High school can be a great time in a person’s life, but it can also be one of the hardest. Navigating through the trials and tribulations of adolescent life can be challenging, especially when many of these experiences are new, or a teenager begins to notice changes in their peers and themselves.
While these changes can be positive, dealing with bullying, questions of sexuality and gender identification, the pressures of social media as well as academic performance, it’s easy to see why many teenagers find themselves feeling overwhelmed and struggling with mental health. If you’re concerned that your teenager is struggling at school, here are some signs that this might be the case.
Skipping Classes/Faking Illness
If your teen is having a hard time in school, naturally they are going to want to avoid going there as much as possible. If they are complaining of feeling unwell before school regularly, but have no temperature or obvious signs of sickness, they are likely trying to get out of going. Furthermore, if they are getting sent home due to apparent illness more regularly, or you are receiving reports from the school that your teen is skipping classes, this is another sign they are trying to avoid the school environment.
A Minimal to Non-Existent Social Life
Part of the high school experience is making friends, some of which remain for life. Learning how to socially interact with others and form these bonds is a very important part of the learning experience, but unfortunately, not everyone can make friends as easily as others.
If your teenager has a limited or non-existent social life, this could be a sign that they are struggling to connect with their peers. They could be experiencing bullying or are isolating themselves for some other reason. Either way, try to find out why they don’t seem to interact with the other kids at school and see if you can get to the bottom of the issue. You could also consider looking into counseling or alternative treatments like the ones offered at igniteteentreatment.com.
Their Grades are Dropping
It’s not only the social pressures of high school that can cause difficulty for teenagers, but also the pressure to perform well academically. If you have noticed a drop in your teen’s grades, this could be an indication of numerous problems. It could be that they can’t keep up with their learning and are struggling to process some of this information. In this situation, it’s advisable to contact the school and speak with teachers to see if there are any additional resources or support that you can utilize to help your teen get back on track and feel more confident. Alternatively, dropping grades could be a sign of depression, addiction, or other mental health problems.
High school can be a great experience, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. For many teenagers, this can be a tough time in life, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. If you’ve noticed any of these signs in your teenager’s behavior or performance at school, it could be time to intervene and find out what’s going on and how you can help.
