Teenagers are a strange breed who are very unlike younger children. As such, it can be difficult, particularly for first-time parents of teens, to know whether their behaviour is normal for a teenager or a warning sign.
If you’re concerned about the way your teenager is acting, then you might feel helpless and scared, but there are things you can do to deal with the situation.
Here are some tips on how you can cope with and support your teenage child, no matter how oddly they’re behaving.
Talk To Them
It might sound obvious, but speaking to your child can be a great way to understand what’s happening and find out the issue. They might have a genuine problem that you can help them to fix, such as an issue with a bully or worries about their body image. Even though it might seem intimidating to talk to a distracted and potentially angry teen, you should try to speak to them calmly and ask them what’s going on. They might not always be responsive, but at least you’ve shown them that you’re there to support them no matter what happens.
Try To Offer Support And Advice
Often, strange behaviour, such as being exceptionally quiet or fidgeting a lot, can be a sign of anxiety or another form of mental distress. Teenagers often experience anxiety and mental health problems for various reasons, many of which are internal and can’t be fixed, such as hormone imbalances. However, you can still help anxious teens by being there with them and offering them support and love. They’ll feel cared for and more able to deal with their problems if you’re there for them and learn about how to talk to them in a calm and measured way.
Empathise With Their Situation
It’s probably been a long time since you were a teenager yourself, and the world has changed dramatically since then. So, you need to make sure that you’re empathetic and try to see things from your child’s point of view. Remember that what your teenager cares about might not be something you’re interested in, but they might be very passionate about it. Try to empathise with them and understand what’s going on in their lives, so that you can offer them actionable and supportive help.
Get Professional Help
If you’re concerned that your child’s behaviour is unnatural or that it could be a sign of a serious issue, then seek professional help as soon as possible. Depending on the nature of the issue and what you suspect, this could either be help from their teachers or from a doctor. Doctors are a great first point of call for any child that’s behaving strangely, as it could be a sign that they need medical care. So talk to your doctor and give your teenager space to speak to them in private and get the treatment they need to feel more like themselves again.