Moody teenagers are part of the fabric, practically; if you have a teenager, you have or will have a moody one. But there’s more to the mopery than general angst. Sometimes, something more sinister can lurk beneath the surface, eating away at the fabric of your child’s being: low self-esteem.
This is a collaborative post
Understanding Self-Esteem in Adolescents
When we talk about self-esteem, it can be easy to forget about it as a tangible, meaningful thing in favour of thinking in the abstract. Self-esteem, or the essential, core opinions and beliefs you hold about yourself and your quality or character, is a crucial part of personality and can have both positive and negative impacts.
As someone who was, invariably, at one point a teenager themselves, it shouldn’t be beyond your own understanding how self-esteem ‘works’ in the adolescent brain – and how it can affect every aspect of life it left unmanaged. In teenagers especially, self-esteem can have radical impacts on forming interpersonal relationships, achieving academically or even enjoying simple hobbies.
Addressing Common Challenges to Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem can be a real thorn in the side and can wield powerful influence over a great many things. But where does it come from? For starters, there are strong connections between self-esteem and mental conditions like depression or Generalised Anxiety Disorder, as low mood and anxious thinking can lead the brain to self-select for negative thinking cycles – but self-esteem never truly exists in a vacuum.
There are also personal, physical and environmental factors that can run riot in the adolescent brain. Bullying at school is a key trigger for chronic low self-esteem, as are the biological changes that can occur during that awkward adolescent phase. Pimples, acne, growth spurts, weedy new facial hair, first periods – all of these and more can contribute to a warped approach to creating a self-image, and to withdrawal and worsening mental condition as a result.
Practical Ways to Support Your Teen’s Self-Esteem
So, what exactly can you do to support your teenager through their self-esteem maladies? For starters, pimple patches might be handy – even if just as a humorous opening gambit for talking to your teen about the changes they’re experiencing, and the wider issues affecting the way they feel about themselves.
There are so many specific ways in which you can help tackle parts of your teen’s negative self-image. You might have tips for turning bullies on their heads, figuratively or literally; alternatively, you might be able to have a word with your adolescent’s school to ensure administrative changes in their favour. At home, you can pump them up with compliments and encouragement, or even help them with their hobby.
Ultimately, though, a message of love, acceptance and understanding is key as a baseline. Your teen needs to feel seen and doesn’t necessarily need to be preached to about their virtues. Trust them, be there for them, and above all make sure they know you love them as much as you do.
Conclusion
Fighting self-esteem isn’t always a winning battle; we should know, with many of us carrying scars from our own teenage years all the way through adulthood. Turning those negative thoughts into positive experiences is the trick, and one that your teenager will learn in time – with your love, acceptance and presence.
Read more posts in the Parenting Category