Teaching Resilience to My Troubled Teenager
In our society, it's more important than ever for teenagers to develop resilience because by teaching teens how to cope with difficult situations, we can help them become independent and strong adults. Teaching resilience can be a bit of a challenge, though, since teenagers are often resistant to change and may not understand why they should even care. But as parents, there are many things we can do to encourage our teens to be resilient. Here are some tips to get you started. We like to refer to “The Resilience Breakthrough” by Christian Moore.
What is Resilience and Why is it Important?
Resilience is the ability to bounce back after encountering significant stress or trauma. Resiliency is especially useful during times like these as it aids us in dealing with difficult emotions such as fear, anger, and uncertainty.
Resilience is something that many have had to develop especially during the pandemic--from young children adjusting to a different lifestyle and teenagers struggling with depression brought on by isolation to parents and caregivers having to adjust to their new family dynamics.
By teaching resilience, we can help our teens better handle life's challenges and stressors, both now and in the future. In addition, moving past specific obstacles and learning resilience in the process can build self-confidence and a sense of personal empowerment. Therefore, taking small steps towards resilience can give us a chance to redefine ourselves, make positive changes, experience personal growth, and ultimately equip us with tools that will carry over into whatever situation life brings our way next. For teens, resilience can help them learn how to navigate the world around them and stay positive.
Signs of Isolation
One of the biggest issues that teens face is isolation. Recent studies have extensively reported on the hazardous repercussions of social isolation, especially in children and teenagers. Prolonged periods of loneliness can result in alarming mental health issues such as depression, acute fatigue, hopelessness, or even suicidal thoughts.
Signs of teenager depression associated with isolation can include:
changes in their behavior
sleeping too much or too little
withdrawing from activities they once enjoyed