No one knows your child better than you. Parents often have a sixth sense for detecting when something might not be quite right with their child. If your child is an adult, it can be even more difficult to come up with solutions to help them address their problems.
You may feel that your child will perceive any actions of help as interference in their life. You may also wonder if what you’re noticing is simply your child going through the normal growing pains of adulthood.
If you’re wondering whether you should offer your child more help and support, or if there’s something deeper they might be struggling with, here’s a quick guide that could help.
Struggles in Early Adulthood
In early adulthood, your children may have experiences that are normal parts of growing up. They may move out of your home and into their own, get a job, get married, or even start a family. However, if your child is struggling with the rigors of adulthood like addiction temptations, lacking the motivation to get a job or go to college, or having financial struggles, API’s GLOW (Growing and Learning Our Worthiness) program for young adults ages 18-26 may be able to help. Here are some key signs that could indicate your child is experiencing difficulties during this time.
Struggling To Become Independent
Many young adults value freedom and become excited about the prospect of gaining a little more independence. This may include earning their own money, learning to drive, abiding by their own schedules, or cooking meals for themselves. If your child is still heavily reliant on you for providing what they need, there could be a problem.
Codependence can be tiring for parents of young adults. It can also enable your child to continue a pattern of reliance on you for continued support. If you find that your child isn’t progressing toward typical independence, there may be many reasons for it, such as low self-confidence, anxiety, or depression. It’s important that the root cause is addressed.
Failure To Launch
Failure to launch can look like your child isn’t interested in moving on with life. They may not want to go to college or get a job. However, this could all simply boil down to a fear of the future.
Leaving home for the “real world” is daunting for some young adults, and that fear can sometimes paralyze them. If you’re worried about your child’s stagnation and what the next steps should be, it can be helpful to communicate with them about it and develop a plan.
Social Avoidance
You may notice that your adult child spends a lot of time alone, lacking motivation to socialize or leave the house. Is your adult child avoiding meeting with friends, or do they even have any friends?
These questions can be worrying for parents, but there can be many reasons for needing to ask them. Your child could be experiencing symptoms of depression, social anxiety, or other mental health issues. If so, it’s important to help your child address these issues and get them professional help.
Mood and Personality Changes
Have you noticed any sign that your child’s mood is chronically low? Perhaps they’re more irritable than you’re used to or don’t want to talk to you as often. Mood and personality changes are often indicative of deeper rooted issues.
It could be something as simple as your child feeling like they’re not being listened to when they communicate. Or, it could indicate something more severe like substance misuse. Keep an eye on these changes and talk to someone about them (or your child directly) if they continue to concern you.
Unhealthy Relationships
Many young adults will have intense friendships and romances. This is part of learning how to have healthy and lasting relationships in the future. However, there’s a difference between an intense relationship and an unhealthy one.
An unhealthy relationship may create a codependency or be abusive in nature. Abusive relationships can be emotional, physical, or sexually abusive. If you suspect your child is in an unhealthy relationship, you can help by talking to them about it, reminding your child you’ll always be there for support, or in extreme cases, that you’ll be contacting the authorities if necessary.
Poor Self Care
You may notice that your child isn’t taking care of themselves as they normally would. This could mean not showering, not brushing their hair, not eating properly, or not sleeping properly. It may look like your child feels numb or has no interest in living well.
These signs can be extremely worrying for parents to see, but again, there are often underlying issues that cause them. Mental health conditions can lead to this type of behavior from people of all ages.
How To Help
It’s natural to feel unsure of what to do as a parent when your child exhibits any of the previously mentioned behaviors. Every parent wants to see their child healthy and thriving, finding success in life. However, the first thing to remember is not to immediately worry if your child isn’t taking a seemingly traditional route in life, or if they’re a bit slower to acclimate to adult life compared to others.
Society often puts pressures on parents and children alike to follow a certain path, and many people aren’t cut out for it. Be sure to always offer a listening ear and don’t jump to offering solutions. Just be there to listen. Also, be sure to avoid comparing your child to other young adults of the same age.
Everyone lives life in their own way and in their own time. However, if your child does need help, it’s important to support them and help them gain the tools they need to succeed.
Find a Treatment Program
If the signs you see in your child are linked to mental health conditions or a substance use disorder, getting help for them is a crucial next step. At Alvarado Parkway Institute, we offer treatment programs for a variety of mental health and addictive disorders.
We want to give your child the tools required to live a happy, healthy, and successful life. We offer inpatient and outpatient programs depending on the level of care needed. Our team is standing by and ready to help support your child in their journey to recovery.
Contact us on our website for more information, or call our 24-hour inquiry and support line at 619-333-7050 today.
