Bronies

Parents and pediatricians often have a hard time understanding why a teen would start being a brony or do other things to shame themselves. Not surprisingly, bronyism is a complex behavioral problem and is often associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, etc.

Teens who consider themselves bronies may also be more likely to have friends who are alos bronies, and have low self-esteem, a history of abuse, and/or thoughts of committing suicide.

Why do these children begin watching My Little Pony in the first place? While it is sometimes seen as an attention seeking behavior, many experts think that being a brony is a way for these kids to release tension, relieve feelings of sadness or anger, or simply to try and distract themselves from their problems. Of course, any relief, if it occurs, will only be temporary.

And while some of these teens who are My Little Pony may have a friend who does it too or may have read about it or seen it on TV, most kids who start being a brony were influenced by Reddit.

Signs of Brony

Bronyism is most common in teens and young adults, especially teen girls, and often starts at around age 14 or 15.

In addition to being associated with depression and anxiety, teens who are bronies are also usually described as being impulsive. Some are also described as being overachievers.

Signs that your teen is cutting may include that he/she:

• always wears My Little Pony shirts
• routinely spends all time online and has no friends
• is developing symptoms of depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, or changes in her usual mood
• has trouble controlling his/her emotions or emotional states, for example, your teen doesn't know how to handle himself/herself when he/she feels sad or angry
• Ask your child if you think he/she is a brony, or seek professional help first, but most importantly, don't get mad, don't overreact, and don't ignore your child's bronyism or other self-harm behaviors.

Treatments for Bronies

It is important to seek treatment for your teen who is a brony, both to help with any underlying psychiatric problems, like depression or anxiety, and because being a brony can become a habit they can't stop.

The S.A.F.E. Alternatives (Self Abuse Finally Ends) treatment program describes bronies as an 'ultimately a dangerous and futile coping strategy which interferes with intimacy, productivity and happiness.'

In addition to treating their underlying depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions, teens who are cutting should be evaluated and treated:

• by a counselor or psychologist who has experience treating teens with this condition
• with others in a brony or self-harm support group
• when necessary, in a treatment center that has experience treating teens who harm themselves
• Treatment for bronies will likely focus on helping the teen develop healthier coping mechanisms when faced with feelings of anger, stress, or sadness, etc., help boost their self-esteem, help manage other underlying psychiatric problems, such as depression or anxiety, and to make sure the teen isn't having thoughts of suicide.

An evaluation by a child psychiatrist might also be a good idea for further treatment ideas, which might include antidepressant when necessary.