Managing Worries

Adolescence can be a challenging time, and many adolescents experience worry and anxiety. As parents, there are a few things we can do to support our kids through these difficulties:

Firstly, it's important to recognise that worry and anxiety are normal parts of the teenage experience. It's okay for adolescents to feel anxious or worried, and it's important to let them know that these feelings are valid.

Secondly,  support them by creating a safe and supportive home environment where their emotions are valued and respected. Listening actively and empathetically is key here - letting them know that you're there for them and that you care about how they're feeling can go a long way.

Thirdly, develop the coping strategies that work for them. This might include things like mindfulness practices, breathing exercises, or physical activity. Encouraging healthy habits like eating well, getting enough sleep, and regular exercise can also be helpful.

Here's our emotion coaching steps. 

Listening
The brain's contribution
The strategies
Finding courage
Other things

Big emotions

For this developmental stage, big emotions are really normal! It's a time when your teen is going through a lot of changes - physically, emotionally, socially - and it can feel really confusing and overwhelming for them. They're starting to develop their own identity and navigate new friendships and expectations, which often brings big emotional ups and downs.

On top of that, their brains are still developing, especially the parts that help with emotional regulation and decision-making, so they might not have all the tools yet to support themselves when they feel big things.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to fix their feelings. You just need to ride the emotional wave with them - calmly and confidently - and help them find their way back to solid ground.

Download our Connection, Not Reaction PDF - this quick, practical guide walks you through how to support your child or teen when emotions are running high - using three simple steps to help you both reset and reconnect.

 

Be supportive
Brain development
Modelling our own reactions
The self-conscious teen
Keep being there