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By Dr James Dobson
Every parent of a teenager may wonder at some point if their son or daughter has gone crazy.
How can you tell the difference between normal behaviour and the beginnings of mental illness?
Dr Paul Meier explains that all teenagers exhibit some symptoms of what appears to be mental illness. It's just part of growing up.
But there are some serious warning signs parents should watch for. Beware if your teenager begins to lose touch with reality; if he develops illusions or actually hears voices; if he accuses you, with all seriousness, of poisoning his food; or he's convinced that people are trying to read his mind. Such behavior requires immediate attention.
Symptoms that remain untreated for six months or longer may become permanently ingrained in the chemical pathways of the brain.
While a parent of a teen must accept some distressing behaviour as normal, prompt response to the early signs of mental illness will offer the greatest hope in controlling the disorder.
From TODAY, Voices – Thursday, 15-Oct-2009
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