How CBT Can Help Your Suicidal Teen
Aug 31, 2017
Do
you have a depressed teen who has been contemplating or openly
discussing suicide? This is a very scary prospect because it can be so
unpredictable. Most people who commit suicide do it on a whim or an
impulse.
As a result, it is important to identify the patterns of thought that can lead to suicidal thoughts and correct them with cognitive-behavioral therapy or
CBT.
What Is CBT?
CBT
is the correction of negative thought and behavior patterns by
replacing them with healthier ones. For
example, if your teen often feels useless because of a weight problem
and falls into a pattern of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, CBT can
identify where these thoughts begin, break the chain, and help steer
your teen to healthier ideas.
Common Influences On This Behavior
So why would a teen with a
whole life ahead of them contemplate suicide? There are many reasons,
ones that can be hard to understand as an adult. They can seem petty,
but for the teen, they have a very heavy emotional
importance. These influences include:
- Romantic difficulties (including rejections or breakups)
- Struggles with a teacher or a class
- Loss in an athletic event
- Difficulty making friends or fitting in
- Being bullied
How CBT Will Help
A good CBT therapist will
pinpoint which of these influences is affecting your child's life. Then,
they will help your teen learn coping mechanisms that will break these
negative patterns of thought and behavior, such
as:
- Positive reinforcement
- Logically breaking down emotional situations
- Empathetic exercises
- Self-esteem-boosting exercises
So if you are worried that you have a suicidal teen that needs help, please contact us today. We can help manage this situation
and provide you with a happy and healthy teen.
Category: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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