Emotional Crisis
| Guiding Your Teen Through

Being a teenager is difficult, there can be a great deal of emotional highs and lows. Teenagers may feel great one minute; the next, sad and upset. Like their changing bodies, their moods can swiftly swing due to a great deal of perceived pressures, such as added responsibilities at home, measuring up to their peers, challenges in school, etc.

With many challenges to confront and so many important decisions to make, teens may need help developing the skills necessary to reduce stress and face the demands of their adolescence years. At this time, your teen may not be adequately equipped emotionally to tackle these tough times, they need a lot of support, especially from you.

Seeing Your Teen Struggling Emotionally

As a parent, you have likely seen your child have some bad days. Knowing it happens to most teenagers, you may not notice anything concerning until your teen begins to have more bad days than good. If you start to see that your child is having a difficult time sleeping or eating, not enjoying things they used to or having a difficult time keeping up with schoolwork, it may be time to dig deeper.

When facing intense emotions and feeling overwhelmed a number of difficulties can arise. Their ability to think rationally and make decisions can be affected. Whether your teen’s symptoms are related to pressures, stress at home, a traumatic life experience, relationship issues or any other change, your child could benefit from speaking with a therapist.

Letting your child know that you are concerned about them can be helpful. This can feel daunting at times though, especially if your teen is trying to build independence and find their own way. While they likely need you to help guide them through an emotional crisis, they may want to try to do it on their own. Helping them does NOT mean you are interfering in their personal life, though they may view it as such initially.

Spotting the Red Flags

There are certain signs to look out for if you are concerned about your teen, here are a few:

  • Disengagement from school
  • Avoiding friends and peers
  • Violent actions or physical aggression
  • Changes in eating and sleeping patterns
  • Self-harm or reckless self-destructive behavior
  • Persistent distress or depression
  • Lack of self-care and disregard of health and hygiene
  • Addiction to electronic gadgets
  • Alcohol or substance abuse
  • Physically, verbally and emotionally abusive at home

If you note some of these warning signs in your teen it may be time to consult with a professional. While the above warning signs are not enough to make a diagnosis, they may be enough to validate your concerns. Having an open dialogue can be incredibly helpful, though this may be easier said than done. There will likely be more work involved to discover the underlying cause of the crisis itself.

What Parents Can Do to Help

When you know that your child is suffering, responding to an emotional crisis can be difficult. It is understandable if you are feeling overwhelmed, confused or afraid. The gravity of the situation can lead to a number of intense feelings as you work to assist your teen in crisis.

During childhood, your child may be more dependent on your family, However, as they mature, they will likely continue to strive for more independence. School friends, peers and other social groups may begin to form a large part of their support network, your teen may begin to see the family as less of a primary support system like it may have been during their younger years.

As a parent, you may feel sidelined or disregarded, however your role in guiding your child in difficult times is no less vital than it was before, though it may be different in some ways. Your child still needs you to be a trusted home base to help with painful events and to gain more emotional understanding.

Knowing When to Seek External Assistance

Noticing red flags for your child can be frightening. The good news is that help is available, and you can help guide your child through an emotional crisis. Early intervention can be critical. Noticing changes in your teenager’s conduct could be an indicator that intervention may be needed.

Whether the emotional crisis becomes a turning point or not can be up to you. Seeing your teen child overwhelmed by intense feelings can be overwhelming, therapy can help.

Reach out to a counselor contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Pinehurst, NC. A trained therapist can help you and your teen move through an emotional crisis and come out stronger on the other side. Call and request an appointment today!

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