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Childhood trauma exposure can have a harmful effect on the brain’s development at a time when it is most susceptible. Maltreatment of children occurs more frequently than is reported. Childhood adversity can include incidents like emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, neglect, and the unexpected death of a parent or other guardian. Adversity in early childhood increases the likelihood of developing psychological and behavioural issues later in life. Adults who were maltreated as children have been found to have higher rates of depression, suicidality, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and violent conduct. Thankfully, all these issues could be treated if the child is given good psychotherapy in Dubai . 

How to cope up with the early life stress?

Childhood traumatising experiences also enhance drug usage and dependency. Those who have undergone childhood trauma start using drugs significantly earlier in life. Stressful situations might have a greater effect on a person’s life if they are exposed to them as a youngster. An individual may be more susceptible to developing psychiatric illnesses or addiction if they combine childhood trauma with divorce or unemployment.

But, not all kids who encounter stress in their early lives go on to acquire mental illnesses. It would appear that factors other than your past experiences—such as your genes, coping mechanisms, and brain regulation—have an impact on how you handle stressful situations. Stress and emotional control are aided by brain chemicals like oxytocin and cortisol. There are various adolescent counselling services which help youngsters to cope up with the early life trauma and stress in the best way possible.

Some information about oxytocin

The brain naturally produces the hormone oxytocin. It is sometimes referred to as the “love hormone” since it promotes sociability, emotional control, and bonding between romantic partners as well as between mothers and their children. Individual differences exist in the quantity of oxytocin present in the brain. Oxytocin regulation varies between men and women, yet it’s critical to everyone’s day-to-day functioning. Even our reactions to stress are impacted by variations in the oxytocin gene.

The oxytocin system, which begins to grow in the womb and continues to develop after birth, can also be influenced by environmental variables. According to our experiences, important changes happen during infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Early childhood experiences can mould the oxytocin system in either a positive or harmful way.

How does childhood trauma or early life stress impact adolescents?

Research has shown that early trauma alters how the oxytocin system develops. The hypothalamus and the amygdala, which are significant brain areas for the generation of oxytocin and, correspondingly, the regulation of emotion, are affected by early life stress on oxytocin levels. During early life trauma, even the oxytocin receptor’s functionality is changed. Humans who have been subjected to childhood trauma exhibit similar alterations. Later in adulthood, oxytocin levels were lower among males who had experienced childhood stress as well as women who had been subjected to child maltreatment. The results of behaviour are impacted by these long-lasting alterations. Rodents that experience early adversity have more anxious and depressed behaviours throughout maturity.

According to research, early childhood stress can affect the oxytocin system’s development, making people more likely to become drug dependent and less able to handle stress. In consequence, a well functioning oxytocin system can provide increased resistance to addiction and excessive drug use. The impact of childhood trauma can definitely impact an adolescent in a big way but a good child psychologist Dubai will definitely be able to understand their problems and treat them so that they eventually forget their past and enjoy their present.

Teenagers may benefit much from therapy, just like adults, and adolescent counselling services assist adolescents in learning to manage specific emotions. Also, it can help in dealing with life’s demands, adjusting to big changes, and handling the challenges that teens face. With the help of a psychologist, teenagers may better understand who they are, express themselves, make better choices, and live emotionally healthy lives. Throughout adolescence, a significant developmental transition from maturity takes place. The teenage years are characterised by exploration, novelty seeking, goal setting, taking risks, social involvement, and the ongoing development of critical thinking skills.

Major Benefits of Psychotherapy for Adolescents

If Psychotherapy is given at the right time from a good adolescent psychiatrist Dubai, it can do wonders for teenagers. Some of the major benefits are explained in detail below

Improves mental health

Many parents fear that they may say or do something inappropriate when it comes to their child’s mental health. Teenagers frequently experience a mixture of embarrassment, confusion, rage, and sorrow regarding their mental health. These feelings could at times appear utterly suffocating. Your teen will process and deal more easily with professional help. Therapy can offer important help if the adolescent is dealing with a problem like sadness or anxiety. It provides a secure setting to understand their situation and develop understanding of their unique triggers. 

Gives a great support to teenagers who have went through a trauma

Any actual or imagined life-threatening incident is considered a trauma. These incidents frequently involve acts of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse. Grief and loss can occasionally also seem traumatic. Several teenage issues, such as difficulty making friends and academic hurdles, are caused by unresolved trauma. Also, it’s linked to complicated problems including domestic violence, alcohol abuse, food disorders, and self-harm. The therapeutic setting can be encouraging for trauma rehabilitation. To assist with this processing, the therapist for your kid may use a variety of strategies.

Manages stress efficiently

In a recent survey of teens, approximately 45% of those polled said they felt stressed “all the time.” Most teens cited relationships and teachers as the primary causes of stress when questioned about these factors. Regrettably, there is no sign of this tendency slowing down. Additionally, a lot of youngsters lack the necessary coping mechanisms, which might result in unhealthful reactions. Teenagers who get therapy may have the chance to process their problems in a judgement-free environment. Your youngster can acquire more wholesome, long-lasting ways to understand and manage stress.

Boosts self esteem

Throughout adolescence, many teenagers battle with their identity and sense of value. At this point, it’s crucial for them to mix in with their classmates. Also, adolescents frequently experience tremendous pressure to succeed in their extracurricular activities, athletics, and academics. Teenagers in therapy learn to identify the underlying factors that give rise to unfavourable thoughts. They might discover new ways of thinking and acting after becoming more conscious. Teenagers can eventually learn how to accept and even embrace themselves via counselling.

Helps in discovering healthy boundaries

Boundaries are the restrictions that individuals impose on one another on an emotional and physical level. Your adolescent may be excessively trusting of others if they lack limits. Their peers could take advantage of them as a result of this pattern. Having extremely strict boundaries may also make a person untrusting, which can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation. Your child can be better prepared for long-term success and happiness in the future by learning these practical skills throughout the adolescent years with the help of adolescent support and counselling services.

People usually think that being a teenager is the happiest phase of a person’s life but teens are more likely than you may think to experience mental illness. However, many forms of mental disease may be treated as it simply requires a precise diagnosis. Perhaps no other period of life is as crucial for focusing on mental health as adolescence and young adulthood. Your teen will have options to less healthy means of self-expression and coping with the sometimes overwhelming experiences of adolescence when you introduce them to adolescent counseling services.

Understanding the mental health problems that today’s teenagers and young adults are dealing with may help parents spot the signs of distress in their children and their unspoken need for assistance. In this article, we will discuss different mental health issues which teens and young people face these days

Factors affecting mental health in teenagers?

Adolescence is a critical time for forming social and emotional habits that are necessary for mental health. It is important to provide safe and encouraging conditions in the home, at school, and in the larger community. Mental health is impacted by several variables. The potential influence on teenagers’ mental health increases with the number of risk factors they are exposed to. Adolescence is a stressful time for several reasons, including adversity exposure, peer pressure, and identity discovery. The gap between an adolescent’s experienced reality and their beliefs or ambitions for the future can be made worse by media impact and gender norms.

Some teenagers are more susceptible to mental health issues because of their life situation, stigma, exclusion or discrimination, or a lack of access to high-quality services and support. Adolescents who reside in humanitarian and risky environments, those with chronic illnesses, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disabilities, or other neurological conditions, orphans, adolescents with young children, adolescents who are parents themselves, or those in early or forced marriages, are just a few of these groups.

Different mental health disorders in adolescents

1. Anxiety Disorders

excessive stress and anxiety about various activities or occurrences. When compared to the possibility or consequences of the expected event, the anxiety and concern are excessive in terms of intensity, duration, and frequency. The person finds it challenging to manage their anxiety and prevent anxious thoughts from distracting them from their current responsibilities. Anxiety disorder includes panic attacks as well as social anxiety disorders if not contacted adolescent support and counseling services on time

2. Mood disorders

Mood disorders include major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder with low mood, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Teenage girls experience depression more frequently than teenage boys. Teenagers with mood disorders have less lethargic symptoms and greater irritation than adults with mood disorders. They also commonly use alcohol and other drugs as self-medication and are more likely to engage in suicide conduct.

3. Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Oppositional-defiant disorder and conduct disorder are examples of disruptive behavior disorders. Females with conduct disorders frequently leave their homes, are more likely to be sexually exploited or trafficked, and also engage in high-risk sexual behavior. Disorders of disruptive behavior usually coexist with mood and anxiety disorders, substance use diseases, and other disorders. The advice of any adult, even medical experts, may be met with argumentation and resistance in patients with disruptive behavioral problems.

4. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Teenagers with ADHD are frequently easily distracted, inattentive, and immature emotionally. They frequently struggle academically and behaviorally. Teenagers with ADHD are more likely to take risks, particularly by engaging in dangerous sexual conduct. Adolescent psychiatrist Dubai need more effort on patients with ADHD with clearly written instructions given to them for safety reasons.

Just like adults, teenagers may gain a lot from therapy and adolescent counselling services help adolescents in coping with certain emotions. It can also assist in navigating difficulties that teenagers face, managing pressures in life, and adjusting to significant changes. Teenagers may better understand themselves, express themselves, make better decisions, and lead emotionally healthy lives with the assistance of a psychological expert. A major developmental shift from maturity occurs throughout adolescence. Exploration, novelty seeking, goal setting, taking risks, social engagement, and the continuous development of critical thinking abilities are traits of the adolescent years.

Teenagers are susceptible to intense emotions, immature impulse control, and drug and alcohol experimentation due to their still developing, emotionally driven brains. Because of this, adolescence is a special period of struggle and chance for growth and development.

What is Adolescent counselling?

Adolescent counselling is to assist teenagers in making meaning of their emotions, ideas, and actions. This might involve standard talk therapy or alternative approaches that dig into young people’s natural expressiveness, such as art therapy. Teenagers need support at various levels during a certain age as they are struggling with many things including physical and mental changes and are not able to talk openly to their parents regarding the issues they are facing. This suffocates them and ultimately pushes them through some kind of depression or social anxiety. 

When they are given the aid of adolescent support and counselling services, they feel mentally sound and healthy which not only helps them to get rid of the depression but also helps them in gaining their lost confidence back. Hence, adolescent therapy is one of the most powerful ways which can save the present and build the future of a teenager struggling with his/her lifestyle.

How does adolescent therapy work?

Helping the teen’s mind to work in the best possible way

Therapy provides teenagers the tools to make positive adjustments that will improve how they feel and function by assisting them in understanding the underlying causes of their feelings, beliefs, and actions. Teens who receive counselling receive assistance in resolving problems and are given the tools they need to utilise what they learn to find answers.

Teens’ self-esteem, general mood, and self-confidence can all be enhanced by attending therapy sessions. Teenagers who get therapy develop and improve crucial abilities including self-awareness, assertiveness, empathy, and emotion management.

Improving the mental health

Teens who are struggling with depression, anxiety, and other mental health difficulties might benefit from counselling. If your teen exhibits any behavioural or psychological problems which come to your notice, it is strongly advisable to contact a good adolescent psychiatrist Dubai so that your teen gets the assistance as early as possible and enjoys a happy and satisfied teenage. Teens with mental health problems are not the only ones who benefit from counselling. Therapy is advantageous for all teenagers.

Role of a therapist in Adolescent counselling 

An experienced mental health specialist or child and adolescent psychiatrist will make a decision whether the teenager needs counselling. This choice will be made based on the child’s current issues, past experiences, stage of development, willingness to comply with therapy, and the therapies that are most likely to address the current issues. Psychotherapy is frequently combined with other forms of treatment (medication, behaviour management, or work with the school). 

It’s crucial that the therapist and patient establish a strong connection. The teenager must feel at ease, secure, and understood. It is much simpler for the youngster to communicate his or her thoughts and feelings and to use therapy in a beneficial way in this kind of safe environment.