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. |
