Eating disorders are very common in the United States, too common according to the statistics. Now we have a major problem with teenage eating disorders. On average 1 out of 50 teenagers has an eating disorder. To get things clear, eating disorder is not someone trying to lose weight by trying to eat less than usual; eating disorders are very extreme eating behaviors. A simple example of mental side of an eating disorder would be a person that would rather run the whole weekend than go out with friends for an ice cream.

There are several types of eating disorders, more common than others are bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. Anorexia is manifested when teenagers try to lose weight or maintain a certain weight by some extreme measures like barely eating or eating too much and then vomiting after a meal, which classifies as binge eating. Most people with anorexia have a different perspective of their looks and body shape, they are never satisfied, so the little food they do eat becomes an obsession for them. The fact that leaves uninformed people confused is that most people who have anorexia nervosa are very slim and they don’t need to lose weight.

On the other hand people that suffer from bulimia nervosa are often the appropriate weight or some are even overweight. But also unlike anorexia, people with bulimia eat plenty and then try to balance that using extreme measures like purging and over exercising. People don’t realize that people with bulimia have a compulsion disorder that is forcing them to eat until they can’t open their mouth, usually in secret, and once they are full they start to feel guilt and then purge themselves.

There are other eating disorders; unfortunately no one is quite sure what causes eating disorders. But whatever it is in the end it leaves people in terrible health condition. Just thinking about it will let you know that this can harm the body in several ways. Most people that have anorexia or bulimia will have low blood pressure and little strength, some will even lose hair and women might skip their period. Everything from swollen joints, anemia, lightheadedness, stomach pain, damaged kidneys, tooth decay and loss of the mineral potassium are problems caused by eating disorders.

If not treated well our teenagers might shorten their life considerably. Fortunate for parents most of these eating disorders come with excessively strange behavior that is hard to miss most of the times, but that is almost always when it’s already late. But keeping an eye out for your teen child may help you see this coming and intervene on time. If you do notice a similar problem, no matter the stage of the disorder, a simple therapy can help. But it’s better to go to a specialist, and there are a great number of them, which can help and get your teenager back on track leading a normal and healthy life.

The use of marijuana by hippies is popularly known fact, it has been depicted in many Hollywood movies. It is also a highly effective way of making marijuana look innocent and benign to the eyes of teenagers. But let us also remember that cannabis is a very addicting drug that is believed to be a gateway drug to more potent and more dangerous drugs.

Even the hippies themselves moved on to the more potent drug called LSD after it was discovered and introduced in the mid 1960′s. There is also psilocybin and mescaline which are also hallucinogens that the hippies used.

Amphetamines and opiates were also used in the hippie settings, though these harder drugs were disdained because they were harmful and addictive.

Little did parents know that alcohol is a kind of drug. In fact, it is responsible for most drug-related deaths. Why? Because it is related to a number of health risks. Besides, it is very hard to prevent teenagers from being curious with alcohol. The top risk factors of alcohol include drink driving, binge drinking and unsafe sex. Other risks include drowning and brawling or fighting.

Sometimes teenagers have a hard time determining what they are feeling. As parents, you probably know when kids are bit disappointed, irritated, or tired. Of course, these feelings are natural, but expressing them need to be channeled. This is the part when parents step in and help the teen kids deal with the problem. It is about teaching them how to identify the cause, determining the emotional extent, and then finding ways for proper responses.

Losing or failure is one of the things that teenagers have a hard time coping, or at least for some of them. There are kids who could manage to sulk for about 30 minutes about a certain situation. Others, on the other hand, could not really take it and eventually they don’t know how to deal with it. This frustration could last for days or weeks. If this happens, parents should be ready to help their kids deal with the situation as well as their emotions. The point is, teenagers should learn to accept failure.

When kids become teenagers, parents should be ready for that “talk.” In most cases, having that delicate conversation with your growing children could be very challenging and awkward. So before that exact moment happen, you make sure that you are prepared. Here’s the list of what you are about to discuss with your teenagers:

- eating
- smoking
- alcohol
- drugs
- sex

Binging and overeating are different. These are the reasons:

> Binge episodes happens regularly, at lest twice each week in a span of six months.

> Individuals who binge feel upset during the process. The emotional overthrow completes a binge meal.

>Binging people do not eat in public. For such individuals, eating is a private behavior rather than sharing it with family and friends.

>Binge eaters eats because they are emotional, like being mad or sad. They usually don’t eat because they are hungry.

This could be a very helpful to know whether you have an eating problem or not. Take note that this does not exactly conclude a diagnosis. Professional consultation is still recommended:

1. Do you make yourself sick because you feel uncomfortably full?

___ No
___ Sometimes
___ Often

2. Do you worry you have lost control over your food consumption?

___ No
___ Sometimes
___ Often

3. Have you recently lost more than 15 lbs. in a 3 month period?

___ No
___ Yes

4. Do you believe that you are fat while others think that you are very thin?

___ No
___ Sometimes
___ Often

5. Would you say that food dominates your life?

___ Not at all
___ Somewhat
___ Very much

Source: psychcentral.com

There are many reasons why teenagers become extremely anxious, which could somehow ruin their lives. Most of the time, parents may overlook such a condition because they always ask, “What would be a good reason for a kid to have anxiety?” Think again. Teenagers have anxiety because of school, friends, family and even life as a whole. Teen anxiety may lead to depression, overeating, drugs/alcohol use, smoking  and even addiction.

As parents, you have the responsibility to notice signs that might trigger your teenager’s anxiety:

* depression
* anger
* stress or fatigue
* secretive behavior
* changes in eating and sleeping habits
* intense mood swings
* obsessive or compulsive behavior
* any form of substance abuse

Remember that not all teenagers can handle pressure or any stressful situations properly. When they tend to give up or make excuses, they might develop anxiety and eventually a bad behavior.

Although there is a strong urge of responsibility to have and keep the baby, more parents are considering other options. Parents are always concern about the welfare and future of their children. There are actually several ways to help these teenagers and their families. Of course, it may depend on each case and the place where they are located.  However, the government is willing to assist these families in terms of:

* extensive information on adoption and even abortion
* counseling for the youth mothers and their family about infant care
* prenatal care
* alternatives for continuing the young mother’s educational
* access to legal assistance, if applicable
* foster care, if needed