Teen Mental Health: How to Raise Kids Who Can Cope

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As the parent of a child who suffers with ADHD, I applaud providers such as you! Every child who struggles with a medical condition needs to have a provider who advocates for them. While most parents have the best of intentions, it is not always easy to stay objective when parenting a child with a medical condition that often ignites a gamut of feelings & emotions within the home.
I am eternally thankful to the amazing therapist who gave our child the tools to help him recognize & manage his condition with simple cognitive behavior skills. Additionally, she gave us the tools to parent in a manner that allowed him to thrive! I had no idea that I was actually exacerbating the problem, and adding stress to my child!
I cannot imagine ( and shudder at the thought) what our home would be like, had we not been shown how to ‘fix’ our parenting!
I believe that there is an entire generation of children who are currently caught in a horrible cycle of being over-medicated to the point of altered-mental status, (which too often leads to a misdiagnosis of bi-polar) simply because their parents do not have the understanding or proper tools to manage their child’s condition.
In my opinion, family therapy should be mandatory for any child who is placed on medication for a mental health condition, so that the parent is given the tools to love, support, and encourage the child to thrive!
Parents of children who are diagnosed with other medical conditions such as: diabetes, hypertension, & obesity are given extensive education on how to properly manage their child’s medical condition; why should mental health medical conditions be any different?
Thank you again, 'mental health', for standing up for the precious children who are our future!

Holly of NV 1:22AM June 06, 2009

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matiu of AL 7:55AM May 30, 2009

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matiu of OK 7:51AM May 30, 2009

As a mental health provider I am often frustrated by parents who "plop" their kids in my office with demands I "fix" them when they themselves are unwilling to examine or make changes to their parenting or expectations. I am often sad for many of the kids I see because really their parents are "the problem" not the kid.

chris of OR 5:08PM April 26, 2009

One problem is that many of the parents seeking to raise the perfect and achieving child are usually people who are ego driven control freaks who will never see the dangers of imposing such strict regimes on their child. Best advice is to make your child well rounded in life, exposed to various schedules and activities and go with his/her strengths... and above all, support the child in THEIR desires and directions.. that will create and build a self reliant child and person.

c. michael of CA 2:44PM April 22, 2009

yeah, where on earth are there competent helpers? The ones I have tried are not as helpful as social workers! I cannot think of a field where there is such a lack as in the world of psychiatric helpers. i admit it is the toughest job but there are few in the field who can deal with mental illness maybe because it is almost impossible?

of CA 12:28AM December 11, 2008