My Teenager Draws Dark Pictures: When to Worry and How to Talk

Worried because your teenager draws dark pictures? Read about what such drawings may mean, the real warning signs to watch for and how to talk with your teen.

While tidying their room, you see a sketchbook left open on the desk. On its pages are bare trees, faces with blacked-out eyes, skulls, figures standing alone in the rain, spaces filled in with thick black lines... Something tightens inside you: "Is my child not okay?" Many parents who worry about a teenager drawing dark pictures are left alone with this question; either they never say anything, or they speak in a panic and push their teenager away. In this article we look at what dark-themed drawings may and may not mean, the signs that genuinely need attention and how you can raise the subject with your teenager. Let us say this first: a drawing is not a diagnosis on its own; but it can be the start of a conversation.

Teenager Drawing Dark Pictures: What Might It Mean?

Adolescence is a period in which identity is reshaped, emotions intensify and young people begin to question the world. Themes such as death, loneliness, injustice and the search for meaning occupy the minds of many young people at this age. It is often a natural part of development for these themes to be reflected in drawings, song lyrics or writing.

Behind dark-themed drawings there can be very different reasons:

• Aesthetics and popular culture: Anime, manga, comics, horror films, some games and some music genres have a dark visual language. Your teenager's drawings may be imitating a favourite character or style.
• Technical curiosity: Shadow, contrast and dramatic lighting appeal to many young people learning to draw. Working with a black pencil is sometimes simply a technical choice.
• Processing feelings: Putting feelings such as anger, sadness, hurt or anxiety on paper can be a healthy way of coping with them. Drawing a feeling is different from acting on it.
• The search for identity: A dark aesthetic may be adopted as a way of saying "I'm different", of standing apart from the mainstream.
• A sign of struggle: Sometimes the drawings can be an outlet for a burden the young person is finding hard to carry. This possibility should not be ignored; but it is also not possible to reach this conclusion by looking at a drawing alone.

Let's say a fifteen-year-old has been placed in a high school they did not want after the LGS (Turkey's national high-school entrance exam), and in the first months keeps drawing birds inside cages in their notebook. These drawings are not "proof of depression"; but they may be the door to a valuable conversation that could begin with the question, "Do you feel trapped here?"

Dark drawings shared on social media

Today many young people share their drawings on social media and follow the accounts of other young people who draw in a similar style. These communities are sometimes spaces that support creativity and give a sense of belonging. At other times they may contain content that makes hopelessness or self-harm look aesthetic. It is natural to be curious about which accounts your teenager follows; but rather than monitoring this secretly, asking "Whose drawings do you like? Will you show me too?" both protects trust and lets you get to know their world.

Can Drawings Be Used to Diagnose?

The short answer: no. It is not possible to reach a judgement about a young person's mental health by looking at their drawings.

The scientific assessments on this subject are quite clear. A comprehensive review of projective tests (Lilienfeld, Wood and Garb, 2000) showed that, among these tests, human figure drawings have some of the most limited evidence of validity. Drawings are affected by the young person's mood that day, the materials at hand, their interests, their drawing skill and what they happen to be imitating at that moment.

For this reason, set interpretations that circulate online, such as "black means depression", "a young person who draws figures without eyes is withdrawn" or "drawing skulls shows a wish to die", have no scientific basis. We cover common misconceptions about children's and teenagers' drawings in detail in our article on analysing children's drawings.

This does not mean that drawings say nothing. A drawing can be a window onto a young person's inner world; but only the young person can tell you what is visible through that window. The meaning needs to be discovered together, by listening to them.

The Warning Signs That Really Need Attention

Far more important than dark drawings are changes in the young person's overall state and behaviour. If the following signs appear, whether together with the drawings or independently of them, more care is needed:

• Unhappiness, angry outbursts or marked withdrawal lasting for weeks
• Pulling away from friends, activities they love and the family
• Marked changes in sleep and eating patterns
• A sudden drop in school performance, or absences
• Expressions of hopelessness such as "nothing has any meaning" or "it would be better if I weren't here"
• Drawings or writing that openly depict self-harm, a wish to die or themes of saying goodbye
• Giving valued belongings away to others, behaving as if saying farewell
• Unexplained cuts or wounds on the body, or covering up with long sleeves even in hot weather

The last four of these signs in particular are warnings that must be taken seriously. If you are worried that your teenager is having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, do not leave them alone and in an emergency, call 112 (emergency services). We describe in detail what parents can do in the face of self-harming behaviour in our article on self-harm in teenagers.

What you need to worry about is not the colour of the drawing, but whether your child's connection with the world around them is weakening.

If Your Teenager Is Drawing Dark Pictures, How Do You Talk About It?

How you start the conversation largely determines how much your teenager will open up to you. A conversation that begins with panic, an interrogating tone or blaming language usually ends with doors being closed.

First, settle your own anxiety

You do not have to talk the moment you see the sketchbook. Give yourself a few hours or a day. Talk to your partner or someone you trust. When you are calm, you can have a far more productive conversation with your teenager.

Do not secretly go through the sketchbook

If you have looked through the sketchbook without your teenager's permission, being honest rather than trying to hide it protects trust: "Your sketchbook was open while I was tidying your room, and I saw a few of your drawings. I was curious." Privacy is very important in adolescence; however, if there is a serious concern about safety, safety comes first.

Choose a suitable moment for the conversation

A conversation held just after your teenager has come out of an exam, while they are messaging friends or when they are tired can easily go wrong. Teenagers often open up less in face-to-face, eye-to-eye "serious talks" than while doing something side by side: in the car on the way to school, while preparing a meal together or on an evening walk. Moments like these can help you raise the subject in a more natural and less threatening way.

Ask with curiosity; do not interpret

Instead of "What does this mean? Are you depressed?", ask open questions such as "I found this drawing really striking. Could you tell me a bit about it?" Leave room for your teenager to talk. Perhaps they are drawing a character from a favourite series; perhaps they really are struggling with something; but you can only find out if you listen.

Appreciate their skill and their way of expressing themselves

Drawing is one of the ways a young person expresses themselves. Banning or belittling this outlet can lead feelings to emerge in other, less visible ways. Saying "It's good that you can express your feelings by drawing" keeps the channel of expression open.

Do not rush to offer solutions

When your teenager tells you something, try to understand first, rather than immediately giving advice, saying "never mind" or playing the problem down. A simple sentence such as "That must be really hard" can be more effective than a long lecture.

Things Parents Should Avoid

Some well-meant behaviours can make the situation harder:

1. Showing the drawings to others: Sharing your teenager's drawings with relatives, neighbours or on social media "so they can interpret them" without their permission violates their privacy and damages trust.
2. Taking away the sketchbook or art materials: Banning the means of expression does not make the feeling disappear.
3. Reaching conclusions based on online "drawing interpretations": Set interpretations can lead both to false alarms and to real signs being missed.
4. Comparing them with siblings or other young people: Sentences such as "Your cousin draws such lovely flowers" can make your teenager feel even more alone.
5. Never raising the subject at all: Hiding your concern completely is not a solution either. A calm, curious conversation is better than silence.

Ways to Support Your Teenager's Creative Expression

Even if your teenager is drawing dark pictures, drawing may be a valuable coping tool for them. There are some things you can do at home to strengthen this tool:

• Invest in materials and space: A good sketchbook, quality pencils or a quiet corner in their room where they can draw sends the message "I take this interest of yours seriously".
• Share in their interest: Ask about the artists, comics or illustrators they love. Going together to an exhibition or the comics section of a bookshop can create common ground.
• Do not focus only on the dark theme: Notice the technical side of their drawings, their effort and their progress too. Specific feedback such as "Your shading has really improved" helps your teenager feel seen.
• Leave the choice of a course or workshop to them: If they wish, joining a drawing course can bring them together with peers around a shared interest; but it should not be imposed.

For a young person squeezed between exam pressure and heavy screen time, drawing can be a space in which to breathe. Protecting that space is more meaningful than controlling it.

When Should You Seek Professional Support?

Dark drawings alone do not call for professional support. However, it is helpful to speak to a mental health professional who works with adolescents in the following situations:

• If one or more of the warning signs listed above has lasted for several weeks
• If your teenager talks about intense feelings that they themselves are finding hard to cope with
• If there is a marked deterioration in school, friendships and family relationships
• If there has recently been a loss, a break-up, bullying or a traumatic event
• If thoughts of self-harm or death are being expressed

If the last point applies, treat the situation as urgent and call 112 (emergency services) if necessary. You can read how depression may look in adolescence, and how it can be told apart from ordinary teenage moodiness, in our article on depression in teenagers. We would like to remind you that these signs do not amount to a diagnosis on their own and that assessment needs to be carried out by a professional.

How Are Teenagers' Drawings Approached in Therapy?

In adolescent counselling, drawing can offer an alternative means of expression to a young person who finds it hard to talk. Some teenagers answer "How are you?" with "Dunno", yet can say a great deal more with a sheet of paper and a pencil. In this process, the drawings the young person brings are not interpreted like a test; the young person explains what their drawings say, and the meaning is discovered together.

Drawings and other creative work are treated as confidential. In sessions with parents, the details of the drawings are not passed on word for word, to protect the young person's trust; general themes and progress are shared. However, if a situation is noticed that threatens the safety of the young person or someone else, this confidentiality limit is set aside and contact is made with the family and the relevant services.

Parents are also worked with in therapy: how to approach the young person's feelings, how to set limits and what kind of communication can be built at home are discussed. Evidence-based approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy can help a young person develop skills for coping with difficult thoughts and feelings. Where needed, a child and adolescent psychiatry assessment is also added to the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my teenager drawing in black a sign of depression?

No, colour choice carries no meaning on its own. For many young people, black is a technical or aesthetic choice. What matters are changes in the young person's overall mood, behaviour and relationships.

Should I show their drawings to the school counsellor?

Sharing your teenager's drawings with others without their permission can damage their trust in you. However, if you have a serious safety concern, you might first talk with your teenager and then consider working together with the school counselling service or a professional.

My teenager doesn't want to talk about their drawings. What should I do?

Insisting usually leads to withdrawal. Leave the door open: saying "I'm ready to listen whenever you want" is enough. Meanwhile, keep observing your teenager's overall state; if there are warning signs, consult a professional.

Is an interest in horror or gothic-style drawings harmful?

An interest in a dark aesthetic is not harmful in itself; many young people adopt these styles for artistic or identity-related reasons. As long as the interest does not disrupt the young person's daily functioning and relationships, it is generally not a cause for concern.

• #teenagers
• #teen drawings
• #adolescence
• #parenting
• #teenage emotions

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Eda Erkan Alapala

Klinik Psikolog. İstanbul Kent Üniversitesi Klinik Psikoloji Tezli Yüksek Lisans mezunu; bilişsel davranışçı terapi, çocuk merkezli oyun terapisi ve çocuk-ergen psikoterapisi alanlarında eğitimlerini tamamlamıştır.

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