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Troubling Issues — Comments Off on When Progress Stalls
15
Nov 24

When Progress Stalls

Mom-and-Girl-Talk-on-Bed.jpg“You may feel as though your teen could still benefit from being in therapy longer, yet they may need a break.”

Perhaps you are like me and are always pushing for more improvement in your teen’s condition. If your child became ill at an early age, you have probably been directing their treatment. Yet, as teens become young adults, they may not want to follow your recommendations any longer. This can be frustrating for parents who are accustomed to helping. But I’ve learned a secret. Often, our teen is making progress and we don’t even realize it.

Perhaps your teen has quit therapy and you feel that they should go back. They may simply need a break. Some people benefit from therapy more than others do, and your teen may believe they need to live their life and put what they have learned into practice. Give them some time and allow their brain to continue maturing. Think back to when you were their age. Did you really have it together that much better than they currently do? Even “normal” teens go through times when they do not appear to be maturing much.

Keep in mind that growth is uncomfortable. When your teen was ill, they were struggling to grow into the demands of the illness. Following a “growth spurt” teens need time to feel in-control and comfortable about handling the demands of life. A period of time where they feel a sense of competency is important.

Finally, it helps to think about what your teen was doing six months ago compared to what they are currently doing. You may be surprised to discover that they really are doing some worthwhile things. If, on the other hand, they are playing video games all day and never going out of the house, you will know that it is time to challenge them.

Fostering Wellness and Growth — Comments Off on Can There be too Many Interventions?
25
Oct 24

Can There be too Many Interventions?

Teenager“…choose a few effective and tolerable interventions and then stick with them.”

Your teen is cooperating by attending therapy, participating in a teen support group, taking medicine, practicing yoga, swallowing fish oil pills, and maintaining a journal of their feelings. A friend tells you that a gluten-free diet might help and a family member urges you to try the healing touch therapy.

Can too many interventions be risky?

I think so. It is easy to forget that teens are freshly out of childhood, unaccustomed to doing much more self-care than dressing and brushing their teeth. Throw too many rigors at them and they may rebel completely, especially if progress has already been discouragingly slow.

But there’s an even greater risk. Some teens may welcome all the interventions you can offer, filling their lives with ever more treatment and leaving little time to simply be a teen.  Your son or daughter may become a “professional patient,” whereby they are defined by only their illness. This is not what you want for your growing teen who still has the task of developing friendships, creative outlets, academics, and career goals. Too many interventions can actually keep a teen dependent upon the illness.

Keep in mind that most interventions take time. Therapy has a cumulative effect. A month of therapy is only a start, but six months of therapy begins to make a difference. Two years of regular therapy produces substantial results, but is still not a lot. Avoid jumping from one intervention to another. Instead, choose a few effective and tolerable interventions and then stick with them, while letting your teen get on with the other important parts of life. I am not knocking a gluten-free diet or touch therapy by any means, but consider the impact of introducing a new strategy if the current plan is working.

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