Practical Help For Mom & Dad
As a parent, you are responsible for raising and caring for your child to the best of your ability. I mean lets be honest, if you want to drive a car they at least make you pass a test to make sure you understand how operate a vehicle in a way that is safe for you and others on the road. But one incredibly beautiful and terrifying day, a gift came into the world, your child, and they just handed them to you, made sure you had a car seat properly secure and sent you home. Now what? Well, like most of us, you do you your best to love them, support them, care for them, teach them etc. But what if one day you wake up to the challenge that the way your child socially and emotionally interacts with themselves and the world around them needs care? Well, first, you are not alone! Almost 50% of kids between the ages of 10-24 experience a mental health crisis. And I am not a doctor, but I would guess coming out of the isolation, fear, etc. of a pandemic, I would not be surprised if that puts you in the majority of parents.
Concern for your child’s mental health should be a priority. It will effect every area of their life. And you, mom and dad are the first line of defense, their greatest support and advocate.
Pandemic aside, many challenges await your teenager as they stumble through life, looking for answers to various questions that pop up unexpectedly. Any number of emotional, physical, or social changes can make teens vulnerable to mental health issues. The more risk factors teenagers become exposed to, the more significant the potential impact on their mental health.
Any number of circumstances can cause teenagers to give way to depression from stress-related instances such as peer pressure, media influence, quality of home life, relationships with peers, or sexual identity. Because of this, you must be supportive of your child at any given moment.
Often teens can struggle with mental health as their parents and surrounding adults remain oblivious. Parents need to understand the difference between their child being just another “moody teen” and the possibility that their teenager is wrestling with mental health issues. At times, they often do not recognize the inner struggles of their children due to the shared mentality that everyone goes through these awkward teenage years.
I want to encourage you to be cautious and observant of signs that your teen’s mental health might be on a downward trajectory before the issue gets out of control and intervention is required.
With COVID-19 restrictions easing up, your child will start to transition back to some semblance of normalcy. Those teens who have had to cope with being cooped up indoors while dealing with constraints on their mental health might need help readjusting to the social aspect of daily life. You can be crucial in helping them adapt to these changes by showing them undivided attention and encouragement. Here are some ways you can provide love and support for your teenager’s mental health.
Ask Questions and LISTEN
Be sure to check in on your teen from time to time and ask them questions such as how their day was or what they have been doing. The important part is to listen to what they have to say and engage with them in conversations rather than one-word answers. By using a few simple words of inspiration and encouraging them to share their feelings, they will be more comfortable opening up to you.
Develop Appropriate Boundaries
Building boundaries is essential in creating clarity between parents and their teens as they maneuver through this period of change. By creating specific boundaries between yourself and your teen, you will help them gain independence, be safe, and make sound judgments. With clear limits established, conflict is less likely to occur, and teenagers will feel safer and supported by their parents when cooperating in adhering to the boundaries in place.
Establish Trust
Trust is vital in the relationship between a teenager and a parent. As your child becomes more independent, you want to believe in what they communicate to you and how they represent themselves so you can still manage to keep them safe. If you can have mutual trust with one another, it will strengthen your relationship and give you better insight into their mental health. 3 easy steps to establishing trust with your teen: Admit your faults and apologize sincerely and quickly, don’t overreact (cool heads prevail), celebrate and award honesty.
Educate Yourself
Suppose you suspect your teenage son or daughter is suffering from a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. In that case, it is essential to research the issue to recognize the possibility that their impulsive actions or sudden change in appearance are a cause for concern. By educating yourself with different behaviors and symptoms, it will be easier to find proper treatment down the line.
Encourage Positive Physical Health
Ensure your son or daughter has a healthy diet or eating habits, maintains some form of exercise, and gets an adequate amount of sleep. By continuing a healthy regimen, your teen will be less prone to negative emotions such as anger, worry, or depression. An added bonus is this creates a bonding opportunity between you and your teen. 3 easy wins: add in before you remove (add in water, add in healthy vegetable, add in protein [let them choose]), exercise 10 min a day or 3 days a week (let them choose an activity that raises the heart rate that they enjoy), quality vitamin D
Reinforce Positive Behaviors And Decision Making
Parents should try to provide consistent expectations and support for their loved ones. Those parents who pass on social skills, problem-solving, and conflict resolution, encourage good mental health in their kids. While positive feedback validates and reinforces healthy behaviors.
Work Through Conflict With Each Other
Try to remain calm when you are sorting out conflicting issues with your teen. Never discuss issues when you are angry, avoid power struggles, and be honest and transparent with your teenager for a more positive outcome after a confrontation. Remember, you’re the parent and your greatest gift is your example.
Show Interest
Exhibit interest in your teenager’s passions and extracurricular activities. As a parent, you can show support for your child by learning about their hobbies and interests to gain insight into what they enjoy. Sharing knowledge about certain things will strengthen your relationship with one another. Time is your most significant investment you can make in your child.
Share Your Life Experiences
The advice and knowledge you pass on to your teen from your upbringing can benefit them in the long run. By sharing parts of your past to your son or daughter, you are letting them know that you might have experienced something similar, and your bond will grow stronger from sharing how you dealt with the situation. Honesty creates trust.
Family Traditions
By maintaining family routines and rituals, you can set aside special dates or times to spend more time with your teen. Something that you might have done as a family together when they were children and continue to do into their teenage years will set a precedent for lasting supportive communication between one another.
I would love to hear some of your experience and practices for supporting your teen through these challenging times. This movement exists as a supplement to professional help. It is not meant to take the place of the importance of doctors, therapy or medicine. It exists to serve Students, Parents, School Administrators, Teachers and Coaches. So your input, sharing, reposting, and experience is wanted, appreciated and valued.
WIN THE DAY!
Shannon
