Questions About Teens Parents Google the Most
When my twins were first born, I had an endless amount of questions about
child-rearing.
Why aren’t they sleeping through the night?
Why is their poop changing colors?
And the question I asked the most often was:
Why are they always crying?
Now that my twins are teens, in many ways I feel like a new mom again since
raising teens is such a perplexing and confusing experience. Their
behaviors are often hard for me to figure out. Like, why do they always feel the need to close the door? Why do they want to spend every waking moment with their friends?
My initial reaction when I’m feeling bewildered (which is often) is to grab
my phone and Google it. And then I wonder, how did my mother raise me without an Internet connection?
Fortunately, parents do have the ability to easily find answers to their
questions which will hopefully make parenting a teenager a little less
daunting. As a former counselor for adolescents in a residential facility,
I can answer some common questions asked by parents of teens and also
provide links to articles for more information. Here are the top eight
questions most Googled by parents of teenagers.
1. Why do teens do drugs?
- During my time working with teens, there was a myriad of reasons why they
chose to use drugs. It ranged from peer pressure to mental health issues
(as a form of self-medication). Here is an article related to why some
teens use drugs. - If you are concerned that your teen is using drugs or alcohol, this article
discusses signs to look for and options to get treatment. - The best way to help prevent your teens from using drugs is to have open
communication with them about drugs and how they feel in all areas of their
life (friends, school, sports, etc.).
2. Why do teens cut themselves?
- Cutting yourself is a form of self-injury. When I worked in the residential
treatment center, often teens cut themselves as a way to deal with their
depression or other negative emotions. If you notice your teen is cutting
herself, it is important to seek the help of a mental health professional
so your teen can learn a more appropriate coping mechanism for dealing with
her emotions. Here is a related article.
3. Why do teens drink?
- Similar to using drugs, teens often drink alcohol because of peer pressure
or as a form of self-medication. Alcohol is also more accessible and
acceptable to use than illegal drugs. Some of the teens I worked with had
parents who either used or abused alcohol, making it easy for them to
obtain it. Here is a related article.
4. Why do teens smoke?
- Despite laws regulating smoking in select public areas and the increased
price of cigarettes, teens still smoke cigarettes. In over fifty percent of
US states, the law regarding the age to purchase tobacco is 18, making it
more accessible than alcohol. The most common reason teens begin smoking is
that their friends or parents smoke. Once they start, smoking is highly
addictive. Here is a related article.
5. Why do teens vape?
- Vaping is smoking using an e-cigarette. Even though the user does not inhale tobacco, they are still inhaling a vapor containing nicotine. Currently, there are not any state laws requiring proof of age to purchase e-cigarettes, which means it is easily attainable for teens. Since e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, teens believe it is a healthier option than a cigarette. Here is a related article.
6. Why do teens need more sleep?
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that teens sleep for 8-10 hours per night. Sleep is necessary to aid in physical, intellectual and emotional growth. But a teen’s busy schedule, including sports, homework and spending time with friends, often means a later bedtime combined with an early start time (my kids are on the bus at 6:40 a.m.). The end result is not getting enough sleep. Here is a related article.
7. Why do teens get acne?
- The exact cause of acne is unknown, but hormones, stress and genetics do contribute to developing it. That teens experience an increase in hormones may be why they develop it more than adults. The best treatment for acne is using facial cleanser and, if necessary, seeing a dermatologist. Here is a related article.
8. Why do teens commit suicide?
- Suicide is a complex issue. Teens may commit suicide because they feel hopeless or pain due to depression. There are some incidents when teens felt bullied or experienced abuse that led to suicide. If you think your teen is having suicidal thoughts, contact a mental health professional or The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Here is a related article.
*This article was originally published in Your Teen (yourteenmag.com).
Originally published: 03-01-19
Updated: 10-06-22
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