David Kessler explains how to tell the difference between normal teenage behavior and grief-related acting out. He emphasizes when to seek professional help and how to support a grieving teenager through their loss.
What should I do if my Teenager Acts out while grieving? If you're worried about your teenager not grieving or acting out, just know they are grieving even if they don't talk about it and you don't see it. Outwardly, teenagers are very well known for acting out in general, and it's very hard to decide what is normal for a teenager versus what comes from the grief. So if you're unsure, consult a professional. And sometimes it's really helpful to talk to other parents of teenagers and let them know what your teenager is doing. Because many times you'll find your teenager is just doing what all other teenagers are doing, but you think it may be because of the grief. So it's a fine line to know what's really happening. Is this acting out because of something that comes from the death or is it just normal teenage years? But certainly if they're acting out in a significant way, harming themselves, threatening to harm themselves or others, you really want to get professional help right away.
