I’m a Child Psychiatrist-These 7 Signs in Teen Girls Deserve More Attention

Key Points:

• Dr. Willough Jenkins, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, emphasizes that many typical teenage behaviors in girls—such as moodiness, withdrawal, and silence—are normal developmental processes rather than signs of serious problems.
• She identifies seven signs in teenage girls that warrant closer attention: intense emotions, guarded communication, social pain from exclusion, pulling away from parents, perfectionism linked to anxiety, unhelpful advice about ignoring peer opinions, and the importance of open communication with parents.
• Jenkins explains that teenage girls’ emotional intensity is due to brain development, and social rejection activates brain regions associated with physical pain, making these experiences genuinely distressing rather than mere drama.
• Distancing from parents is a normal part of adolescent development, and parents should remain consistently available without pushing, focusing on emotional availability and repairing conflicts rather than winning arguments.
• Jenkins advocates for parents and guardians to understand these developmental signs, respond with empathy, and foster open, non-costly conversations to support adolescent mental health effectively.