Chemical Dependency and the Dysfunctional Family

Many teens have serious family problems. Sometimes drugs and alcohol seem to be the only way to cope with family life.

Physical Abuse

Parents, stepparents, siblings, and other family members can be abusers. Physical abuse occurs when someone touches you in a way that causes pain or physical harm.

Emotional Abuse

Emotional abuse occurs when someone's words or actions damage your self-esteem. Emotional abusers may bully you, call you names, or purposely embarrass you.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse consists of uncomfortable sexual contact or behavior. It may be as violent as rape or as seemingly nonviolent as viewing pornographic movies.

Drug Abuse

Drug abuse by a family member can result in a dysfunctional family. It can lead to everything from codependency to physical abuse to a loss of family income.

Neglect

Parents who fail to provide life's basic necessities are guilty of neglect. These needs include food, water, shelter, clothing, and health care. If a family is unable to afford these things, it is the parent's responsibility to seek help to get them.

Workaholic Parent

Today the majority of parents work outside the home. Most working parents can balance their careers and their families successfully. However, when a parent's career takes priority over his or her children or family, he or she is called a workaholic.

Depression or Other Mental Illness

Many teens struggle with mental illness such as depression and anxiety. Others do not experience full-blown mental illness, but still feel unhappy, anxious, or lonely.