My Son Is Extremely Unhappy

This may have started out as simple sadness about not fitting in at school, but it sounds to me like it has progressed to clinical depression. He is very vulnerable at this age. There is no shame in taking him to see a therapist. Go ahead and talk to the guidance counselor, but I doubt that will be enough. Teenagers, especially boys, have very little impulse control, and he may start getting angry about his loneliness. Please don't wait to get help.

T. I will pray for you. That just makes my heart break thinking about it. We moved to this area about 3 yrs ago and my 2nd grader at the time was REALLY having a rough go of it. We bought him and his sister a puppy but I don't think that will help you. There is certainly a reason that your son is distraugt...is there a girlfriend left behind. Are the kids in the school being mean to him....do your best to find out what is troubling him and see what you can do to help make it better.

Jen

That is indeed very rough, and I understand where your son is coming from. I moved here right before my senior year of high school and had a very difficult time adjusting. I made very few friends, hated being at Houston High School, wanted to go back to my old school in Indiana. Unfortunately at that level of high school, all the other kids have their own groups and it's hard to be accepted in any of them unless you're lucky to find an open group (I lucked out, I suppose).

If you guys go to church, maybe get him involved in a church youth group and church activities? Is your son interested in any of the extracurricular activities at his school? If so, he should join some of them.

He also needs to talk to a counselor who can help him with the adjustment issues and what seems to be depression.

Was he active in a church youth group? We attend Central Church in Collierville and we have a great youth group. I am feeling led to work with the youth.

What grade is your son in? Is there a club he might be interested in joining there? I don't know CHS my daughter attends Germantown High School. But seems both schools have great clubs for the kids to get involved in...here is link to come of CHS's clubs http://www.scsk12.org/scs/high/collierville/students/club...

My daughter is big into Anime and I was shocked to find out they had a club for that! I think you're doing the right thing talking to his counselor, maybe some of his teachers. But seriously give the club ideas some thought. I'm sorry he's having such a hard time adjusting and I pray you find a solution soon. This is a really cool area.