Posts Tagged self image
Coping with Depression in Your Teen
Posted by Norbert Georget in About Teenagers, Main Blog Posts, Medical and Illness Issues, Parenting Tips on April 19th, 2010
It’s easy to forget how dramatic and difficult it can be to be young. As we get older, we envy the energy and attitude of youth, missing the days when we could stay up late and still go 100 miles an hour the next day. We tend to gloss over the way it really was…the tension, the pressure, the demands, the frustration of being not quite a grown up. Teens are under a tremendous amount of pressure from home, school, friends, coaches, and even themselves. This pressure can often lead to teen depression.
If you are a parent coping with teen depression, there are things you can do to help your teen cope. Take a look at your teen’s schedule; does he or she have too many obligations? Are your teen’s nights and weekends filled with practices and games and performances and other things that keep them from having regular meals, homework time, and family time? Teen depression can often be caused by feeling overwhelmed and out of control.’
If your teen is too busy, teach him or her to take time to relax. Encourage balance through prioritizing. Help them choose one or two activities that are truly important to them and help them break away from doing more than they need to. Try to make family time where all of you can sit together and share a meal and talk. Talking and having a comfortable and safe home environment can reduce teen depression and help your teen recover.
When your son or daughter is suffering from teen depression, he or she may lash out in anger. Your teen may behave differently, have difficulty eating or sleeping, or become withdrawn. You may see more emotional outbursts or an inability to cope with the slightest change to routine or schedule. When teen depression escalates out of control, it can cause your teen to feel suicidal or become physically ill.
Signs of teen depression include:
- Ongoing sadness, anxiety, or feelings of emptiness
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Changes in appetite
- Listlessness or unwillingness to engage in previously enjoyed activities
- Irritability
- Digestion problems
- Fatigue, restlessness, hopelessness
- Difficulty making decisions
- Thoughts of suicide
Often, depression can be treated with medication. Be cautious, however, because many depression medications that work well in adults can trigger suicidal thoughts in teens. Counseling and therapy may help your teen and you can avoid medications. If your teen does have to take medication for depression, be sure you talk to them about the side effects and monitor their behavior closely.
Before teen depression takes a firm hold, seek help for your teen. If scaling back on obligations and being there for your teen aren’t enough to help, enlist the aid of a mental health professional. Don’t dismiss the possibility that your teen is coping with something more serious. Depression can be genetic, but it can also be caused by devastating experiences like date rape, bullying, or academic difficulties.
If you are facing an urgent situation, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) in the U.S. or 1-800-448-3000 in Canada.
Norbert Georget is an accomplished professional speaker, teen motivator, parenting expert and author of the book, No-Nonsense Parenting For Today’s Teenager – How To Feel Like A Good Parent Even When Your Teenager Hates You. You may get a FREE REPORT called No-Nonsense Parenting for the Disrespectful Teenager. All the answers you’ll need to deal with your disrespectful teenager.
Positive Effects In Combating Teen Obesity
Posted by Norbert Georget in About Teenagers, Main Blog Posts, Medical and Illness Issues on March 2nd, 2010
In addition to all of the other stresses a teen faces, teen obesity is rising to the top of the list. Fast food and convenience foods have contributed significantly to the teen obesity problem we are seeing today. In a world where we want everything as big as we can get it, our teens don’t seem to be an exception. Teens eat more and exercise less. Unfortunately, the adults in their lives do not often set the best example. It is important to try to establish good nutrition habits at a young age. There are several contributing factors to our ever-expanding teens and their waistbands.
Sedentary Activities
Television and video games are two of the biggest contributors to teen obesity. When given the choice, a lot of teens are more likely to choose sitting in front of the television, computer, or video game over any outdoor activity. We need to get back to backyard family soccer and football games. Sports are a great way to encourage more physical activity. Every increase in activity is a step in the right direction to burn more calories to begin a path that will guide us towards a healthier youth.
Junk Food and Drink
Another major contributor to teen obesity is the amount of junk food and sugary drinks/soda pop that are so readily available. Even as adults, a lot of the time it is easier to grab a candy bar than to take the time and effort to prepare something healthier, yet if you set the right example from a young age with your kids, it can be an important first step. One of the things that parents—and teens—have to realize is that it is never too late to change eating and activity habits. Join your teen in developing better habits to help fight against teen obesity.
Health Effects of Teen Obesity
There are many negative effects teen obesity can have that will carry throughout their lifetime. It is common for obese teens to have problems with diabetes, sleep apnea, and high blood pressure. But health is not the only thing an obese teen struggles with. Obese teens often also face ridicule from their peers. While teen obesity is on the rise, there is still the model-thin mentality, especially among teen girls, thanks to the media. Being obese affects teen self confidence. It can lead to depression. The cost of being an obese teen is almost immeasurable. It can have a lifetime of lasting effects, both mental and physical.
Motivation
There are so many health benefits to becoming more active and making more nutritious choices. Being healthy can have such a positive effect on the mental well-being that is so important for teens and their successful, healthy navigation through adolescence. It is important to find the right kind of motivation for each individual teen. Motivation is especially important in the beginning to be successful in making the lifestyle change necessary to achieve health and weight loss goals. Starting to make healthier life choices can truly make a difference between life and death.
Norbert Georget is an accomplished professional speaker, teen motivator, parenting expert and author of the book, No-Nonsense Parenting For Today’s Teenager – How To Feel Like A Good Parent Even When Your Teenager Hates You. You may get a FREE REPORT called No-Nonsense Parenting for the Disrespectful Teenager. All the answers you’ll need to deal with your disrespectful teenager.
Teaching Your Teen to be a Great Role Model
Posted by Norbert Georget in Communication, Main Blog Posts on November 14th, 2009
If your teen babysits younger children, has younger siblings or other family members, or is visible in your community in any way, you have an opportunity to teach your teen how to be a good role model. Not only is teaching your teen about being a good role model an effective way to help your teen learn to manage his or her own behavior, but the sense of satisfaction and self-esteem boost that your teen can gain from positively influencing another’s life can bring enormous satisfaction to you both.
Teaching your teen to be a role model starts with helping your teen see the world through the eyes of the people who admire him or her. Younger siblings often idealize their older brothers and sisters, and when those older siblings make choices that clearly send a bad message, parents can use the opportunity to talk about how little eyes and ears are soaking up everything that happens around them.
There is a difference between forcing your teen to take responsibility for a younger sibling and allowing your teen an active role in aiding in the growth of younger children through becoming a role model. You have to help your teen see the benefit of the connection he or she can make with younger children.
The best way to teach your teen to be a good role model for the younger children in his or her life is to be a good role model for your teen. As you make choices and live a lifestyle that provides the right kind of example for your teen, you can help them see that they can make a difference by being a role model to others.
If you have a teen that is making poor choices, there is nothing wrong with pointing out to him or her the impact that is having on younger siblings or other family members. Help your teen see what behaviors are influential; when the teen uses foul language, makes a bad choice, refuses to do chores, or behaves disrespectfully, he or she is not just impacting you as the parent but providing an example to younger siblings. Ask your teen if he or she really wants a younger sibling to behave that way. This can be an effective approach with difficult teens because the teen is often more sensitive to the affect he or she has on a younger sibling than the affect the behavior has on you as a parent.
Teaching your teen to be a good role model can be a way for you to connect with your teen as well as keep your teen connected and involved with your family. When your teens knows there are little eyes watching and little ears listening, they will naturally monitor their own behavior a bit more strenuously. It is a great way to teach your teen to take an active role in making positive choices, preparing them for adulthood and eventual parenthood.
Norbert Georget is an accomplished professional speaker, teen motivator, parenting expert and author of the book, No-Nonsense Parenting For Today’s Teenager – How To Feel Like A Good Parent Even When Your Teenager Hates You. You may get a FREE REPORT called No-Nonsense Parenting for the Disrespectful Teenager. All the answers you’ll need to deal with your disrespectful teenager.
Talking to Your Teens About Sex and Sexuality
Posted by Norbert Georget in Communication, Main Blog Posts on November 8th, 2009
It often does not take any longer that kindergarten for you to realize that it is a whole new game with raising kids, especially the first time your little angel comes home talking about the cute boy in her class or has her first boyfriend.
It’s all cute fun at that age, but it does not take long for things to become more serious. One of my friends has a child in the fifth grade who has recently started asking all of the hard questions about sex. Nine years old, and already curious. Why? Because kids have access to information and are exposed to images of sex and sexuality at younger and younger ages.
What I try to tell moms and dads is that you just cannot stick your head in the sand and pretend your kids are not curious. And, unfortunately, blaming it all on the stork no longer works in this age of instant information. In fact, the more honest and forthright you are with your child about sex and sexuality when they are younger, the easier it will be to broach the really tough topics when they get older.
When your teens and pre-teens start having questions about sex and sexuality, I promise if you aren’t the ones having conversation with them about it, somebody (friends, potential boyfriends, friends’ older siblings) is talking to them. It is better if they get their information from you.
Your approach when talking about sex and sexuality with your teen is honesty. That does not mean it has to be x-rated explicit discussion. It should be discussion that is comfortable for both of you but helps your teen get comfortable. The conversations you have should answer their questions without embarrassing them; you should not use it as an opportunity to threaten them about their behavior or accuse them of being too promiscuous or knowledgeable.
The information about sex and sexuality is all around your teen all the time. What you have to do is help your teen understand that sexual feelings are natural and normal, that how they feel is part of what makes them human. Help them understand that sex and sexuality are not taboo but there is a time and a place for it.
Talk to your teens about safe sex; no matter how much we would all like to believe it, more than one-third of all teens will have sex or have performed some kind of sex act by age 15. Let them know about the risks – the physical ones in the form of STDs and the emotional ones as well.
Use discussions about sex and sexuality as an opportunity to reinforce with your teen the choice they have to say no. Let them know that they have control of their bodies, that no one should touch them or force them to do things they are not comfortable doing. Reassure your teens that you are there for them when you need to talk – and no matter how uncomfortably squirmy you are feeling inside at having to talk to your teen about sex and sexuality, let them know it’s ok to come to you with questions.
Norbert Georget is an accomplished professional speaker, teen motivator, parenting expert and author of the book, No-Nonsense Parenting For Today’s Teenager – How To Feel Like A Good Parent Even When Your Teenager Hates You. You may get a FREE REPORT called No-Nonsense Parenting for the Disrespectful Teenager. All the answers you’ll need to deal with your disrespectful teenager.
Overcoming Teen Obesity
Posted by Norbert Georget in Main Blog Posts, Medical and Illness Issues, Parenting Tips on October 11th, 2009
In addition to being extremely difficult for your teen’s body image, obesity is a critical factor in determining quality of life and longevity. If your teen is overweight now, the likelihood of him or her having heart disease later in life is significantly increased.
Approaching your teen about weight issues can be extremely sensitive and difficult, especially if your teen is struggling with obesity. However, by using the right approach, you may be able to help your teen make differences that will literally save his or her life.
Lead by Example
One of the most profound ways in which you can make an impact on your teen about maintaining healthy weight is to lead by example. If you stop sitting in front of the TV eating potato chips, your teen might stop doing it too. If your teen sees you exercising and being active, he or she may be willing to join you. Invite your teen to join you on a walk, or sign up for a charity walkathon together and walk regularly to prepare for it.
Remove Unhealthy Choices
We often do not realize how difficult it is to combat obesity when the food in our homes contributes so significantly to it. You can help your teen combat obesity by simply making certain changes in your grocery shopping habits. Make sure to keep plenty of fruits and vegetables in the house. Stop buying junk food, including candy, cookies, and soda. Switch from white bread to whole grain. Buy cereal and encourage your teen to eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast each morning (studies have shown that people who eat cereal for breakfast not only maintain their weight better but also have better glucose levels throughout the day).
Intervene Early
Obesity is caused by overeating, but determining the cause of the overeating may help combat the problem. Teens overeat out of habit, out of boredom, and out of depression. In some cases, it may be due to the consumption of drugs, but most often it is something that can be treated or addressed. Let your teen know how much you love him or her, but be willing to be straight about your concerns about your teen’s weight issues. If you have previously struggled with weight, talk to your teen about your own struggles. If your teens are depressed or bored, help them find activities that fuel their passions and motivate them to do something new and exciting.
If you are concerned about your teen’s health because of obesity, make an appointment NOW with your teen’s physician. Often, hearing the same things from the doctor that your teen has heard from you will make more of an impact.
Don’t Judge
Do not judge your teen by his or her image. Do not try to relate their ability to lose weight with popularity at school or how well you like him or her as a person. In fact, start recognizing the amazing and wonderful things about your teen that will help boost his or her confidence and self-esteem so that conquering obesity becomes a surmountable challenge.
Norbert Georget is an accomplished professional speaker, teen motivator, parenting expert and author of the book, No-Nonsense Parenting For Today’s Teenager – How To Feel Like A Good Parent Even When Your Teenager Hates You. You may get a FREE REPORT called No-Nonsense Parenting for the Disrespectful Teenager. All the answers you’ll need to deal with your disrespectful teenager.
Common Teenage Problems
Posted by Norbert Georget in About Teenagers, Main Blog Posts on September 23rd, 2009
The teenage years are fraught with all kinds of problems. A parent needs to understand the different pressure a teenager faces in order to help the teenage child through all of them.
Physical Features
One of the biggest worries for adolescents is their physical appearance. Changing body shape, hair in unlikely places, spots breaking out – no wonder teenagers spend so much time looking in the mirror.
If your teen isn’t happy with what they see, fully clothed or in their bedrooms – and few are – it can dent his/her self-esteem.
Try to avoid making jokes about your teen’s appearance – even if it’s meant in a light-hearted way. Some worries may seem silly to you (from hindsight). It will be a mistake to make light of something that worries a teenager. Always pay attention and deal with even trivialities.
Try to explain that other people rarely notice the kind of detail they seem to worry about.
Encouraging a teenager to feel good about themselves solves a great deal of the problem.
Failure
Some teenagers take failure – in exams or relationships – in their stride and get over it relatively quickly, but for others it can seem like a major crisis. Even though you know the failure came as a result of carelessness on the teenager’s part. It is more effective when you help deal with their emotions first.
Rebellion against even you, the parent is a common reaction. Reassure your teenager that your love and support is not contingent on exam grades. If your teen doesn’t get the grades expected, help him to keep it in perspective – everyone has some setbacks in life. He can always do resists. Reassure him that you’re solidly behind him, and help him to review all the options.
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Norbert Georget is an accomplished professional speaker, teen motivator and author of the book, No-Nonsense Parenting For Today’s Teenager – How To Feel Like A Good Parent Even When Your Teenager Hates You.
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