teen Who Talks Back May Have a Bright Future. NPR.

Our parents’ guide for teen slang is going to take a close look at the terms teens use for important topics like drug and alcohol use. As a parent, it’s important to keep up on drug slang and other types of slang terms so you can understand what your child is talking about and intervene, if necessary.

In addition to teen drug and alcohol slang, we’ll also cover some terms that might be used to describe mental health challenges.

At Artemis Adolescent Healing Center, we specialize in providing customized, professional care to young people struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, as well as mental health challenges. If you are a concerned parent, feel free to reach out to our Tucson, Arizona, location right away to learn more about the services we provide. It would be an honor to serve you and your family.

Why Teen Slang Matters When it Comes to Mental Health

Teen slang has always evolved quickly, in an effort to stay one step ahead of the adults. Today, however, it moves faster than ever. The speed of evolving language, whether an innocent inside joke or something more serious related to drugs or alcohol, has increased thanks to social media, text messages, and other forms of technology.

The use of teen slang typically involves trying to avoid adults figuring out what the young people are up to. Those adults could be their parents, of course, but that group could also include teachers, cops, and others.

Rather than stating the names of specific drugs, which could easily be understood by anyone, slang is used by many teens who hope to stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, what might sound like a playful term at first could actually be referring to something very serious and even life-threatening.

How Teen Slang Develops and Changes

One of the tricky things about tracking teen drug use and the slang terms they use is that these terms come from so many different places. Most parents simply aren’t going to be able to recognize everything the young people are saying, as it will emerge from music, social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok, online gaming communities, and beyond.

Not only will the slang terms come from countless different places, but they will also shift quickly and intentionally. As soon as teenagers notice that the adults are catching on, they’ll replace a term and start to use another one. In other words, a common slang term will be seen as out-of-date and useless to teens once adults generally know what it is.

Teen Slang for Drinking and Alcohol

Alcohol is often the first substance teens are exposed to socially. In many circles, drinking alcohol as a teen isn’t seen as a big deal, despite the inherent risks. It’s often an open secret that certain teens are drinking at parties or in other settings, and this is especially common as teens attend high school graduation and get ready to move out on their own.

Teens may start out drinking beer, and some will move on to liquor. As an adult, you may already understand some of the slang terms that are used to talk about drinking, so this is probably the easiest category to decode.

Take note of how often your teen is using slang terms to talk about drinking, and how secretive they are about their habits. If the use of slang terms for teenage drinking and alcohol abuse comes along with changes in behaviors that you find concerning, it will be important to dig deeper and see what’s going on.

Teen Alcohol Slang Examples

There’s no way that we’ll be able to list all of the possible slang terms your child might use to describe alcohol use. That’s also true for the drug slang and mental health slang that we will examine below.

However, we can touch on a few of the terms that you might hear in this context.

• Buzzed – Refers to being mildly intoxicated, and can be used as a way to downplay not being drunk
• Lit – Being intoxicated or partying, often used positively from a teen’s perspective
• Turnt – Heavily intoxicated due to alcohol use, could also refer to drug use
• Blacked out – Drinking to the point of short-term memory loss
• Shotgunning – Drinking alcohol very quickly, usually refers to beer
• Pre-gaming – Drinking alcohol before going to a party or other event
• Handle – A large bottle of liquor, often meant to be shared at a party

Teenage Drug Slang: Terms and What They Mean

There’s no question that teen alcohol use can be scary and very dangerous on its own. However, the risks are amplified even further when drug use is involved. Whether it’s marijuana, crack cocaine, cough syrups, or any other kind of drug, there is a lot here for parents to be concerned about.

You may also not have much experience with the world of illegal drugs and the terms used to describe them. Therefore, it can be harder to understand what your kid is talking about, and harder to know if there is something to be worried about.

Of course, with drug use often comes more notable physical and mental side effects, so you may have a sense that something is wrong just from how your child is acting and behaving.

Examples of Teen and Adolescent Slang for Drugs

The world of drug slang is much harder to navigate than with alcohol slang, but we can give you a head start by providing a basic list of examples below.

• Trees, flower, weed, pot, edibles – These are all common terms used to describe marijuana
• Cart – This word has become commonly used to refer to a THC vape cartridge
• Dab – A highly concentrated form of THC
• Plug – This term doesn’t refer to a specific drug, but rather a person who sells drugs
• Bars – Xanax tablets
• Molly – MDMA or ecstasy
• Shrooms – One of the easier ones to understand, this term references psychedelic mushrooms
• Lean – Cough syrups mixed with soda, often containing codeine
• Popping – Taking illicit pills
• Geeking – Being high or under the influence of stimulant drugs
• Tweaking – As above, but specific to meth
• Faded – Being high or under the influence of depressant drugs

Teen Mental Health Slang Terms

Given the increased awareness in recent years around mental health, more and more teens are talking about their mental state with friends. Unfortunately, they might not be so willing to share their mental health concerns with their parents, so you might have to listen for slang in this part of life, as well.

If you hear words or sayings that you think are referring to a mental breakdown or mental health problems more generally, don’t hesitate to act. Often, mental health challenges are associated with a developing addiction to drugs or alcohol, so all of these things may be connected in the end.

Teen Slang Terms Related to Mental Health and Self-Harm

In cases of mental health challenges, it’s common for teens, or even adults, to talk around the issue in coded language. This is a way to start to draw attention to their problems without calling them out directly. The list below includes some of the ways your child might start to talk about their mental health.

• Checked out – This means they are feeling emotionally numb or disengaged
• Spiraling – Feeling overwhelmed or out of control emotionally
• Not okay – A somewhat vague expression, it has come to mean a generally deep state of distress
• Triggered – Emotionally affected by a situation or memory
• Unalive – A concerning reference to death or suicidal thoughts

Sometimes, the slang around mental health might be used in a somewhat light or even joking manner. That can still be cause for concern, however. If these words keep coming up, and you get the feeling that they aren’t really a joke, take a closer look at what’s going on.

The Role of Social Media in Teen Slang Terminology

It would be a mistake to overlook the role of social media in the spread of slang terms that refer to alcohol and other substances. The best way to think about what social media does in this context is to consider it as a megaphone. It has the ability to broadcast information quickly to a wide range of young people. When a teen has unrestricted access to social media platforms, there is no limit to what they might discover on those apps or sites.

There is also the nature of how social media platforms work to be concerned about in this equation. The algorithms that present content to users are based on what users are already interested in, so things like mental health content or content that is substance use-related in some way may wind up pushed to the top.

And, when this type of content is all that a young person sees on social media, that may serve to normalize it and not properly represent the high risk that does exist.

Are There Warning Signs Beyond Words?

For a parent worried about the recreational use of drugs or alcohol in a teen’s life, paying attention to slang terms is a good idea. While it is hard to keep up with these street names, it’s worth trying to figure out what they mean so you can step in and provide extra support to get your child’s life back on track.

With that said, there are plenty of warning signs beyond words that can be used for early detection of a drug or alcohol problem that is developing. Beyond listening to slang terms that your teen might be using, you will also want to watch for any other concerning signs that point to real-life troubles. Those signs can include the following points –

• Sudden increase in secrecy around phone use or online activity
• Notable changes in habits or patterns, especially around sleep and appetite
• Declining grades or overall struggles with academic performance
• Loss of interest in activities that used to be favored
• Dramatic mood swings, irritability, or general withdrawal
• New peer groups with little transparency about who the new friends are, or a new best friend that is mysterious
• Physical signs or symptoms, including unexplained fatigue, frequent illness, or red, watery eyes

Seeing any of these changes in your child will be scary and cause for concern. However, you should resist the temptation to ignore these signs or just write them off. You know your child better than anyone, and if you think something is wrong, there’s a good chance that you are right.

How to Talk to Your Teen About Serious Issues

It’s one thing to suspect that your child may be using stimulant drugs like powder cocaine, alcohol, or any other type of substance. It’s another thing entirely, however, to talk to them about your concerns and have that conversation be successful.

Teens are notoriously difficult to talk to in a productive manner, and you risk having them shut down completely if this conversation isn’t approached properly.

First, be sure that you approach the topic with love. If your teen feels that you are coming at them with aggression or anger, the conversation will not be productive. Instead, position yourself as an ally, wanting to know what is going on so you can help. Even if you do feel some degree of anger over the situation, set that to the side so you can remain calm and engage with the conversation honestly and openly.

Also, avoid immediately moving into a lecture and don’t start to threaten consequences. There may come a time when consequences are appropriate, or even necessary, but don’t start there. For now, you just want to understand what is going on and get your teen to open up to you about their life situation. If they feel like you are a safe person to talk to, everything will become a little easier moving forward.

Help Your Teenager Overcome Challenges at Artemis

Facing the reality that your child is dealing with a substance use problem or is in the middle of a mental health battle can be extremely difficult. Fortunately, you don’t have to be alone in this situation.

The expert team at Artemis Adolescent Healing Center knows how to confront teen drug use, treat anxiety, and provide whatever services are necessary to turn this young life in a new direction. Call us today to learn more. All calls are confidential, so please reach out to our compassionate staff for supportive options now.

REFERENCES

1. Drug Enforcement Administration. (2017). Drug slang code words (DIR-020-17) [PDF]. U.S. Department of Justice.
2. MedlinePlus. (n.d.). Alcohol. U.S. National Library of Medicine.