How can adolescents deal better with change

But one of the most difficult transitions in a child’s life is when he or she enters the teenage world. Apart from experiencing physical transformations, they also have to take on the challenges life puts in front of them. That’s when things, relationships, mentality and mindsets begin to change and develop.

WHY BUILDING A POWERFUL SELF-IDENTITY FOR ADOLESCENTS MATTERS
Adolescence is a sensitive development window, and a pivotal time for self-discovery and identity formation for young people. During this critical stage of development, young people start to figure out who they are, what their beliefs are and how they see themselves fitting into the world.

DIVING DEEPER INTO THE REALM OF CARING FOR ADOLESCENTS
Teenage problems are real and must be understood sensitively by parents. Teenage problems must be dealt with in a more empathetic manner by parents. The gap between parents and teenagers is wide because of the fast-moving pace of Millennials. Every topic of discussion turns argumentative and lands the situations being misunderstood and miscommunicated between the two poles apart parties: parents and teenagers. Parents have the tendency of feeling alienated by teenagers. Teenagers tend to develop the nature of being secretive and uncooperative with their parents.

FINDING EASE WITH TRANSITION IN EVER-CHANGING TIMES
While transitions can be stressful, dealing with the transition can even be scarier than the change itself. However, by acknowledging the transition period you’re in and understanding the challenges, you can develop coping mechanisms to get through it. This enables you to smoothly navigate the various transitions in life.

While a life transition can be deemed as any major life event that alters our sense of self, purpose, and how we go from day to day, knowing that you are not alone puts things into perspective. When changes occur, I recommend you maintain healthy behaviours including seeking social support, getting a good night’s sleep, eating healthy, and maintaining an exercise routine.

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS ADOLESCENTS CAN ADOPT TO DEAL WITH TRANSITION?
A key benefit of supporting adolescents in creating a strong identity early on in life is that it can foster continued positive impacts on mental health through adulthood. There are a few ways parents, teachers and other adults can support adolescents navigate their way through this critical stage of development.

Here’s a multifaceted approach in which we can support adolescents in building a powerful self-identity:

Build a strong relationship: When it comes to parenting, strengthening your bond with your child is important. During their formative years, they’re naive, dependent and much likely to seek your help and advice, that’s when you should establish your role of a mentor in their lives.

Focus on physical health, but also build strong mental capacity: Bringing up a healthy, strong kid is of utmost importance. But it is as important to develop good mental health hygiene. The teen years are full of challenges. There are physical, mental and emotional hurdles that they are likely to experience, which is why preparing them in advance and teaching them how to manage difficult emotions are key.

Teach them the importance of opinions: Teenage kids are likely to be curious. They have questions, ideas and opinions, however, most of them find it difficult to express. They may feel as though they’re overstepping, especially kids who are introverted. This is why parents must encourage kids to be outspoken, enthusiastic and fearless. Help your kids understand the importance of having an opinion, expressing it and enabling them to accept criticism.

Give them space early on in life: Setting boundaries is important. The earlier you do it, the better it is. As your child transitions into a teen, they’re likely to need more space, more independence and more freedom. Parents might not like the idea of letting their children go, but it is the only way to help them find themselves, carve their own identities and also learn responsibility.

Focus on the purpose: Ask open-ended questions to help adolescents begin to narrow and focus on their purpose. Energy goes where focus flows. Helping adolescents identify their main goals can direct much of their energy to those areas of their lives and reinforce their sense of self.

Encourage self-reflection: Adolescents need time and space to reflect on their experiences, feelings, and beliefs. Adults can encourage and model self-reflection by continuing to ask open-ended questions and providing a safe and supportive environment for adolescents to share their thoughts and feelings.

Encourage positive self-talk through empathy: Adolescents need to develop a positive self-image and sense of self-worth. Adults can encourage this by modeling positive self-talk and reinforcing positive qualities and strengths in adolescents. This can also involve making adolescents more aware of any negative thought patterns they might have, and steering them towards the positive.

Understanding the Gen Z code: With the new hormonal changes in their bodies, teenagers tend to have crushes on their peers. Parents should teach them the pros and cons of dating, the need for resistance, the importance of a career, etc. the strict rules shouldn’t be set by one-liners like “because I said so, you have to follow”, “in this house dating isn’t allowed”, “you cannot interact with opposite gender”, etc.

Supporting adolescents in building a powerful self-identity requires a multifaceted approach that includes self-reflection, positive experiences and challenges, positive relationships with peers and adults, and challenging negative stereotypes and biases. By providing young people with the tools and resources they need to develop a strong sense of self, parents, teachers, and other adults can help adolescents navigate challenges and develop into confident and resilient adults.

Dr Alisha Lalljee is a psychologist, special educator and psychotherapist practising in Bandra