Are you facing a summer full of storms from a teenager whose behavior has become rebellious and out of control? Are you walking on pins and needles around your teen?  Does it sometimes seem like he or she has suddenly become someone you don’t even recognize?

Teenagers go through normal turmoil in their emotions as they mature. Most handle adolescence without behavioral problems, but for others this time of life can be a very stressful and confusing to them.  And their desire to be accepted by their peers can get them into all sorts of trouble.

Every day I hear from dozens of parents around the country who share how their once normal and happy child is now dangerously spinning out of control -- abusing drugs or alcohol, lying, stealing, cutting, or engaging in other destructive or disturbing behavior. Their teen’s behavior disrupts their entire family, and causes the parents to wonder about their child’s future and worry about their safety.

Based on our experience with thousands of struggling teenagers over the years, we’ve developed the Troubled Teen Assessment Tool.  As a first step for concerned parents, this helpful evaluation can determine whether a teenager needs some help. If you feel that your teen is on an unhealthy downward spiral, take a few moments to complete this assessment.

Just rank the symptoms you are experiencing, on a scale from 0 to 5 depending on their severity.  Circle the appropriate number on the scale. And ask other family members to do the same, then compare notes. You’ll either find that your teen is exhibiting somewhat normal adolescent behavior, or that he or she needs immediate help.

THE TROUBLED TEENAGER ASSESSMENT TOOL  

1.  Our Family is Under Stress from Our Teen's Behavior

Your teen refuses to abide by anything you say or request, leading to a constant high level of stress and conflict in the home as a direct result. Your stress meter goes up whenever he or she comes home or walks into the room.

0----1----2----3----4----5

Never....Often....Always

2.  We've Seen Changes in Our Teen's Motivation

Your child is displaying markedly different motivation from what has been normal. For instance: sleeping far too little or far too long, extreme forgetfulness, over aggression and explosiveness, depression, an uncaring attitude, anxiety or sadness, grades slipping, hating what they once loved or loving what they once hated, or spending too much time alone.

0----1----2----3----4----5

Never....Often....Always

3.  Your Teenager is Increasingly Disrespectful and Uncaring

Your child has become increasingly disrespectful, dishonest, or disobedient, openly displaying rebellion, no longer hiding his or her feelings or caring about the consequences, living only for the moment and not caring about the future.