Worried About Your Teen’s Mental Health? Here’s How to Stay Connected Without Being Overbearing
The teen years come with a lot of changes. They may have gone through a growth spurt. Hair is growing on different parts of their body. You have to talk to them about hormones, puberty, bodily odors, and becoming an adult.
Teens go through a lot of changes, both internally and externally. Their bodies are changing. Their brains are still developing. And on top of everything going on inside of themselves, they have to find time and ways to manage their schoolwork, friends, and extracurricular activities.
As a parent, you may start to notice them wanting to sleep more, take more naps during the day, keep to themselves in their room, or may even notice their grades start to decline. These are all changes that can cause a bit of concern.
Worried about your teen’s mental health? This is how to stay connected without being overbearing.
Create a Safe Space for Them
No matter how much you want to be there for your teen, you can’t force them into talking or sharing things that they’re not comfortable sharing with you. With the right approach, your teens will be more willing and able to share this information with you. Make sure you’re creating a safe space where your teen feels comfortable sharing how they’re feeling. Create a safe, secure, and welcoming environment to allow your teen to share different aspects of their lives without you reacting or judging them.
Ask Questions
Instead of asking your teen simple “yes” or “no” questions, try asking open-ended ones that allow for your teen to provide a bit more information than just a one-word response on their day-to-day. Open-ended questions can help put the ball in your teen’s court, giving them full control of the direction of the conversation.
Don’t Judge
Many teens avoid talking to their parents about certain topics of conversation because they’re afraid of getting in trouble. But creating a safe space means that you’re working to accept and not judge your teen. Respect your teen’s views just as they’ve done for you. Experiencing any type of conflict isn’t easy, but when you’re able to go into a conversation with someone without having to worry about any backlash or judgment, it makes the conversation a lot smoother and easier to navigate.
Listen
No matter how much you want to jump in and help resolve all of your teen’s problems, this isn’t your place to do so. When your teen feels comfortable sharing about their day, instead of trying to find solutions to their problems, take the time to truly listen and understand them. Give your teen your full and undivided attention. Active listening shows your teen how much you care. It also shows how you want to show up to support them in the best way.
Next Steps
If you notice your teen is still struggling, or if they admit to you that they’re struggling, try not to panic. Instead of worrying about the next steps, try to remain calm and keep the focus on your teen. Let them know that you’re there to support them, that you understand them, and that you just want what’s best for them.
Although there are certain lifestyle changes that you can make to help them relieve or reduce some of the symptoms they’re experiencing, it’s important to seek help through a licensed and trained mental health professional. Your teen may be resistant to going to therapy, but try to have an open and honest conversation about how reaching out for help can be extremely beneficial to them. We’re here to support you and your teen. Reach out for teen counseling when you both are ready to get started.