My Teen Is Constantly Making Stupid Decisions
Written by Mark Lounsbury, Posted on , in Section Teens & Tweens
When my daughter turned 15, it seemed like she completely lost the ability to make rational decisions. For the next 4 years, she continually made ill-considered and frankly stupid decisions that landed her in bad situation. There were times when I wondered if she would even make it to adulthood. Her poor choices ranged from skipping school so much she nearly didn't graduate to getting in fight and experimenting with drugs. All of these actions made me question her sanity at some points, as it seemed like she was almost deliberately making the worst possible choice in any situation. Luckily, she has since grown out of this kind of behavior and turned into the kind of person I can be proud of. If you are parent going through this situation, it is important to realize that eventually things will improve.
Why Teens Have Trouble With Decision Making
1 - Lack of experience - It is important to remember that teens are constantly finding themselves in new situations. With no comparable experiences to draw upon, they are much more inclined to just make an impulsive choice without fully considering the consequences.
2 - Exposure to extreme peer pressure - Anyone who is around teenagers frequently will quickly realize that the way they act one on one is incredibly different from their behavior in a group. This peer pressure can drive them to make poor choices.
3 - Hormones - As a teenager is developing, they are going through a number of significant hormonal changes that can drive them to make decisions that seem irrational. This is normal and will fade as they fully mature.
Therapy Insider Can Help Save Your Teen From Further Destruction
