Adolescence is a tumultuous time accompanied by emotional, hormonal, and social changes that can impact your teen’s mood and behavior. Sometimes, you might feel as though your teen has two different personalities, but this doesn’t always indicate the presence of a problem. However, there are certain signs that you should be aware of that could require professional evaluation and treatment.
At Guardian Recovery, we know what it’s like for parents, teens, and families to deal with the ongoing evolution brought about by adolescence, and you’re not alone. If you’re concerned about your teen and you’re not sure what’s going on, we’re here to help. Our teen rehab treats behavioral and mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use, in adolescents aged 13-17. Please call us any time of day or night at 1-888-483-1517 for a free, confidential assessment and discussion about your teen’s situation.
Your Teen's Transformation Starts
Here!
Guardian Recovery Adolescent can help your teen take control of their lives, putting them on a path to a brighter future filled with possibility.
Normal Identity Exploration or Cause for Concern?
Puberty and the teen years can be challenging for teens and families alike. Ongoing brain development and maturation and hormonal surges and fluctuations can make it feel like you don’t recognize your own child at times.1 While it’s normal for teens to experience a range of emotions, take risks, and explore new relationships as they seek out and try on new identities, some teens may be struggling with underlying issues that could indicate cause for concern. For example, research has shown that personality disorders often begin in adolescence, and that it’s best to identify and treat these problems early on.2 Other mental health problems, such as anxiety, depression, or trauma, can result in changes that cause mood and behavioral disturbances, or your child could simply be dealing with the ups and downs of adolescence. However, it’s important to emphasize that just because your teen seems like a different person at times, it doesn’t mean that your child has a personality disorder or another serious issue. Regardless, you should not attempt to self-diagnose your child, and only a qualified mental health professional can provide an evaluation and diagnosis.Why Teens May Have Different Personalities
You might notice that your teen seems happy one moment, and then completely depressed or lethargic the next. Mood swings can be a normal part of adolescence and often indicate that your child is trying to manage and understand complex emotions and new or challenging life situations.3 However, more marked mood swings or dramatic personality changes can be indicative of a serious issue, and may point to an underlying mental health concern.3 If you observe troubling signs, it’s important not to panic, and even if it’s a serious problem, it’s often treatable. Below, we’ll help you understand some of the common influences that can play a role, many of which are benign and others which are more insidious.Social Media Masks & Virtual Personalities
Teens often adopt social media masks, avatars, and fictitious virtual personalities which can cause them to act in ways they normally wouldn’t in real life. These can be methods that allow teens to try on new personas that don’t necessarily represent their true selves, and they don’t always mean that there’s a serious problem. While only a few studies have examined this area, some research shows that using social media masks and virtual personalities can be a useful way to engage in self-exploration, facilitate new relationships, and experiment with new identities.4Reality Filtering
Teens often engage in black-or-white, all-or-nothing forms of thinking, which is a cognitive distortion known in psychology as mental filtering, or reality filtering. It means that a person sees (usually) only the bad or negative aspects of a situation, while filtering out the positive or alternative ways of looking at things. If your teen engages in this form of reality filtering, they can seem more negative, or unhappy than usual, which can be accompanied by negative self-talk and potentially influence mental health disorders like depression and anxiety. 5Peer Pressure & Environment
Peer pressure and environmental concerns can play an enormous role in the way your teen feels about themselves and their behaviors. 6 While peers can have a positive influence, it can also be negative, especially if it results in detrimental behavior like drug and alcohol use, delinquent behaviors such as shoplifting or cutting school, and other risky actions. Other environmental concerns, such as unsafe neighborhoods, family and parental interactions, trauma and life stressors, can also play a role in how your teen behaves and feels.Complimentary Insurance Check
Find Out Today!
"*" indicates required fields
Noticeable Red Flag Behaviors
Most parents know when something isn’t right with their teen, even if they can’t pinpoint what it is. Red flag behaviors can indicate many concerns, such as potential mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder, personality disorders like borderline personality disorder (BPD), substance use disorders, conduct disorder, suicidality, and more.2, 7, 8 These should be addressed by qualified mental health professionals. If you’re concerned, please contact us at 1-888-483-1517 for a free, confidential discussion and an initial assessment. Some of the signs to watch out for include: 9, 10- Dramatic mood swings that last several days or weeks, such as elation and extreme energy, followed by depression or extreme sadness.
- Drug or alcohol use.
- Sudden changes in peer groups.
- Social withdrawal.
- Frequent episodes of rage.
- Threats to harm themselves or others.
- Engaging in actual self-harm, such as cutting.
- Frequent changes in their self-image.
- A lack of healthy boundaries.
- Frantic attempts to avoid abandonment.
- Talking excessively fast about things that don’t make sense.
- An inability to sleep or sleeping too much.
- An inflated sense of their own abilities.
- Frequent risk-taking or engaging in dangerous activities.
- Significant changes in appetite.
Potential Hidden Struggles Your Teen May Be Experiencing
All teens experience occasional ups and downs, which is a normal and expected part of adolescence. However, your teen may also be dealing with certain hidden struggles that they might not feel comfortable sharing with others. Below are some of the more common challenges faced by teens that can have an impact on their emotions and behavior.Acceptance Seeking
It’s common for teens to struggle with a desire to be accepted by others, and seek positive opinions and validation from others. On some level, we all desire this, but teens are generally more naturally attuned to what others think. While it’s not always a bad thing, it can be a slippery slope, as teens can be focusing on receiving approval from the wrong crowd or negative types of people.Hiding Fear
Anxiety and fear are natural emotions for everyone when faced with a specific threat or stressor, but some teens may be more susceptible to hiding fear for various reasons. They may not be entirely sure why they’re afraid, or they might feel that it’s shameful or unacceptable to share their concerns with others. While recent research has shown that some degree of suppression of anxiety and fear may be beneficial, suppressing feelings over the long-term may not be helpful, as the more a person tries to deny or inhibit their feelings of fear, the worse these feelings can potentially become.11, 12Coping With Pressure
Teens deal with enormous levels of pressure, ranging from concerns about academic achievement and their futures, their appearance, peer pressure to conform to social norms, parental expectations, and participating in extracurricular activities.13 A Pew Research Center study found that:13- 61% of teens feel a lot of pressure to get good grades.
- 29% say they feel a lot of pressure to look good
- 28% feel pressure to fit in socially
- 21% say they feel pressure to become involved in extracurricular activities and to excel at sports.
Identity Confusion
As mentioned earlier, the teen years are a time of experimentation and trying on new identities, but some teens may experience identity confusion. According to child psychoanalyst Erik Erikson, the psychosocial task of the years between 12-18 is to find and establish a sense of self through exploring their goals, desires, and beliefs.14 If teens aren’t provided with opportunities to do so, they can experience identity confusion and not know who they are, struggle to find their own path in life, and be unsure of how they fit into the world.Non-Judgment & Communicating With Your Teen
Opening the lines of communication with your teen and maintaining a compassionate, accepting, and nonjudgmental attitude can go a long way in helping your teen feel that you’re on their side and you’re there to help. Here are some helpful tips for communicating with your teen:15- Ask open-ended questions, or those that cannot be answered with a simple yes or no.
- Share your observations using “I” statements. Say things like, “I’ve noticed you’re spending more time in your room” or “I’m concerned that you’ve been sleeping all the time. Can you tell me if there’s anything wrong?”
- Give them positive feedback. For example, you might say “I really appreciate you sharing that with me.”
- Show your love and support. Let them know that you love them no matter what and that you’re there to help them in any way possible.
Our Locations
Our Facilities & Teams Transform Lives
Changing lives by providing comprehensive support and rehabilitation, empowering individuals to overcome addiction and regain control of their health and well-being.
When to Seek Help
If you’re concerned about your teen or you’ve noticed any red flag behaviors, it can be a good time to reach out for help. Our specialized adolescent programs provide comprehensive medical, therapeutic, and educational support to help teens who are struggling, foster long-term recovery, and promote personal growth. Our staff is available 24/7 for a free and confidential call to answer your questions, listen to your concerns, and help point you in the right direction.
Please call us at 1-888-483-1517, or visit our admissions page to learn more about how to get your teen the help they need. No matter how things may seem right now, there is always the potential for growth, healing, and a healthier, more positive future.
SELF-ASSESSMENT:
Do I Have an Addiction Issue?
Disclaimer: Does not guarantee specific treatment outcomes, as individual results may vary. Our services are not a substitute for professional medical advice or diagnosis; please consult a qualified healthcare provider for such matters.
- Konrad K, Firk C, Uhlhaas PJ. Brain development during adolescence: neuroscientific insights into this developmental period. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2013;110(25):425-431. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2013.0425
- Paris J. Personality disorders begin in adolescence. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2013;22(3):195-196. doi:10.1007/s00787-013-0389-7
- Gregorová K, Eldar E, Deserno L, Reiter AMF. A cognitive-computational account of mood swings in adolescence. Trends Cogn Sci. 2024;28(4):290-303. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2024.02.006
- Valkenburg PM, Peter J. Adolescents’ identity experiments on the Internet: consequences for social competence and self-concept unity. Communication Research. 2008;35(2):208-231. doi:10.1177/0093650207313164.
- Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Constantly Down on Yourself? How To Stop Negative Self-Talk.
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. (2018). Peer Pressure.
- Yale Medicine. (n.d.). Conduct Disorder.
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. (n.d.). Risk factors, protective factors, and warning signs.
- National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens.
- American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. (2019). Borderline Personality Disorder in Young People.
- University of Cambridge. (2023). Suppressing negative thoughts may be good for mental health after all.
- Amstadter A. Emotion regulation and anxiety disorders. J Anxiety Disord. 2008;22(2):211-221. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2007.02.004
- Pew Research Center. (2019). Most U.S. Teens See Anxiety and Depression as a Major Problem Among Their Peers.
- Ragelienė T. Links of Adolescents Identity Development and Relationship with Peers: A Systematic Literature Review. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2016;25(2):97-105.
- UNICEF. (n.d.). 11 tips for communicating with your teen.