When you have a child that has graduated from high school and gone off to college, you may think that they are on the right path to becoming a successful adult with promising career prospects. As such, it can be difficult to process when your child tells you that they are planning to drop out of college and want to move back home with you. While this news can be distressing, it is important for you, as a parent, to consider some of the possible reasons that your child is making such a life-changing move. Get to know more about some of the health concerns you may need to address with your child when they plan to leave college and move back in so that you can be sure you are taking the best care of your child possible.

Depression or Other Mental Health Issues

Sometimes, being out on their own without parental and family support can be mentally taxing on a child away at college. Depression is a common side effect of the sudden isolation and the strenuous nature of living on their own and going to college classes.

If your child seems generally down, lethargic, low energy, or lacking motivation or interest in the things that once brought them joy, they may be suffering from clinical depression. On the other hand, some new college students react to the stress of college life by becoming anxiety-ridden, suffering from debilitating panic attacks and feelings of constant fear and worry.

Either of these conditions can be treated with the help of mental health counseling. Counseling can help to get down to the root of their mental health issues so that they can develop more effective coping strategies when negative thoughts and feelings arise. This can help your child to get back to college rather than giving up on their dreams. Mental health medications may also be a helpful and effective option.

Recreational Drug Use And Addiction

The freedom that goes along with going off to college for the first time can lead some young adults down dangerous paths. Illegal and prescription drug abuse can and does occur among college students, and with more freedom comes more easy access to drugs and less oversight to prevent drug-related mistakes.

Some college students binge drink and develop an alcohol dependence, while others turn to stimulants like cocaine, Adderall, and Ritalin to try to keep up with the rigorous academic demands. And even further, some students begin to use other substances recreationally in college like methamphetamine (meth), ecstasy, or even opiates like OxyContin or heroin.

If you suspect that your child's sudden decision to drop out of college could have something to do with drug abuse, you can find out if they are using drugs relatively easily. You can either ask them to go to a physician or clinic for drug testing or you can purchase a home drug testing kit and ask them to get tested before allowing them to move back into your house. An if they test positive, you can give them the support they need to get help and overcome their drug abuse issues before they become worse.

For more information, contact Pecos Drug Testing or a similar company.

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