Adolescent Problems: Bridging the Gap
Teenagers have a reputation for masking their genuine emotions. Certainly, if we’re very fortunate, we could have a few quick “every now and then” discussions with our children when they open up to us about what’s on their hearts. However, a lot of us are left to assume what is truly going through our child’s head in the shadows. Literally, psychologically, and culturally, adolescence is an age of fast change and development. Teenagers frequently worry because of the strain that these transitions cause.
As a caregiver of a teen, your goal is to support your child in making wise decisions. You offer direction. You provide facts to your youngster. You list the benefits and drawbacks. Converse with other parents. You reflect on how you felt back in your adolescence and the effects of your poor choices. You believe that you have prepared your adolescent for success.
Then you learn that your child ignored all of your warnings and did what they had intended to do from the get-go. Parents, while this may frustrate and distress you, there is a reason why teenagers act in this way. The prefrontal cortex, a large portion of the brain, is still developing in your adolescence.
In actuality, it takes until age 25 for the frontal cortex to fully grow. This explains why your child could continue to make bad decisions again after you warn them about the risks and repercussions. She frequently makes reckless decisions because her prefrontal brain is failing her, saying, “Yay, this appears to be fun.”
Teenagers worry about a variety of typical topics, including:
- Grades and academic work. Unbelievably, the majority of adolescents worry about their grades, including those who receive subpar grades. Teenagers are aware that academics will affect their life and that good marks are a symbol of intellect and success. Teenagers want parental and instructor acceptance even if they don’t behave like it and scores can also influence that. Many teenagers also fret about their capacity to finish their coursework, often because they fear running out of space or because they feel they don’t comprehend the subject.
- Belonging. Teenagers have a natural desire to blend in and win over their peers. They seek to “choose” the appropriate identity so that their friends will think well of them. In an attempt to please a peer, kids may engage in risky activities like smoke or other actions that they know are improper or unpleasant. Teenagers are also aware that adolescents who just don’t fit in are frequently the victims of attackers, which is another significant issue for this age bracket. In the early teens, finding a place to fit in is a huge source of anxiety.
- Self Esteem. According to studies, between one-third and fifty percent of teenagers experience negative self. Besides the major physical and mental changes that can undermine their self-belief, a variety of external factors, such as bullying, a hectic home environment, academic difficulties, beginning to feel just under flawless in any aspect of their lives, non – supportive friends, and a lot more, can contribute to low self-worth. The problem is made worse by the fact that when they observe others who appear to have everything under control, it merely confirms their belief that they “do not even match up.”
Here are some useful pointers:
- Talk to your teen in an honest and open manner. Attend to what they have to say and ask wide inquiries.
- Whenever they’re ready to chat, don’t ignore them. You’ll pass up chances to interact and develop a connection based on trust. They’ll be much more inclined to speak to you in the long term if they’re upset, concerned, or nervous, or if they need direction or assistance if they show empathy and value.
- Explore ways to enter your teen’s universe if they are locked off and reluctant to communicate their emotions or thoughts. Talk to them regarding their pals, a project for school, their favorite group, or a hobby they find interesting. Basically, you should love what they love. They will ultimately start opening up to you more as long as you continue to show a sincere interest in their lives.
- Sorting their anxieties into “manageable” and “unmanageable” categories will aid in your teen’s anxiety management. If they experience anxieties or fears that they can control, assist them in developing a strategy to deal with them.
- Help your youngster find techniques to relax and let go of pointless concerns in order to deal with the “unmanageable” fears. Urge them to use healthy cognitive techniques to manage their anxiety, such as exercising, writing in a journal, insight meditation, or picking up a hobby.
Teenagers require both mental and physical stimuli as well as relaxation and time off
Today’s teenagers appear to have an overabundance of activities and information sources available to them. When an adolescent person arrives home from school later than expected due to the after-exercise, it’s common for them to immediately pick up their cell phones, message their pals, and watch a show or start games with them.
Adolescents also require the “activities” part, and by “activity” we don’t just mean things like conferences or parties, but also things like physical activity. Children frequently run about during school holidays to stay in shape. Teenagers frequently need assistance staying active in order to make it ingrained in their grownup lives and maintain their physical fitness. Try to make fitness something the whole family does, even if they aren’t participating in after-school activities. This also has the added benefit of providing you one more opportunity to spend time with them while you exercise, whether you want to run, bike, swim, or visit the gym.
When to Seek Help for Your Teen
Although it’s common for teenagers to worry, anxiety and stress can occasionally worsen and impede your teen’s day-to-day activities. The following are indicators that your teen may be experiencing anxiety:
- If your kid is constantly “on edge” or “wrapped up,” concerned about a plethora of issues without good reason, or is unable to relax, these are signs that they are having persistent worries.
- Fears that worsen over time: If your kid avoids events or individuals, feel frantic in some circumstances, has anxious feelings that are challenging to control, or exhibits symptoms such as increased perspiration, a racing heart, migraines, spasms in the gut, sickness, or breathlessness.
- Concerns that negatively impact daily life, such as when your adolescent loses the ability to engage in activities or interests that he formerly enjoyed due to dread and worry.
Final Reflections
The teenage years are a challenging time in life. When unhappy and vulnerable, teenagers who lack coping mechanisms are likely to resort to fury, aggression, or other bad behaviors. Instead, when we try to teach teenagers a comprehensive toolset of healthy coping mechanisms, we should give them options that can enable them to transform challenging circumstances into success stories and get them ready for a mature adulthood
