Each day in this great country thousands of adolescents experiment with mind-altering drugs, run away from home or attempt suicide. Countless others suffer in less obvious ways. The teens will soon be home for the summer. How can we begin to understand them better and communicate in a more loving way?

Even though teens keep their feelings hidden deep within themselves or share with their peer groups, their distress is very real. While some of these teens are emotionally disturbed and may require professional help, many are simply living through a different stage of development and are crying out for the loving support of their families to see them through. How can the families know what to do?

The experts disagree on just what causes these stormy outbursts in the life of an adolescent. Some blame it on heredity, some on sudden overactive hormones, some proclaim it to be a natural growth process gone haywire, while still others conclude that the fault must lie somewhere with the parents. However, no matter where the authorities may place the blame, they all do agree on one thing this period of life can be heart wrenching for child and parent alike.

Can parents learn to tell the difference between normal adolescent unhappiness and a problem which represents a true emotional crisis? Can they learn to recognize which symptoms mean little and which are of a greater importance? Is there a way to predict which problems may manifest in their own children? Most importantly, how do parents know what to do to help their teenagers survive this painful time in their development?

The answer may be found in the placement of the sun on the day of a child's birth and the hour and location where they were born.

Aries (3/21 - 4/20)

Teens born under the sign of Aries, or with the Aries Rising Sign (Hour of Birth) are, at best, dynamic and full of personality. They must always be up and doing. Study and quiet solitary pursuits are not for them. When all is well with these teenagers they are cheerful and easygoing. True believers in the live and let live principle, they mind their own business, are pleasant to have around and enjoy feeling they are a part of the family.

However, unhappy Aries teens may display quite a different character altogether. They can be quick-tempered and overly sensitive to criticism, imagining slights that never were intended. They tend to be extremely impulsive, acting before ever considering the consequences. Because they have a strong need to be admired, they tend to do silly, foolish acts to gain attention from others. They do make some of the best sports kids on a team. But their upsets can be especially perilous when a troubled Aries teen gets their driver's license. Aries teens relish speed and taking chances and so are apt to be quite accident prone. These teens are likely to take drugs or mind altering substances just for the thrill of it or to be accepted by their peers.

The parents of these teens may find themselves in a difficult position. While they know its up to them to control their teen, they may feel that cracking the whip will only bring further rebellion. It is best for them if they make sure they are always available to confide in and then attempt to avoid lecturing or a condescending attitude. These parents would be wise to have an open door policy for their teens to bring their friends home. A supervised Aries teen is less likely to get into difficulty.

Taurus (4/21 - 5/21)

These teens are, at best, dependable and every parent's dream. They have a great many friends and enjoy participating in extracurricular activities. Also they are usually the first in their group to take a part-time after school job because they have a need to feel financially independent. They are pleasant, even-tempered and have a charming sense of humor.

A Taurus teen under stress instinctively attempts to deal with it on their own. They are unlikely to reach out and ask for assistance from anyone. When they hurt inside, they build an emotional wall that no one can penetrate. Usually active and eager to share with their peers, they may become loners, depressed and difficult to be around. They also tend to gain weight as an emotional defense. If their behavior is questioned, they tend to deny any problems. These teens have a problem with self-indulgence and when they are troubled this can magnify and even develop into a problem with bulimia, which is potentially life threatening. Drugs or alcohol may become a temptation to these teens, numbing their emotional pain temporarily and making them feel more capable of handling their problems.

The parents of a Taurus teen should try to be especially observant, because what this teen does not say can often be more than any string of words. A sudden shift in habits, a change of friends or a general reluctance to communicate may be warning signs that all is not well. A sincere effort should be made to get this teen to talk about what is wrong. If all else fails, professional help should be sought - especially if the eating problems become apparent.

Gemini (5/21 - 6/20)

Teens born under the sign of Gemini are, at best, expressive and entertaining. They love to talk and exchange ideas. They can be bookworms and a never-ending source of information. They seem to know a little bit on just about everything. They do not like routine and resist going to school regularly, but they enjoy the academic challenge and usually get good grades. They dream about traveling to foreign lands.

When in distress, these teens become very restless, wanting to try new and exciting things to fill the hours. They tend to direct internal stress outward and may have several frenzied projects going at once, but never finish anything. Their friendships are short lived largely because they tend to find fault too quickly and are not fun to be around when they are upset. These teens will try just about anything misdirected to gain attention in an attempt to escape their emotional pain. Excessive use of drugs and alcohol will lower their inhibitions and may lead them to promiscuity. They may feel completely misunderstood and run away from home, not realizing they take their problems with them.

Parents of Gemini teens should realize these children have a low boredom threshold, and try to provide them with excessive arts and crafts materials, encouraging any new interests. Parents should foster friendships that seem wholesome rather than discouraging ones that are less healthy. These teens are free spirited and are likely to do the opposite of what they are told. Take note that these phases pass quickly with a Gemini. What was disturbing today may go into a different, healthier interest tomorrow.

Cancer (6/21 - 7/21)

Teens born under the sign of Cancer are, at best, sensitive and make wonderful friends. They are emotional, aware of everything happening around them and what it truly means on a profound level. They provide a great shoulder to cry on and they have many friends who depend on them for emotional support. They love to feel needed. Although not necessarily academic whizzes, they love school because of the social contacts.

When these teens are under an emotional crisis they display it in a variety of ways; their moods swing from one extreme to another. They may cry, not caring who knows their pain, or they may pull back into themselves until no one knows what they are feeling. They may become sarcastic or even cruel, taking out their pain on everyone around. Either way, whether driving their pain inward or taking it out on everyone, their unhappiness should be taken seriously. What they are feeling may be so severe they will be willing to try anything to escape it and stop the pain. Overeating, which may be a problem at the best of times with Cancer teens, can be excessive as well as abuse of alcohol and drugs. Should the pain become unbearable, they may even begin to have thoughts of suicide.

Parents of Cancer teens should be aware that, although the pain of their teen is acute and very real, it is apt to be transitory. Long, quite talks, not lectures, may help to comfort them. Family activities may help to direct the teen's thoughts outward, away from self. It may not be easy to know just how to approach this child. Cancer teen mood swings are difficult to understand. At some point the parents may find it too difficult to cope alone and may choose to find outside help.

Leo (7/22 - 8/21)

Leo teens are confident and are sure of what they want. They are ambitions and hardworking. Often these teens find part-time jobs after school, join social clubs, and still find time to attend social functions. They have a dramatic flair and are fun to be with. Often it is the Leo teen who is the Class Clown.

When things are not right with these teens, their basic insecurities seem to creep in. They develop a chip on their shoulder and tend to show off as a tower of strength, fearing their vulnerability may show through. Usually easygoing, they may become brash in their mannerisms. They also may hide their inner fears by foolish acts of courage. It may be something like drag racing or jumping off moving freight train cars - anything to convince their peers they are as brave as they brag and profess to be. The need to fit in is a strong Leo trait and they may begin to experiment with drugs and alcohol if their "crowd" becomes involved. Combine this with the daredevil in them and you have a dangerous combination for sure.

Difficult as it may be for a parent to take a strong stance with this teenager, it is absolutely necessary. Rules are the name of the game for Leo teens, and they must be laid down and adhered to. Leo teens need to know, though they are loved, their behavior may not be, and there are boundaries which they cannot cross. Without this strict structure, they will feel emotionally insecure. It takes a lot of courage and strength to parent a determined Leo teen, but the payoff later is well worth it. Leo's often become quite successful in life.

Virgo (8/22 - 9/21)

Teens born with a Sun or Rising Sign in Virgo are, at best, studious and self-disciplined. They are logical and sensible in their outlook, even at an early age. They enjoy a clean environment and are more than willing to do their share to see it stays that way. While they may not have a great many friends, they are loyal and will probably keep the ones they have for life.

When these teen are emotionally distressed, it may be difficult to detect. Since they are generally soft-spoken, it may go unnoticed by others when they become more quiet than usual. They may develop the habit of self-depreciation, habitually commenting on their lack of good looks or worrying about their weight. They may begin to have numerous physical complaints and start to pour over medical books to detect the problem. Because they are basically logical thinkers, they analyze everything and may become self-absorbed and dwell too much on their problems. Virgo teens tend to have low self-esteem even in the best of times but always long to fit in with their peers. When their egos are vulnerable and low, they may join questionable activities they normally would shun, just to be a part of the gang.

Parents of a Virgo teen may be the last to know that anything is wrong with their child. When they do become aware of a problem the parents need to try to draw the teen out and listen. Get them to talk about their feelings and reassure them that they are not alone. Family activities which encourage them to look beyond themselves can work wonders. Encourage local volunteer work or plan a trip to interesting local places they can learn about. Virgo teens love museums and The Discover Channel.

Libra (9/22 - 10/21)

Teens born under this sign are, at their best, kind and loving to everyone they meet. Ruled by the harmony planet Venus, they believe in truth, justice and beauty and will make excellent lawyers, journalists or artists. They want to simplify their lives and will go out of their way not to make waves. While not wildly ambitious, they do want to be a productive part of society. Libra's often marry young. They enjoy school, complete their homework without complaint and have many friends.

When a Libra teen is in crisis, no one will have to wonder about it. They are quite vocal about their pain, temper and all. They may develop quite disagreeable dispositions and become quite demanding. The may complain about siblings, chores or peers they once cared about. They fluctuate from temper tantrums to pouting spells, both of which are not easy to tolerate. When their lives are not going smoothly, their first thought is to make a change, which may mean even running away from home. They are always susceptible to those around them and may be easily led. When in emotional pain they are likely to succumb to alcohol and drugs or sexual promiscuity.

Parents of Libra teens should realize that they may be a social butterfly, but these teens need a special, private place where they can retreat in solitude and safety. Someplace where siblings and family cannot intrude and their privacy is respected. They appreciate being treated as adults and reassured of their value in the family. Angry laying down of the law is disastrous for these teens as they respond better to a quiet, reassuring attitude and, later, talking things through.

Scorpio (10/22 - 11/21)

These teens are at their best, resourceful and intuitive about the motives of people around them. Highly psychic and ruled by Pluto, the planet of transformation, Scorpio teens have an inborn sense about what changes need to be made. They have investigative minds and want to know how and why something works. These teens will have part time jobs after school and still maintain a good average. They seem to grow up early and like responsibility.

A Scorpio teen in emotional crisis can be extremely difficult to get along with. Temperamental and sullen, they may storm through the house striking out at anyone in their path. Their love lives are very important to them, and when things are not going well in that area, they become particularly unpleasant. Usually very intelligent and logical, common sense flies out the window when their emotions are hurt. They will try anything to alleviate their pain. When they do foolish things it is not because they don't consider the consequences, but they decide the penalty is worth the suffering. Alcohol and drugs can be a big draw for these teens, not because of peer pressure, which they often laugh at, but because they will do anything to alter their consciousness and to escape any thoughts and feels that haunt them.

Parents of Scorpio teens may find themselves at a loss and unable to cope with the off-centered logic these teens manifest. Sitting down to talk things over may only make matters worse. These parents needs to develop the ability to second guess their children and intuitively know what the child will be up to next. Leaving these teens alone to work it out for themselves could prove to be disastrous. Have the courage to get professional help for these teens if the problems seem too large for you to handle.

Sagittarius (11/22 - 12/20)

Sagittarius teens are, at their best, enthusiastic and just plain fun to be around. Ruled by Jupiter, the benevolent planet, they see the world as a wonderful place full of potential. While they must be allowed a lot of personal freedom, they do not appear openly rebellious. They pleasantly go along with the flow of life, doing just as they please and always somehow, getting precisely what they want and need.

When all is not well with these teens, they can display quite another side of their character. They become extremely argumentative, pushy about getting their own way and painfully blunt when pointing out the faults of others. When then are unhappy, they will not sullenly hide away or suffer in silence, but will moan and groan for all to hear and blame all of their problems on others. It is a natural inclination for Sagittarius teens to run from anything unpleasant. When they are in emotional pain, they are convinced that things will get better if they just pack up and move away. Ever optimistic, these kids will run away in the mistaken belief that they can find the utopia which they deeply believe exists. These teens can be particularly drawn to strange cults and unconventional organizations. They sometimes become so enamored with their new beliefs that they are impossible to reason with or have to be de-programmed.

The parents of these normally happy teens will be shocked to discover that the sunshine is gone. They can take comfort in the fact that with these naturally emotional teens, the mood passes rather quickly. The parents must take care not to make matters worse by tightening the reins at the wrong time. This child could completely buck the system. Sag is the sign of the horse, so you must corral the youngster with patience, take it slow and allow the problems to work themselves out. They usually do.

Capricorn (12/22 - 1/21)

These teens are practical, respectful of traditions and excellent at math. Rules by Saturn, the planet of limitations, they are naturally cautious and conservative. They do well in their studies and are very aware that their schooling now develops their life in later years. These teens will get part-time jobs after school so they can purchase their material needs and keep happy. They may save for a car, and will try to pay their own insurance.

Capricorn teens is crisis will tend to keep their emotions inside as they have a problem opening up and talking thighs out. Outward signs of troubles may be difficult to detect. Perhaps a drop in grades, or hibernating in their room will be a sign of problems. They may develop persecution complexes, blaming their problems on the state of the world. Because of the way they internalize their feelings, it may be difficult to find out exactly what's wrong. Always somewhat loners, they may become even more so now and be unable to communicate with anyone. When they do speak, it is often in harsh, short and direct tones, filled with anger and pain. Those who must deal with them may wish they continued to remain behind the emotional barriers they have built to defend themselves.

The parents of these teens certainly have their work cut out for them because, as difficult as it might be, they need to encourage their teen to talk. These teens should never be left alone to brood. The parents need to be ever vigilant, especially the father, and watch for signs of extreme depression and pay special attention to hints about suicide. If the parents remain caring and aware, they can get professional help when necessary.

Aquarius (1/22 - 2/19)

The Aquarian teens are independent and wise beyond their years. Ruled by Uranus, the planet of sudden changes, they enjoy doing things a little differently than their peers. If they can shock some people in the process, so much the better. They want to help mankind to think and evolve. They enjoy school, for the most part, and usually get good grades. They are popular and always have many friends, although they will be close to only one or two. These teens have a difficult time with intimacy and sharing unless they can completely trust you.

When the Aquarian teen is unhappy, they will develop an aloof manner, and seem uncaring to those around them. Not usually inclined to complain, they may suddenly become temperamental, harping on small irritations that normally would not bother them. They may begin to run with the wrong crowd or with teens they had formerly shunned. Because these teens are fond of experimentation, they may be drawn to drugs and alcohol, starting a game at first, and then become pulled in far deeper than they had anticipated. They may develop some uncharacteristic changes in school, much to the surprise of their teachers. All of this is in internal cry for help. These kind can carry their love of shocking others to extremes, such as ding their hair peculiar colors or dressing in a strange fashion. They may even become attracted to strange cults and religions.

The parents of these teens have probably discovered early that there is no talking to them. The teen may be willing to listen politely to what is said, but will do nothing to alter his behavior as a result. As long as the Aquarian teen does not do anything to harm others or illegal, it is best for the parents just to state their displeasure and then ride out the storm. More often than not, luck will be on the parent's side, and the phase, unpleasant as it may be, will pass with time. Aquarians have much too great an intelligence and common sense to become self-destructive.

Pisces (2/19 - 3/21)

The Pisces teen is compassionate and caring when it comes to the feelings of others. Ruled by Neptune, the planet of intuition, they do not have to be told when and where their help is needed. They will sense this and offer their help, unasked. They get along well with others and seem to gravitate to those considerably younger or older than themselves. While they do not relish school, their intuition and their retentive memories help them get good grades. These teens could have a photographic memory.

A Pisces teen in crisis seems to jump on an emotional roller coaster and will always take the family for the ride. One minute sullen and difficult to reach, and the next day they may be over talkative and sarcastic. They try to build walls around their hurts, revealing their pain in subtle ways but not allowing anyone in close enough to be of help. Their inborn insecurity may become even sharper, making them feel they are just outside the lives of those around them. Melancholy seems almost the natural state of these teens. When in emotional distress, they will do anything to try to escape the pain. Drugs and alcohol hold a particular fascination for them, and while under the influence of these substances, they can do things they would never dream of doing normally. It is sad, but true, that a Pisces teen will be willing to look anywhere for comfort, even doing some things that are self-destructive, like driving too fast.

The parents of these teens may feel helpless, for when this teen is in crisis they are very difficult to approach. In their fear of feeling even more pain, they can shut out everyone around them. The parents should try to remember that understanding, warmly expressed, will get through the barriers, even though at first it may seem to make matters worse, as will an unbending attitude. This teen needs room to wage life's wars, and loving and caring arms to return to when the battle is over.