Helping Teens

Teenagers are often accused of being behind many acts of violence. However, some measures could prevent the passage to the act. Thus it is recommended:

* They offer creative activities, including arts (drama, music ..) to express themselves.

* Give them access to temporary accommodation when they want to temporarily separate from their parents during a crisis.

* Better care for children who suffer the penalties of law.

* And of course to help parents who express a need.

And for himself ?

While boys tend to be violent towards others, the girls will instead return the violence against themselves. In this period where you feel more tenant of her body that actually owned, we try to control it. To contain the "inner demons", tensions or frustrations too strong, the girl will return his fits of violence against herself. This type of attitude is often a harbinger of a suicidal act. The harm may have different levels: the razor cuts, cigarette burns, bruises on the face or limbs.

This behavior may be motivated by a hatred of self which is nothing but the ricochet of hostility (real or imagined) of others towards oneself. Anorexia or taking drugs may be in line for this type of behavior. We urgently need to hear these cries for help, listen to the adolescent and seek outside help.

Pubertal and intellectual evolutions

In girls: breast development, reproductive tract. Weight gain. Menarche. In 1940, the first rules in Europe came to 17 years. Currently, the average age is around 12 years and 6 months, because living conditions are more comfortable and assertive adolescents earlier.

In boys: wet dreams first, voice change, hair, bone growth and stature.

For both: re-shaping the body image, continuously (access to the file "body schema"). Fixation on physical appearance outside: very narcissistic era. Different tendencies to excess. Very little hygiene. Instability.

During the early years, the thought of the little child was magical (access to the file "childhood"). A latent period he acquired a concrete logic (access to the file "window period"). To 12 years, the teenager will be able to reason deductively, making assumptions and meets in the abstract. It is now possible thanks to the birth of formal thought, or "hypotético-deductive". Having acquired the formal thought, he will use to excess. He did not need the experience. This is when we change the world, very creative but without support in reality. He acquired the adult intellect.

How to choose?

The easiest way is to talk with your doctor or pediatrician can advise you on the choices and give you the addresses. Talk to your loved ones as they can tell you a shrink their knowledge. Attention, please check it has the required qualifications. The school partners, including social workers, managers and nurses familiar with health care facilities.

How to take the teenager?

It should be explained that the shrink is a neutral person who can help under the seal of secrecy. It may help to understand what is happening and to manage this new situation. It should also be noted that we can go there once to see how it goes. The adolescent must feel comfortable with his interlocutor: if he does not feel comfortable with the person, we can find another with which the young will have more chemistry.

Teenager Explores

Nothing is more violent, for a father or a mother to discover that your teen is useless: Loved cutter on the forearm with a cigarette burns, lacerations of the legs. During the adolescence Dolto compared to private molting lobster carapace, compared to the skin is very special. "The skin is a barrier, a narcissistic envelope that protects the world from chaos as possible," (in Skin and traces Métailié, 2003). Being ill at ease sometimes involves the redesign of the surface itself to a makeover and more confusing. The body markings are stops identity, ways to put limits on the skin. "

During this difficult age of mutation that is characterized, more than any other by a floating body identity - awakening of desire, questioning of masculine and feminine, entering puberty - the teenager explores his limitations. specialist psychiatrist adolescence, adds: "The sensory element is very important, the teen became acquainted with his senses, touch, his skin clear that in terms of pleasurable or painful sensations. "