Usually things pan out this way: you have a problem and you ask for help and support from your family.

But sometimes, things go down differently: you have family problems. Your family is your problem. For a teenager, the latter scenario is much, much worse. This is the kind of problem that people carry with them for the rest of their lives.

When a teenager can't count on his/her family for help, who can a young person turn to?'

What can a teenager do?

You can try talking with his/her family members about what's really happening, what's really causing his/her family to be at odds with each other. Tell them how you feel. Talk calmly with your family and raise issues without sounding accusatory.

Pinpoint the exact problem/s so you can deal with them more effectively. Try to understand each other better and come up with a solution where everybody wins. Work on sorting out your issues and fixing your problems.

If this approach does not work, or was not an option in the first place, you should seek help outside the family.

Seeking guidance from a trusted adult

A kid can only take and do so much. A teenager who has family problems is more likely to run away, become depressed, do drugs, be involved in gangs, crimes, and other delinquent activities.

When you have family problems, the wisest thing to do is to go to a grownup that you trust, instead of running away or using drugs. Teenagers still need to be cared for. They need good, mature, decent people to guide them and help them through life.

They need help and guidance even more if the problem is their own family. You can turn to your grandparents, your aunt or uncle, your pastor or minister, your adviser or your school guidance counselor.

Teenagers should also seek professional help such as counseling and therapy to help them with the emotional scars of having to deal with a problematic family.