She says if your teenager exhibits
feelings of hopelessness, talks about wanting to die, makes statements about being a burden to others, becomes increasingly isolated or reckless, or appears to have
intense mood swings, seek the advice
of a mental health professional.
High expectations for children are usually a good thing; however, as Madeline Levine writes in her book The Price
of Privilege, «It is when a parent's love is experienced as conditional on achievement that children are at risk for serious emotional problems [because] this activates
intense feelings of shame and
hopelessness.»