TEENS WITH PROBLEMS: Important Resources for Parents

Important Books and Resources
for Parents

Medications and Kids
ADD/ADHD
Bipolar Disorder
Conduct Disorder, ODD, etc.

General Child/Teen Parenting
Books for Teens to Read
Christian Books for Parents

Medications and Kids
Should I Medicate My Child? Solutions for Troubled Kids With - or Without - Psychiatric Drugs	by Lawrence Diller A MUST HAVE resource for parents considering putting their children on medication! Teens with Problems strongly endorses this new book by Dr. Diller (author of Running on Ritalin) as a highly informative manual on the entire process of whether or not to put a child on medication. Dr. Diller takes a neutral stance regarding medications, but prefers to try other methods, such as behavior modification, working with teachers, etc., before prescribing medications to kids. He covers a variety of topics, such as what type of assessment should be done to come up with a diagnosis and discusses the unfortunate trend these days of doctors having parents fill out a questionnaire and handing them a prescription. Dr. Diller discusses the various types of medications, such as stimulants, antidepressants, antiseizure medication, and others that a child might be prescribed and why, including frequent side effects and other issues, both good and bad, that a parent might expect to see when starting a child on one of these drugs. He discusses the difference between brand name drugs and generics and how to administer medications to kids who cannot swallow pills. Dr. Diller also discusses strategies for dealing with a few specific problems parents might be facing, such as anger, shyness, and difficulty forming attachments, among others. All in all, this book is an important reference for any parent who is experiencing severe difficulties with their child.

Medications and Kids

Should I Medicate My Child? Solutions for Troubled Kids With - or Without - Psychiatric Drugs

by Lawrence Diller

A MUST HAVE resource for parents considering putting their children on medication!

Teens with Problems strongly endorses this new book by Dr. Diller (author of Running on Ritalin) as a highly informative manual on the entire process of whether or not to put a child on medication. Dr. Diller takes a neutral stance regarding medications, but prefers to try other methods, such as behavior modification, working with teachers, etc., before prescribing medications to kids. He covers a variety of topics, such as what type of assessment should be done to come up with a diagnosis and discusses the unfortunate trend these days of doctors having parents fill out a questionnaire and handing them a prescription. Dr. Diller discusses the various types of medications, such as stimulants, antidepressants, antiseizure medication, and others that a child might be prescribed and why, including frequent side effects and other issues, both good and bad, that a parent might expect to see when starting a child on one of these drugs. He discusses the difference between brand name drugs and generics and how to administer medications to kids who cannot swallow pills. Dr. Diller also discusses strategies for dealing with a few specific problems parents might be facing, such as anger, shyness, and difficulty forming attachments, among others.

All in all, this book is an important reference for any parent who is experiencing severe difficulties with their child.

Books About Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Surviving Your Adolescents (4 Cassettes)	by Thomas W. Phelan "...understands the tests of patience adolescents can inflict on their parents and offers lessons that address not only authority and discipline, but also compassion and empathy." Written in a friendly, approachable style, this book is full of practical advice for the overwhelmed parent of pre-teens and teens. This book is temporarily out of stock. The link to the left is for the audio cassettes, which are currently available.
All about Attention Deficit Disorder	by Thomas W. Phelan Average Barnes & Noble rating = 5 stars "...describes the basic symptoms of ADD, the differences between 'Combined Type' & 'Inattentive Type,' nine indicators that help predict the future, the differences between ADD in boys & girls, comorbidity with ADD, and more." Description From the Publisher There are 20 million children and adults in America who have Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD). This comprehensive guide gives parents, teachers, pediatricians and mental health professionals the facts and resources they need to effectively deal with ADD. In straightforward language, Dr. Phelan separates fact from myth about this vastly misunderstood condition.
You & Your A.D.D. Child: How to Understand and Help Kids with Attention Deficit Disorder	Paul Warren - Jody Capehart - Sandy Dengler Average BN rating = 4 stars Description From the Publisher "With You and Your A.D.D. Child you can understand what's happening in these children's lives, how A.D.D. children meet the world, and what you can do to help them soar." —Paul Meier, M.D. Cofounder, Minirth Meier New Life Clinics ...It is written in a very understandable manner and is filled with easily understood scenarios.
Why Johnny Can't Concentrate: Coping with Attention Deficit Problems	Robert A. Moss - Helen Duff. Dunlap Description from the Publisher From his extensive experience evaluating and treating hundreds of children with attention difficulties, Dr. Robert A. Moss provides not only a comprehensive treatment plan, but all the support and knowledge a parent or teacher needs to help a child with ADD reach his or her full potential and promise.

Books About Child and Teen Bipolar Disorder
The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood's Most Misunderstood Disorder, Vol. 1	by Demitri F. Papolos and Janice Papolos Average Barnes and Noble rating = 5 stars Description from the Publisher Bipolar disorder—manic depression—was once thought to be rare in children. Now researchers are discovering that not only can bipolar disorder begin very early in life, but also that it is much more common than ever imagined. Yet the illness is often misdiagnosed or overlooked. Why? Bipolar disorder manifests itself differently in children than in adults, and in children there is an overlap of symptoms with other childhood psychiatric disorders. As a result, these kids may be given any number of psychiatric labels: "ADHD," "Depressed," "Oppositional Defiant Disorder," "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder," or "Separation Anxiety Disorder." Too often they are treated with stimulants or antidepressants—medications that can actually worsen the bipolar condition. The Bipolar Child demystifies this disorder of childhood. Drawing upon recent advances in the fields of neuroscience and genetics, the Papoloses convey what is known and not known about the illness. They comprehensively detail the diagnosis, tell how to find good treatment and medications, and advise parents about ways to advocate effectively for their children at school. Included in these pages is the first Individual Education Plan—IEP—ever published for a bipolar child. The book also offers critical information about the stages of adolescence, hospitalization, the world of insurance, and the psychological impact the illness has on the child.

Books About Child and Teen Bipolar Disorder

The Bipolar Child: The Definitive and Reassuring Guide to Childhood's Most Misunderstood Disorder, Vol. 1

by Demitri F. Papolos and Janice Papolos
Average Barnes and Noble rating = 5 stars

Description from the Publisher
Bipolar disorder—manic depression—was once thought to be rare in children. Now researchers are discovering that not only can bipolar disorder begin very early in life, but also that it is much more common than ever imagined. Yet the illness is often misdiagnosed or overlooked. Why?

Bipolar disorder manifests itself differently in children than in adults, and in children there is an overlap of symptoms with other childhood psychiatric disorders. As a result, these kids may be given any number of psychiatric labels: "ADHD," "Depressed," "Oppositional Defiant Disorder," "Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder," or "Separation Anxiety Disorder." Too often they are treated with stimulants or antidepressants—medications that can actually worsen the bipolar condition.

The Bipolar Child demystifies this disorder of childhood. Drawing upon recent advances in the fields of neuroscience and genetics, the Papoloses convey what is known and not known about the illness. They comprehensively detail the diagnosis, tell how to find good treatment and medications, and advise parents about ways to advocate effectively for their children at school. Included in these pages is the first Individual Education Plan—IEP—ever published for a bipolar child. The book also offers critical information about the stages of adolescence, hospitalization, the world of insurance, and the psychological impact the illness has on the child.

Books About Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Related Behavior Disorders
Small Criminals Among Us: How to Recognize and Change Children's Antisocial Behavior - Before They Explode	by Gad Czudner Author of The Roller-Coaster Years: Raising Your Child Through the Magical yet Maddening School Years, Giannetti and Sagarese, and online parenting experts for iVillage's Parentsoup web site, this book promises to rescue "middlers" (ten- to 15-year-olds) from a wide range of predicaments. A wide range of resources is provided by the authors for parents, along with cautions to parents with good intentions who may make serious mistakes without realizing it as they watch their teens struggle with delinquent behaviors.
The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children	by Ross W. Greene Average Barnes and Noble rating = 5 stars From Our Editors By teaching parents how to communicate with an inflexible son or daughter who feels there is no way out other than to throw a fit, The Explosive Child miraculously helps families unlearn the habits that lead to incendiary behavior. The book equips parents with the necessary skills to defuse and even prevent the intense situations that all-too-frequently arise with a volatile child.
The Defiant Child: A Parent's Guide to Oppositional Defiant Disorder	By Douglas Riley Average Barnes and Noble rating = 5 stars Description from the Publisher The American Psychiatric Association estimates that sixteen percent of children in the United States may have oppositional defiant disorder. These kids relentlessly push the boundaries set for them by authority figures. By exploring the mindset of O.D.D. children and explaining the way they operate, Dr. Douglas Riley teaches parents how to recognize the signs and modify the behavior of their O.D.D. child.
Defiant Teens	by Russell A. Barkley - Arthur L. Robin - Gwenyth H. Edwards Average Barnes and Noble Rating = 5 stars This authoritative manual geared for counselors presents an 18-step program designed both to teach parents the skills they need to manage difficult adolescent behavior and to improve family relationships overall. The first nine steps of the program modify the approach presented in Russell A. Barkley's Defiant Children, 2nd Edition, to focus on developmental concerns of adolescence. The authors delineate clear procedures for assessing defiance in teens and working with parents, alone or in groups, to reverse problem behavior. Steps 10 through 18 are conducted with parents and teenagers together, utilizing a proven family therapy model developed by Arthur L. Robin and Sharon Foster. Clinicians are shown how to help all family members learn to negotiate, communicate, and problem-solve more effectively, while facilitating adolescents' individuation and autonomy. The manual's utility is greatly enhanced by ready-to-photocopy forms that enable clinicians to gauge the nature, diversity, and severity of parent adolescent conflicts; assess for oppositional defiant disorder (ODD); and evaluate parental psychological adjustment. Also included are reproducible handouts for families that reinforce crucial ideas and skills imparted in-session.

Books on General Parenting Techniques and Issues
1-2-3 Magic	by Thomas W. Phelan 1-2-3 Magic offers parents simple and effective discipline methods for children ages 2-12. A proven bestseller, the book addresses the difficult task of child discipline with humor, keen insight and proven experience. This time tested program provides easy-to-follow steps for disciplining children ages 2-12 without arguing, yelling or spanking. Readers will also learn when--and how--their silence can speak louder than words.
The Strong-Willed Child: Birth through Adolescence	By James Dobson A practical, how-to-book on discipline and child-rearing that focuses on sibling rivalry, hyperactivity, self-esteem, and the most common errors made by frustrated parents. Dr. Dobson tells how to discipline strong-willed children without breaking their spirits and offers other practical solutions and humorous anecdotes. Dr Dobson's invaluable advice has reached more than one million families, helping parents effectively discipline headstrong children without breaking their spirit. Available in Spanish
Children: The Challenge	by Rudolf Dreikurs Children: The Challenge gives the key to parents who seek to build trust and love in their families, and raise happier, healthier, and better behaved children. Based on a lifetime of experience with children--their problems, their delights, their challenges--Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs, one of America's foremost child psychiatrists presents an easy to follow program that teaches parents how to cope with the common childhood problems that occur from toddler through preteen years. This warm and reassuring reference helps parents to understand their children's actions better, giving them the guidance necessary to discipline lovingly and effectively.

Books written for Teens to Read
Stairway to Hell: The Well-Planned Destruction of Teens	by Rick Jones Stairway to Hell was written from a Christian perspective for teens by a man who spent six years working with troubled teens in a residential treatment center. It is a radical book but a real eye opener, not only for teens but also for parents whose kids are into heavy metal music and drugs. Among other things, the book uses lyrics from heavy metal rock songs to point out what is really behind the music that a lot of these troubled teens are listening to. The author spends the first half of the book providing examples to teens of how they are unwittingly led down the path of destruction, but the second half of the book offers teens hope that there is a way out of their difficulties and off the "stairway to hell." This book has recently been out of stock at Barnes and Noble but can be obtained by clicking the link on the left and checking out the used book options. It may also be obtained at your local Christian book store.
Go Ask Alice	by Anonymous - Beatrice M. Sparks (Editor) With over a million copies in print, Go Ask Alice has become a classic of our time. This powerful real-life diary of a teenager's struggle with the seductive — often fatal — world of drugs and addiction tells the truth about drugs in strong and authentic voice. Tough and uncompromising, honest and disturbing — and even more poignant today — Go Ask Alice is page-turning and provocative reading. This book will grip you to the last page and leave you thinking about it for a long time after you have put it down. Go Ask Alice was also made into a very well done movie that would be worthwhile to obtain to show your teens, if they are involved with substance abuse.

Books written for Teens to Read

Stairway to Hell: The Well-Planned Destruction of Teens

by Rick Jones

Stairway to Hell was written from a Christian perspective for teens by a man who spent six years working with troubled teens in a residential treatment center. It is a radical book but a real eye opener, not only for teens but also for parents whose kids are into heavy metal music and drugs. Among other things, the book uses lyrics from heavy metal rock songs to point out what is really behind the music that a lot of these troubled teens are listening to. The author spends the first half of the book providing examples to teens of how they are unwittingly led down the path of destruction, but the second half of the book offers teens hope that there is a way out of their difficulties and off the "stairway to hell."

This book has recently been out of stock at Barnes and Noble but can be obtained by clicking the link on the left and checking out the used book options. It may also be obtained at your local Christian book store.

Go Ask Alice

by Anonymous - Beatrice M. Sparks (Editor)

With over a million copies in print, Go Ask Alice has become a classic of our time. This powerful real-life diary of a teenager's struggle with the seductive — often fatal — world of drugs and addiction tells the truth about drugs in strong and authentic voice. Tough and uncompromising, honest and disturbing — and even more poignant today — Go Ask Alice is page-turning and provocative reading. This book will grip you to the last page and leave you thinking about it for a long time after you have put it down. Go Ask Alice was also made into a very well done movie that would be worthwhile to obtain to show your teens, if they are involved with substance abuse.

Christian Books for Parents
Boundaries	by Henry Cloud - John Townsend Average Rating = 4-1/2 stars Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. A boundary is a personal property line that marks those things for which we are responsible. In other words, boundaries define who we are and who we are not. Often, Christians, and especially Christian parents, focus so much on being loving and unselfish that they forget their own limits and limitations. When confronted with their lack of boundaries, they ask: Can I set limits and still be a loving person? What are legitimate boundaries? What if someone is upset or hurt by my boundaries? How do I answer someone who wants my time, love, energy or money? Aren't boundaries selfish? Why do I feel guilty or afraid when I consider setting boundaries? Boundaries is also available in cassettes or CD formats.
The Power of a Praying Parent	by Stormie Omartian, Foreword by Christopher Omartian, Foreword by Amanda Omartian Average BN rating = 5 stars Description From the Publisher Award-winning singer and songwriter Stormie Omartian and husband, Michael, have spent the past 20 years raising their children...and learning the power of praying for them. From a reviewer, a mother of six, May 26, 2000 You are not alone! Just when you feel like giving up, along comes a powerful book like this. We must never forget that there is a spiritual struggle for the souls of our children...but that He that is in us, is greater than he that is in the world. Fabulous book.
Where Is God when It Hurts?	by Philip Yancey Description from the Publisher This perennial best-seller, now in a revised and expanded edition, includes a study guide. The book and study materials focus on the role of pain in God's plan for life and how we can respond to it. "If there is a loving God, then why is it that . . ." You've heard that question, perhaps asked it yourself. No matter how you complete it, at its root lies the issue of pain. Does God order our suffering? Does he decree an abusive childhood, orchestrate a jet crash, steer a tornado through a community? Or did he simply wind up the world's mainspring and now is watching from a distance? In this Gold Medallion Award-winning book, Philip Yancey reveals a God who is neither capricious nor unconcerned. Using examples from the Bible and from his own experiences, Yancey looks at pain — physical, emotional, and spiritual — and helps us understand why we suffer. This most current edition of what is perhaps Yancey's best-known book will speak to those for whom life sometimes just doesn't make sense. And it will help equip anyone who wants to reach out to someone in pain but just doesn't know what to say.

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