Panic attacks are miserable and terrifying. The fear of having another can be disabling.
What Do Panic Attacks Feel Like?
Panic attacks are overwhelming. Ask anyone who has experienced one, and they’ll likely say they thought they were dying. Many people with panic attacks end up in the emergency room because the symptoms can feel like a heart attack. The fear and physical symptoms can be incredibly intense. Sadly, many teens experience them. If your teen is struggling with panic attacks, it’s important to understand what they are and how to get your teen the right help.
Panic Attacks vs. Anxiety
A lot of people say, “I’ve had a panic attack,” when they actually mean they felt very anxious. But panic attacks in go beyond regular anxiety. They come on suddenly, peak within about ten minutes (sometimes longer), and then pass. The experience can feel terrifying and unpredictable.
These symptoms can vary from person to person, but they are all distressing and can interfere with daily life.
How to Help a Teen Struggling with Panic Attacks
Overcoming panic attacks usually requires professional help. In many cases, a combination of therapy and medication is effective. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help teens learn how to manage their anxiety and panic responses.
Problems Panic Attacks Cause
If your teen is experiencing panic attacks, it’s essential to get them the right support. Some teens start avoiding situations where they’ve panicked before, like school or social events. This can lead to isolation and more anxiety. In addition to this, people with panic attacks dread when the next panic attack will come on. The sooner your teen gets help, the better they can learn to manage and overcome their panic attacks.
Final Thoughts
Panic attacks in teens can be scary, but they are treatable. If your child is struggling, give me a call. With the right help, your teen can regain confidence and feel in control again.
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Thin models may contribute to your daughter’s unhealthy body image. Image courtesy of Serge Bertasius Photography at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
The Impact of Thin Models on Teen Body Image
Many teen girls struggle with their body image because of the unrealistic standards set by models in ads. In fact, some governments are taking action to address this issue. In France, a bill was passed to ban ultra-thin models and require photoshopped images to be labeled. If your teen is struggling with an eating disorder, it’s important to learn how media influences teen body image, and find out what to do to help your teen.
How Media Affects Teen Body Image
The constant stream of images in the media shape how we see ourselves. Models often have professional makeup, photoshopped features, and unrealistic beauty standards. When teen girls compare themselves to these images, it’s easy to feel “not good enough.” Since they are still developing their sense of self, they are especially vulnerable to these messages.
Why Teen Girls Are So Affected
Teenagers aren’t always sure of who they are, so they often rely on external things like appearance to define themselves. They choose certain styles, admire celebrities, and aim for an “ideal” body type. Since our culture glorifies thinness, many teen girls feel pressure to look a certain way. This has a huge negative impact on teen body image.
Changing the Definition of an Ideal Body
Many girls I work with in therapy believe that being extremely thin or fit will make them happy, confident, and lovable. It takes a lot of effort, but some girls eventually shift their thinking. Instead of comparing themselves to edited images, they start focusing on a medically healthy body type. They learn to eat in a way that fuels their bodies, exercise for health rather than appearance, and accept that their body will naturally settle at a healthy weight. Over time, they begin to appreciate looking like a young woman rather than striving to continue to have the weight of a young girl.
The Role of Media in Eating Disorders and Teen Body Image
There are many factors that contribute to eating disorders, but media plays a role. That’s why I appreciate efforts like France’s law to reduce the pressure on young girls. Struggles with anorexia, bulimia, and body image can be incredibly challenging to overcome, and every small step toward change helps.
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Drama from social media is now part of adolescence. Photo credit: Stoonn and freedigitalphotos.net
The Challenges of Teen Social Media Use
Do you ever feel like social media is making your teen more upset than happy? Maybe you’ve thought about taking it away completely. Or maybe you’re just frustrated by how much time they spend scrolling. Teen social media use is tough to manage. We can’t follow the example our parents set for managing our own social media use because social media didn’t exist yet. So, how do you handle your teen’s social media use?
Downsides of Teen Social Media Use
Many of my clients take social media posts personally—even when the person who posted the message didn’t mean it that way. They stress over how fast someone responds, who liked their post, or if a friend’s comment has some hidden meaning. Teens can dissolve into tears over a post because they misunderstood what it meant.
Teaching Healthy Social Media Habits
Just taking social media away probably won’t work. Instead, we have to teach our kids how to manage what they post, how much time they spend on it, and how to handle what others say online. Below, you’ll find three important things to teach your teen about social media.
Encourage Responsible Posting
It’s important to teach your teen how to post responsibly. Instead of just giving a lecture, work with them. They might not love it, but that’s okay—you’re the parent! There are plenty of things we have to do for our kids that they don’t appreciate at the time, but later, they’re thankful. When they apply for a job one day, they’ll be relieved they never posted something that could cause a business to refuse to give them a job.
Dangers of Passive Aggressive Posting
Also, help them understand the dangers of being passive-aggressive online. A lot of teens post general comments that are clearly aimed at one person. This leads to drama, arguments, and hurt feelings.
Handling Social Media Conflict
What if your teen is on the receiving end of social media drama? The best approach is to confront the person directly (and privately) in person. Texting confrontations rarely go well—the teens who receive those messages often screenshot and share them. A face-to-face conversation makes it more likely that the other person will understand your teen isn’t being hostile. Plus, they can pick up on tone and facial expressions, which makes a huge difference.
Using Social Media To Help Your Teen Grow
Social media has its positives and negatives. It helps teens stay connected and keep up with old friends. But it’s important to remember that social media is a highlight reel—it doesn’t show what’s really going on in someone’s life. Many teens take posts at face value and end up feeling left out or hurt. Others use it as a tool for bullying or passive-aggressive behavior. That’s why it’s so important to stay involved in your teen’s social media use. By guiding your teen, you can help them develop good social media habits. Teaching your teen to use social media well is something that will benefit them for years to come.
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Teen drinking comes with a host of potential problems. Credit: Apolonia/Freedigitalphotos.net
What Parents Need to Know About Teens and Alcohol
Every parent worries about it—your teen says they’re going one place, but they actually go to at a party. And sometimes, you don’t find out what’s really going on until you get a call from the hospital saying your teen drank way too much and is receiving medical help. As a therapist for teens, I see a lot of kids dealing with alcohol-related problems. It’s important for parents to be aware of these issues. Here are some of the biggest ones:
1. Lying About Drinking
Most teens won’t tell you the full truth about their drinking. They might downplay it or leave out key details to avoid getting in trouble. They might not tell you they’ve been drinking at all.
2. Higher Risk of Sexual Assault
I’ve worked with countless teens who have been sexually assaulted, and alcohol is involved in almost every case. While most victims are female, it happens to males too. Drinking lowers their ability to recognize unsafe situations, making it easier for someone (usually drunk as well) to take advantage of them.
3. Teens Stealing Alcohol
Since teens can’t legally buy alcohol, they often steal it—usually from their parents’ liquor cabinet or fridge. Some even take it from stores.
4. Teen Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
You’ve probably told your teen never to drink and drive. Maybe they promised to call you for a ride if they ever needed one. But in reality, teens often end up riding with someone who’s been drinking. Sometimes, they’re the one driving. Some even think it’s safe if the driver “only smoked weed.”
5. Trying Other Drugs
Alcohol lowers inhibitions, making it easier for teens to say yes to other substances. A few drinks in, and they may experiment with drugs they’d normally avoid.
6. Risky Sexual Choices
Not all situations are assault—sometimes, teens just make choices they wouldn’t if they were sober. Drinking makes them more likely to hook up with people they barely know, leading to regret later.
7. Bad Judgment About Safety
When drinking, teens may get into cars with strangers, go to unfamiliar places, or trust people they shouldn’t. When teens drink alcohol, their ability to assess risk is lowered.
8. Ignoring Serious Problems
This problem is one of the scariest of all the issues too much drinking causes. Teens tell me things like, “My friend was super wasted. She wasn’t moving much, but I took care of her. It was fine.” This is definitely not fine. This friend likely had alcohol poisoning, but no one wanted to call for help because they were afraid of getting in trouble. People may not have even realized there was a problem. Like I said, too much alcohol fogs judgement.
9. Fear of Getting in Trouble
Teens won’t always ask for help in dangerous situations because they’re scared of the consequences. They don’t want their parents, teachers, or coaches to find out they were drinking—even if they really need some help.
10. Fights and Aggression When Teens Have too Much Alcohol
Alcohol raises testosterone levels in males, making them more aggressive. Drunken fights happen way more often than you’d think, and they can lead to serious injuries—or worse.
How You Can Help as a Parent
Your teen may not tell you everything, but they’re always watching your actions. Set a good example with alcohol, talk to them openly, and don’t be afraid to set boundaries. If you know they’ve been partying and you need more advice, give me a call. They might roll their eyes or get angry, but they need your guidance.
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Younger siblings are affected by teen drug use too. Photo courtesy of Marin from Freedigitalphotos.net
How Does Addiction Affect Siblings
When a teen is struggling with addiction, it doesn’t just affect them—it impacts the whole family. Younger siblings, in particular, can have a tough time. No matter how they react, one thing is certain: they’re hurting too. The first step in solving this pain is understanding how addiction affects younger siblings.
1. Feeling Overlooked
I’ve worked with many families dealing with a teen’s addiction, and the younger siblings often feel ignored. It’s similar to when a child in the family has a serious illness—parents naturally focus most of their energy on the child who is struggling. Meanwhile, the other kids are left to figure things out on their own. They might not complain because they know their sibling is in crisis, but deep down, they feel forgotten.
2. Looking Up to the Wrong Role Model
Sometimes, younger siblings idolize their older brother or sister, even when they’re making bad choices. If the addicted teen introduces them to alcohol or drugs, it might feel like a rare moment of connection. That attention from an older sibling can be powerful, even if it’s unhealthy. Before they know it, the younger sibling starts heading down the same path. This is one of the many heart-breaking ways addiction affects siblings.
3. Taking on Too Much Responsibility
Other times, younger siblings go the opposite direction and take on too much responsibility. They try to hold the family together, nagging their older sibling to stop using and stepping in to help with chores. While this might seem helpful, it forces them to grow up too fast. Kids who take on adult roles too soon often struggle later with stress, anxiety, or even resentment.
4. Emotional Struggles
Depression, anxiety, and other emotional struggles are common in siblings of addicted teens. Living in a chaotic home takes a toll, even if they don’t show it right away. This is another way addiction affects siblings.
How Parents Can Help When Addiction Affects Siblings
If you’re parenting a child with addiction, it’s crucial to also focus on your younger kids. Make sure they’re still getting attention, encourage them to be kids, and talk to them about what’s happening in a way they can understand. Just don’t turn them into your emotional support system—they need you to be their parent, not their confidante.
Finding Support for Addiction-Affected Siblings
Addiction impacts the entire family, and none of this is easy. If you need extra support, don’t hesitate to reach out for help. Your younger children might need it too. If this is your situation, my heart goes out to you. It’s a tough road, but you’re not alone. Keep focusing on what’s still good in your life, and help your younger children do the same.
Helping teens grow and families improve connection,
Hello, I’m Lauren! If you notice your teen struggling, you might be feeling helpless, hopeless, frustrated or concerned as a parent. Try to remember, there is hope. I want to help your adolescent feel better. My hope is for them to enjoy their life again. I want them to feel confident they can handle whatever situations arise.
