Teenagers Who are Struggling

By: Sara Markham 08/29/2011

Is your teen depressed, withdrawn, and isolating from friends and you?? You have every right to be concerned and frustrated when you care about your teen and you may feel helpless not knowing what to do. Every time you try to connect with them, they seem to shut you out. 

You may remember what it was like back then, not being able to let your parents know how you really felt. For so many reasons, maybe pride, fear of vulnerability, or the uncertainty that it would feel any better- These might have kept you from connecting with your parents, and may effect your teen.

What your teen needs is to really know that your are going to listen and really hear them without judgement, or blame. They are begging to be understood, and when they don't feel understood they crawl into their shell even more. By really listening to them and showing them that they matter enought to sit down and look them in the eye like you would another friend, you begin to build a space of respect and this will invite them to share more and more often. They have maybe gotten used to feeling a panick when someone wants to talk, possibly to perform, or to have things figured out, when in reality all they really need is to be heard for exactly who they are, their flaws and all.