Seek help if your teen is in turmoil: UAE-based psychiatrist

Sudden bouts of anger and screaming on the child can hurt his self-esteem and cause him to feel rejected.

A teenager is not just going through a physical change in his life but he or she also has to keep up with the social group they are moving around with, a psychiatrist reminded parents.
Dr Mehnaz Zafar, psychiatrist at Al Amal Hospital and Al Qassimi hospital, Ministry of Health and Prevention, said there are a number of factors that parents of teenage children should take care of when dealing with them.
"There is a lot of pressure on the teen of not to be excluded or isolated from his group. As a result, they want to stay updated with everything on social media, which is why they get hooked to it. But you cannot wean them off it by suddenly screaming at them or taking their gadgets away as that can frustrate a chid more."
Zafar, who is also professor of psychiatry at Sharjah University, said it is important for parents to build up a trust with their child in order to teach him or her right from wrong. "Social neglect by not only general people around the child but also by their families can cause anger among the teen. Parents are usually busy with their work and there is no one these children can speak to. Therefore, spending quality time as a family is important to help children stay connected with their family members and helps building trust and bond. Once there is trust between the parents and the childr, it will be easy to explain what's good or bad for him or her.
Sudden bouts of anger and screaming on the child can hurt his self-esteem and cause him to feel rejected.
"They need your time and not gifts alone," she said, adding that parents need to be mindful of what is happening around and should be more connected to other parents to see what their children are tending towards.
She also added that parents should seek help in case they feel their teenager is going through some extreme behavioural changes. "Not everyone can counsel their child just because they are parents. It is not that since it is your family or your child so only you can understand him or her. Sometimes seeking help from not only a psychiatrist is important but from any experienced counselor or any neutral person can help."
saman@khaleejtimes.com

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