Tips For Talking To Your Teen About Depression and Anxiety

As a parent, it’s important to start conversations with your teenager about teen issues, including depression and anxiety. Giving them their space and letting them deal with issues on their own could lead them to believe that you don’t care. Talking to your teen about depression and anxiety can be difficult, especially since adolescence is already an emotional time. Here are some points to consider when talking to your teen about depression and anxiety.

  • Use an open statement rather than accusing them. For example, say something like “I am really concerned that…”
  • Let them know that nothing is wrong with them and that they are not in trouble
  • Be honest
  • Understand how depression and anxiety is affecting your teen so that you don’t scold them for things such as low grades
  • Create open lines of communication so that you teen feels as though they can talk to you about issues

If you’re wondering whether your teen might be suffering from anxiety or depression, look for these warning signs.

  • Substance abuse
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Isolation from friends and family
  • Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Drop in school performance
  • Sleeping issues
  • Change in eating habits

 

Click HERE to learn more about teen depression and anxiety on Miami Herald.

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Tips For Talking To Your Teen About Depression and Anxiety

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Lucy Nguyen

Lucy Nguyen, LMFT
Clinical Reviewer

Lucy Nguyen is the Executive Director at Paradigm Treatment, overseeing all clinical treatment programs across the organization's southwestern region. Her extensive experience includes working with young adults in private practice, serving as a therapist for children and teens with emotional and behavioral needs, and acting as a behavior interventionist for teens with developmental disorders. Lucy integrates cognitive-behavioral approaches with mindfulness and compassion in her work, and she is also EMDR-trained. She holds a Master of Science in Counseling from California State University, Fullerton, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine.

As a parent, it's important to start conversations with your teenager about teen issues, including depression and anxiety. Giving them their space and letting them deal with issues on their own could lead them to believe that you don't care. Talking to your teen about depression and anxiety can be difficult, especially since adolescence is already an emotional time. Here are some points to consider when talking to your teen about depression and anxiety.

  • Use an open statement rather than accusing them. For example, say something like "I am really concerned that..."
  • Let them know that nothing is wrong with them and that they are not in trouble
  • Be honest
  • Understand how depression and anxiety is affecting your teen so that you don't scold them for things such as low grades
  • Create open lines of communication so that you teen feels as though they can talk to you about issues

If you're wondering whether your teen might be suffering from anxiety or depression, look for these warning signs.

  • Substance abuse
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Isolation from friends and family
  • Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Drop in school performance
  • Sleeping issues
  • Change in eating habits

 

Click HERE to learn more about teen depression and anxiety on Miami Herald.

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