Moratorium: When a youth needs to catch a break

Periodically, usually just before a developmental step, a youth needs less stress and some time to contemplate life. This can be quite important for a youth's development and health. I'll comment on how to deal with kids who need a moratorium later.

• These are somewhat unpredictable, since they typically begin before the obvious parts of a developmental step (e.g. when they grow a foot, or other physiological phenomenon)
• Different youth, of course, react differently so recognizing the need for a moratorium may not be easy.
• A sudden change in personality (that is not a result of drug use) can be a sign.
• Apathy is a particularly good sign of their need to go internal.
• They may try to withdraw or drop out.
• Some youth will get strung out and tense or become frantic whenever they have any pressure put on them. (Some youth are that way always, but that is a different situation.)
• They often will become negative and self-deprecating, even antagonistic.
• Negative traits that are either uncharacteristic or suddenly and unusually strong may be signs of internal pressures.
• Currently, parents, school and other cultural situations do not recognize and allow for moratoria. Whereas older generations were allowed to retire to their rooms, listen to loud music for hours on end, modern youth are sent for counseling and are bombarded with text messages and facebook posts that don't allow the level of introspection that is needed.