High School is Complicated with Teens Struggling to Reset: Helping Teens Get Back on Track

For many parents, summer feels like the perfect time to give teens more freedom — late nights with friends, parties, internet access to explore interests, and a taste of independence before graduating high school. Teens often advocate for this time away from the parental/familial relationship as proof that they are capable and responsible. While this separation is a normal part of healthy development, it works best when it is co-created — allowing teens to experience “wins” of autonomy, “wins” in shaping their identity, and “wins” in peer belonging.

To complicate matters, some parents have been falsely led to believe that “teaching kids how to party” will make them safer in social situations involving alcohol or other substances. Unfortunately, research shows the opposite. A 2025 study in Addictive Behaviors found that when parents allow teens to drink, increases the risk of heavy drinking and alcohol use disorders later in life. Earlier studies reinforce this, showing that teens who begin drinking before age 15 are four to five times more likely to develop alcohol dependence as adults (Grant & Dawson, 1998; DeWit et al., 2000).

At the same time, the complexity of navigating social and emotional milestones in adolescence is often minimized. Teens may assume that everyone else knows how to handle the pressures of high school, leaving them feeling isolated when they don’t. This pressure contributes to anxiety and depression, which in turn can increase vulnerability to using substances as a way to cope.

If you notice your teen struggling to make decisions, getting stuck on small tasks, withdrawing from others, showing irritability beyond typical moods, or losing joy in daily life, these may be signs of something deeper than normal ups and downs. Anxiety, depression, or substance use could be at play.

The transition from summer’s flexibility to the structure of a new school year is a critical moment to pay attention. If your teen resists the compliance and routines that school requires, it may be more than simple procrastination. This can be an opportunity to seek understanding and support.

You are not alone. Outpatient treatment can provide the guidance, structure, and tools teens need to reset while staying connected to school and family life. At Sierra Health + Wellness, our Outpatient Adolescent Program in Roseville California focuses on helping teens learn how to be comfortable in their own mind and heart, confident in their identity, and present in daily interactions. We teach them how to navigate challenges, embrace asking for help, and extend that support to others — building the foundation for a healthy and confident future.

Written By: Dr. Angela Marie Chanter