CAMHI | Short Guides for Adolescents CAMHI |

22 Short guides

SHOW FILTERS

developmental stage:

all ages

infants and toddlers

preschoolers

children

adolescents

type of concern:

all concerns

concerns about learning

concerns about emotions

concerns about behaviors

context:

all contexts

home

school

Concerns about learning

Reading difficulties

What are typical reading expectations? Reading is a difficult skill that we do not learn all at once. We build our reading skills gradually over the years, and every time we learn something new we get ready to learn something else. Typical reading skills include being able to recite the alphabet,...

Math difficulties

What are typical math expectations? Mathematics is a difficult skill that we can not learn all at once. It builds throughout the years, and every time we learn something new we get ready to learn something else. Typical math skills include being able to identify and count numbers when we see them...

Social communication difficulties

What is typical social communication? We begin to have interactions with other people very early in our lives, even before we know how to speak! When babies look at us when we call them, smile at us, and mimic our faces, they are already communicating. We continue to develop social communication...

Restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests

What are typical restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests? It's expected that we all have certain interests, preferences, routines, or rituals. When we enjoy something very much, we tend to want to do it or talk about it a lot. For example, someone fascinated about the universe may talk a...

Concerns about emotions

Excessive worries

What are typical worries? There are many different types of worries that we may experience at different moments in our lives. Worries are usually related to the challenges and experiences we are going through at the moment we are in life, so they can vary a lot. Some typical worries that most...

Excessive fears

What are typical fears? There are many different types of fears that we may experience at different moments in our lives. Fears are usually related to the challenges and experiences we are going through at the moment, so they can vary a lot. Some typical fears that most people have at some point...

Excessive shyness

What is typical shyness? Being shy is not by any means a problem. In addition to those characteristics in temperament, many of us at many ages experience shyness to some degree at one point or another. But those who are shy in a typical level gradually warm up to new situations over time. We may...

Persistent Sadness

What is typical sadness? It’s typical for us to feel down when bad or unexpected things happen. It is part of human nature. As some time goes by or bad things start to ease up, we begin to gradually feel better. When we remain sad despite positive things happening to and around us, it can be...

Ritualistic behaviors and repetitive movements

What are typical ritualistic behaviors? People in general often like routines—they are safe, predictable, and comforting all at the same time. We often have established morning routines, in-class routines, after-school routines, homework routines, and bedtime routines. When we need to deviate from...

Obsessive thoughts

What are typical obsessive thoughts? Most of us would agree that we get stuck on things that we enjoy. At times, it may seem like we are always thinking about our favorite show, song, game, or activity. For instance, we may talk about the same artists over and over again and know all about their...

Eating concerns

What is typical eating? Our temperament, body, and environment determine our typical eating habits that follow us from childhood to adulthood most of the time. Some people eat three meals per day, others two or five. A lot of people love snacks and often have them in between meals (and that is...

Body image concerns

What is a typical body image? Almost all of us worry about our physical appearance in some way. Body consciousness and its perception is significantly affected by physical changes that occur during our adolescent years, by peer relationships and acceptance, as well as by messages on social media...

Persistent anger

What is typical anger? We all get angry–anger is 100% typical. Typically, anger goes away in under 30 minutes. But when it is frequent (eg, present many times a week), or lasts for long periods (eg, lasting many hours instead of minutes), it can take us away from our experiences. Additionally,...

Persistent distress after traumatic experiences

What is typical distress after traumatic events? It is expected that we struggle and feel scared or upset after one, or multiple seriously frightening or upsetting events. It usually takes us a little while to recover and readjust after traumatic experiences. It is fairly common to experience...

Panic attacks

Are panic attacks typical? Even though our bodies have a natural alarm system that goes off when something is wrong to prepare us to handle emergency situations, having panic attacks is not typical. Usually, when we experience panic attacks, the alarm goes off without a real threat or...

Concerns about behaviors

Rule breaking and aggression

What are typical rule breaking behaviors and aggression? It’s typical for most of us to break rules and even be aggressive towards close people around us at least some of the time. There are occasions when we break rules at home or in school even though we know that if we are caught there will be...

Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity

What are typical levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity? Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity are common when we are children younger than 6 years of age. As we get older, the demands placed on us gradually increase and if we remain inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive, we...

Alcohol and substance use

What is typical alcohol and substance use? None. There is no typical alcohol or substance use during childhood or teenage years. Even though alcohol and other substances are illegal for minors and people would expect us to abstain from use, we are curious and get exposed to these things, offered...

Self-injury

Is self-injury typical? No. There is no kind of typical self-injury behavior. But in order to find better ways to deal with it when it happens, it is important to understand some things about it. When some people self-injury, they say they do it because it distracts them and alleviates the...

Bullying

When does typical teasing become bullying? Painful or embarrassing social experiences are part of the growing up process and almost everyone has already been teased at least one time in their lives. Learning how to rebound from negative interactions is an important skill for all of us. However,...

Excessive screen use

What is a typical use of screens? We have become somewhat reliant on our devices, and so using them has become quite typical. For example, young children are given screen time to watch educational shows and to play educational games; older kids and adolescents attend classes, complete homework...

I am not sure what I'm looking for

I worry about myself or a friend, but how do I know what is going on?

What are typical challenges we go through when we are children or adolescents? Growing up and being young is not always easy. When we are little, there are a lot of things we have to learn. We learn how to walk and talk, understand and deal with our emotions, communicate and hang out with friends...

infants and toddlers (birth to 3 years old)
children (6 to 12 years of age)
adolescents (12 to 17 years of age)
preschoolers (3 to 6 years old)
home
school

5min

Give us your feedback!

Let us know what topics you would like to see in our website