Danny R. Gibson, LMFT: Teenagers again are always going to be pushing back, always going to be challenging with parents. Again they are going to establish their own identity. However, when it becomes it more of a warning sign when the child begins to have a more emotional outburst. The outburst is out of control.
If they are temper tampering because you said ‘no’, they’re 14, that perhaps is to start believing there may be a problem. If they are having trouble managing their impulses, hitting walls and breaking windows, or having increase impulsivity, then that may be a reason to have a concern also when they can’t control their own emotions. Normal disciplinary actions are not enough then more intensive services may be needed. So, if you’ve grounded the kid, you’ve taken away privileges, you’ve done a number of things and no matter what you do it’s not working. Perhaps there is a greater need that may be needed.
When a child begins to have to trouble in school, has a hard time focusing in class, following teacher instructions, administrative instructive. When these behaviors interfere with school then perhaps there is a greater need that may be needed. Also, when the kid’s interpersonal relationships start to suffer, not able to keep friends, not able to maintain friends, not even strong friendships.
Again that is a warning sign that something else may be going on. In the course, if a kid starts becoming self-igneous, talking about suicide, then that’s something the parents need to intervene as soon as possible to protect the child. Perhaps the kid is saying, ‘I want to kill myself, I’m not happy’ or they are cutting themselves which is quite often. Are they burning themselves? So, you definitely want to intervene if a child is injuring themselves or potentially could injure someone else.