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Emotional health is important for everyone, adults, children,
and teenagers. A person with good emotional health can understand
and control what they think, what they feel, and what they do.
They have high self-esteem and have a positive self-image. They
keep their problems in perspective and maintain good relationships.
Being a
teenager, however, can be very difficult for one’s emotional
health. Teenagers undergo physical changes. They feel pressure
from friends to fit in. They face competition from classmates.
They are obligated to do well in school and get good grades.
They strive to be the best in their chosen sport or hobby. And
they become tired because of their part-time jobs. All these
things can considerably shake a teen’s emotional health.
As a parent
of a teenager, the adult must realize that his or her child
is struggling between childhood and adulthood. The teen wants
to be independent and this is why he or she is trying on new
hairstyles (that are horrifying in the eyes of adults), new
clothes (that are simply tasteless), and new ideas and values
(what on earth is my teenager thinking of?) The adult will be
uncomfortable but he or she need not be offended. Such are normal
for teenagers and they need this to keep their emotional health
in good shape. All the adult needs to do is to assure the teen
of his or her love. The adult must also communicate good values
and must establish limits and expectations. For example, the
parent must insist on honesty, respect and self-control.
The adult
must also watch out for signs that the teen is having emotional
problems. If these signs are ignored, teenagers develop low
self-esteem and they may even resort to alcohol, drugs, and
unprotected sex.
Some of
the signs are the following. The teenager shows restless or
agitated behavior. An agitated behavior is different from an
impulsive action. The former indicates a problem that is difficult
to resolve while the latter is related to a problem that a teenager
wants to solve immediately. Another sign of emotional health
in danger is the drastic loss or gain of weight. Teens with
emotional problems channel their frustrations to their eating
habits. Some have trouble falling asleep. A drop in grades is
also a sign that the teenager is wrestling with an emotional
problem. The teen has lost his focus on his studies and he has
trouble concentrating on anything. Another sign of emotional
problems is when the teen no longer cares for people, activities,
and things around him. He has lost both enthusiasm and motivation.
And he exhibits continuous melancholy.
When a
parent finds these signs, he or she should immediately ask what
is troubling the teen. And if necessary, the parent should seek
professional help. |
