The period of teenhood is tough for everyone because they go through body modifications, peer pressure, and rising hormones. When a teen is diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis, it can cause things to be even more difficult.
If your teen with scoliosis has depression, recognizing it early and seeking counseling by a licensed professional can tremendously help get successful results.
I Got Diagnosed With Scoliosis
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Other typical difficulties with scoliosis teen counseling may include:
- Sideward curves of the spine or rib humps are visible if using a swimsuit or dressing in the locker room.
- Donning a back brace that seems awkward and needs limitation of activities, like only being able to shower, swim, or exercise at scheduled times daily when the brace is not worn. Other back braces would be noticeable even with clothes on, and this could cause teasing or questions.
- Clothing that fits unevenly, like one sleeve looking too long and the other sleeve looking too short.
Subsequently, adolescents coping with scoliosis also have a higher likelihood of having depression, so adolescent counseling administered by vetted therapists might be needed.
Teen counseling
Mild Scoliosis Could Decrease Teen’s Confidence
Scoliosis curvatures are conventionally gauged by using what is known as Cobb angle. This is described as an angle formed by the most skewed vertebra below the spine’s apex and the most skewed vertebra over the curvature’s apex. The sizes of these curves differ – they range from scarcely considered as scoliosis, which is 10 degrees or not visible, to major curvatures that are simply evident when wearing a swimsuit.
Adolescents and young adult scoliosis are intimately associated with decreased self esteem, although some studies imply that findings are slightly independent of its curve size. Teens with comparatively minor cases of scoliosis may still experience severe psychological challenges because of their scoliosis and find themselves in need of teen in person therapy or from a licensed professional therapist, licensed mental health counselor, or online therapy provider.
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There is a lack of a robust connection between minor to severe Cobb angles and self-confidence, and this could be due to how individuals feel about their condition, which is subjective. An adolescent may have a minor curve yet still be disturbed by the thought of having some form of abnormal spine curvature, even though it is hardly noticeable.
Another adolescent may have a major curve but can adjust to it efficiently.
Numerous other elements would be involved, like the thought that probably another adolescent with a milder form of scoliosis might be bullied or ridiculed for it compared to an adolescent with a more serious case.
Emotional Support For A Teen With Scoliosis
When an adolescent is diagnosed with scoliosis by a trained counselor, there might be a feeling of lack of control. There is no cure for scoliosis – either the brace only prevents worsening of the curvature, or surgery aligns and fuses fragments of the spine. If bracing is suggested, it usually entails stringent rules concerning the tightness of the brace, when it should be donned, and the dos and don’ts while the brace is on.
Whatever family members, friends, and significant others can do to urge teens with scoliosis can be beneficial.
For example, expressing verbal support, taking time to listen about how he feels or assisting him with some tasks that he finds difficult to do alone, and simply being with him and taking part in his activities, interesting or not.
If an adolescent begins to show indications of depression – like a strange, longstanding mood change or more and more time spent alone – it is crucial to reach out to a mental health suitable therapist capable of assessing his situation. By doing so, they would be able to provide the appropriate mental health treatment for the teens suffering from issues of anxiety, bullying, troubled relationships, child trauma, and other range of issues and concerns. Aside from that, some insurance cover online therapy for teens, and that’s an advantage for a series of health claims.
In severe cases, continuous mental health services or online services may be needed to maximize the mental health benefits of the adolescent to avoid further severe conditions on mental health after scoliosis diagnosis.
Idiopathic scoliosis in itself does not usually lead to physical pain in adolescents and young adults; it can result in other types of discomfort, pain, and other challenges.
Major Surgery
If conservative mental health treatment and medication management no longer works for the teen, the doctor will most probably recommend spinal fusion surgery. Scoliosis surgery is a comparatively harmless procedure with good reviews and excellent outcomes; it is still a major procedure. The recuperation process could take six up to twelve months and can be demanding physically and mentally.
Awkward Brace Treatment
Experienced online therapists‘ most commonly recommended noninvasive scoliosis treatment is to put on an inflexible brace that tightens on the wearer’s torso. This treatment is quite uncomfortable, particularly when the adolescent’s body is initially trying to get used to wearing the brace. Wearing it would also add to the adolescent’s disappointment by being too warm or too tight, making him finish his daily tasks longer than usual.
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Emotional Pain
Many teens struggle with the thought of being different from the rest of their friends. Some of their feelings might include embarrassment, fear, sadness, anger, or denial. If an adolescent is also being bullied in school, his situation would even worsens.
Mental Treatment for Adolescents Suffering From Scoliosis Final Thoughts
According to the national suicide prevention lifeline, because of the numerous life transitions and challenges that you can expect with teens with scoliosis, experts have revealed that teenagers with the condition have a serious risk of developing depression that often results in self harm or suicidal thoughts. If an adolescent does have depression, recognizing it early and seeking immediate help from a licensed mental health professional or even online counseling or professional family therapy sessions and in person visits can tremendously help get successful results in dealing with adolescent and teen mental health issues.
Talk and communicate with a mental health expert and help teens.
Teen Counseling
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