If you are a teenager or a parent of a teen, who is struggling with depression and anxiety, you know these can be scary and stressful times. Adolescence is a challenging developmental phase when children are no longer children, spread their wings, and prepare for young adulthood.
It is important to be supportive and have some basic strategies for what to do when feelings get more intense than typical teenage angst and need closer attention.
Here are some basic tips for parents and teens:
Parents:
1. Pay attention to your teen. If they seem more irritable, nervous, fearful, or isolated ask them how they feel.
2. Keep the lines of communication open. Let them know there is anything they can talk to you about, anything, and there is no shame if they are having a hard time.
3. If you notice major changes in school attendance and grades, friend groups and relationships, and appearance, have a conversation.
4. Talk about the issues related to alcohol, drugs, and sex. Don’t shame them or convey these topics are off limits.
5. Be a good role model in stress and time management, relationships, and having a good work and play balance.
Teens:
1. Pay attention to your own feelings, physically as well as emotionally. If you are struggling with stress, anxiety, anger, fear, depression help is available. You do not need to bear this burden alone.
2. Your parents want to be close to you while figuring out what teenage independence and responsibility looks like. Talk about it what independence and responsibilities you think you are ready for.
3. If you are skipping school, can’t get your work done, feel worried about your relationships, it is important to remember that you are not the only one. Social acceptance and rejection are big deals. Difficult feelings can be expressed in a lot of different ways.
4. Be extremely careful with substance abuse and sex. Don’t put yourself in a dangerous situation. Get advice and help from adults with these issues. Don’t rely on your friends for all the basis of information for these topics.
5. If you are feeling burned out and worried about the future, it may be a good idea to look at having balance in your life.
While adolescence has it’s challenges it is also a good time to work on new insights and coping skills. Difficult feelings are usually communicating that something needs to change. That is why it is important to pay attention, talk, and grow.
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