Quiz: Troubled Teen?

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Quiz: Troubled Teen?
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About This Quiz

It might be hard to tell the difference between a normal teen, aloof and embarrassed by his or her parents, and a troubled teen. In this quiz, we'll examine some of the behaviors that should serve as red flags, as well as some that can be ignored.
Your former straight-A student comes home with two B's on a report card. Should you worry?
Yes. This behavior is so unlike your teen that something must be up.
No. You know your teen is taking harder classes, and some B's are normal.
Not now, but you'll worry later on if the grades continue to drop.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There's no need to worry about a few bad grades, but if you notice that your teen's academic performance continues to slip, talk to your teen. A drastic decline in grades or an absence of interest in school could indicate that something's going on.

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Your teenager sleeps until 11 a.m. every morning, and stays up until 2 a.m. every night. Should you worry?
No. Teens need extra sleep.
Yes. This isn't normal behavior for your teen, and it's starting to interfere with social activities and school work.
No. You'd rather have your teen asleep than terrorizing his or her siblings.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you notice a marked change in your teenager's sleeping habits, then something might be wrong, particularly if the sleep habits interfere with daily activities.

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Your teen threatens to run away. Is this normal?
Yes. Teenagers are trying to become more independent, so it's only natural they'd rebel against their parents.
Yes. In a bad fight, both teens and parents are likely to say something they don't mean, and this is just an empty threat.
No. Threatening to run away is not normal teenage behavior.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If your teen threatens to run away, take him or her seriously; such a statement is a warning that something is wrong in your teen's life. Explain that such behavior will have serious consequences, such as a call to the police.

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Your child comes home with a purple Mohawk. Should you worry?
No. A little self-expression is normal.
Yes. It looks horrendous and your teen will regret it later.
Yes. When kids aren't concerned with their appearance, something is wrong.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

You may not like your kid's hair or clothing, but these are small forms of rebellion that you should allow. Your teen is trying to find a style, and you should permit a little space to let that happen. Unless drastic changes in appearance are coupled with other disturbing signs, you shouldn't worry.

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Your daughter claims that she has no friends. Should you worry?
Yes. It's hard for teens who aren't popular, so you should force your daughter to interact with her peers.
No. She's just being dramatic.
No. You'd rather she have no friends than hang around kids who are a bad influence.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Teenagers can have some crazy mood swings. They may go from feeling like the center of the world to feeling like no one understands them. In the height of such a mood swing, teenagers may dramatically declare that no one loves them and that they have no friends. This is normal, as long as it becomes clear later on that such a statement was false. If you do suspect your daughter has no friends, then it's an issue worth following up on.

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You find a lighter and a handle of liquor in your teen's room. What should you do?
Nothing. You shouldn't have been in your teen's room in the first place.
Chalk it up to youthful experimentation and say nothing.
Confront your teen about it.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Drug and alcohol abuse is a major red flag of a troubled teen. If you find drug paraphernalia or alcohol in your child's room, you should talk to him or her about it. You may have an especially serious problem on your hands if the drug and alcohol use is combined with a drop in school performance, changes in weight or a lack of interest in friends.

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Your daughter's friend comes to you and claims your daughter has an eating disorder. What do you do?
Explain to your daughter's friend that all girls diet, and such behavior is normal.
Thank the friend, and investigate her claims.
Nothing. You haven't noticed anything, so this friend is probably making something out of nothing.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Take signs of disordered eating very seriously. Some red flags may include excuses about why the teen won't be eating with the family, excessive exercise, obsession with food, ill-fitting clothing, sudden weight loss or weight gain or a withdrawal from regular social activities.

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Your teen claims that his or her curfew isn't fair. What should you do?
Change the curfew. You want your kid to see you as a trusted friend, not a stuffy parent.
Explain why you set that curfew, and tell your teen that it stands.
Say nothing, and look the other way when your teen comes home late. After all, it wasn't that late.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Your kids may not think your rules are fair, but that's too bad. It's important to set rules and be consistent in enforcing them. If your teen consistently breaks the rule, deliver consequences or revoke privileges. And while you can expect a normal teen to grumble about curfew, take note if your teen responds violently or aggressively, as that's a sign the teen needs help.

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Your teen won't eat, won't leave his or her room, and based on the music you hear at 2 a.m., doesn't appear to be sleeping. Is this normal?
Yes. That's the description of every teenager.
It's not normal, but he or she will probably snap out of it soon.
No. The teen may be suffering from extreme depression and should see a doctor.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While teenagers can be temperamental and subject to mood swings, there comes a point when extreme behavior must be addressed. If you've noticed a pattern of depressive episodes in combination with decreased appetite, difficulty sleeping and poor performance at school, take your teen to a doctor. It's possible your teen needs medication or therapy to make it through these tough years.

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What's a good first step to take when you suspect your teen is troubled?
Wait to make sure that your teen is really troubled; you don't want to jump to conclusions.
Send your teen to wilderness therapy or a boot camp.
Talk to your teen, or offer to pay to have him or her talk to a counselor.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Trust your gut -- if you think your teen is troubled, then you're probably right. But there's no need to send the child off to a boarding school yet, as that's often a last resort. First, try to talk to your teen, but be ready to hear that he or she would rather talk to someone else, like a counselor or a family friend.

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