As children grow into young adulthood, difficulties and challenges arise, testing the capabilities of healthy social, behavioral, and emotional functioning. Emerging adults, while still finding their purpose and place in the world, often approach new-found trials and tribulations with extreme emotions and impulsive behaviors.
Parents may brush it off, justifying that all young adults have mood swings, minimizing the signs of severe depression. Some families may not share enough time together, limiting the possibility for parents to pick up on erratic behavior. Others may decipher difficulties as problematic, wondering if their young adult faces an anxiety disorder or if treatment for depression would help their young adult.
Bogged down by the negative stereotypes associated with mental health care or held back by the frustration of dealing with the issue at hand, parents may have a hard time answering the question- does my child need a psychiatrist?
See past the stigma
Chances are, yes, a struggling emerging adult would benefit from talking with a mental health provider, especially if included while planning the services. Taking positive steps to improve social, behavioral, and emotional functioning, like seeking clinical help, may increase self-regulation characteristics like emotional awareness and behavioral reactivity, particularly for young adults with anxiety or depressive disorders.
While many young adults engage the expertise of a psychiatrist to develop a treatment plan for a diagnosable disorder, others simply start psychotherapy for guidance when they can’t carry out goals, when relationships end, or when they feel alone or overwhelmed. Developing a confidential, unbiased relationship with a mental health provider creates a secure environment for emerging adults to explore issues related to identity formation, strengthen healthy coping skills, and process complex emotions.
How to begin
How can families welcome mental health care?
Schedule a family meeting to talk about welcoming clinical help. Prepare for the discussion by getting in touch with your own feelings, and objectively construct “I” statements to communicate them. Instead of saying something along the lines of, “You need mental health help; you can’t keep crying like this,” come equipped with “I” statements to let your emerging adult know how much you care.
For example,
Look into services covered by health insurance and weigh the differences between psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers. (WebMD) Determine the level of care beneficial for the emerging adult and his or her needs. Interview therapists to find the right fit and seek complementary outlets like yoga classes or art therapy.
When young adults experience severe symptoms of anxiety, depressive, bipolar or other disorders disrupting everyday functions, families often turn to intensive supportive environments, similar to The Residence at Yellowbrick. An outlet for emerging adults to learn self-regulation skills, The Residence encourages personal growth through integration of community resources, development of healthy peer relationships, and a wide range of therapeutic services.
Yellowbrick collaborates with adolescents and emerging adults, ages 16-30's, their families and participating professionals toward the development and implementation of a strategic “Life Plan.” An integrative, multi-specialty consultation clarifies strengths, limitations, and risks, and defines motivations, goals and choices.
A mental health condition that’s characterized by intense shifts in mood including both manic and depressive episodes.
People living with Major Depressive Disorder, or MDD, experience episodes of depression and sadness that are debilitating to daily life.
Those living with anxiety disorders experience high levels of anxiety and stress that interfere negatively with daily life.
A mental health issue in which a person’s cognitive function is impaired, resulting in symptoms like experiencing challenges with conducting speech, reading and writing, and behavior.
Mental health disorders that negatively affect a person’s behaviors, thought patterns, and function. People diagnosed with these disorders experience challenges with managing relationships and understanding various situations.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is a mental health condition that people can develop as a result of experiencing traumatic situations, characterized by symptoms including flashbacks, avoidance behaviors, and more.
A mental health condition that is characterized by specific symptoms of forgetfulness and lack of concentration, which makes it challenging to complete necessary tasks.
Mental health conditions that interfere with a person’s eating habits, thought patterns, and behaviors in negative ways.
A mental health disorder diagnosable with the DSM-5 that is characterized by both obsessions and compulsive behaviors.