EP 142 | Boundaries EVERY PARENT NEEDS To Know In a World of Increased Depression & Anxiety Among Teens. PART 1 With ABBY SCHABER, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
“Suddenly these kids have so much freedom and the boundaries are SO blurred…they don’t have the disconnect time.”
We all hear anxiety and depression is on the rise in preteens and teens. What is your plan as parent to protect your child? From understanding brain development to taking a hard look at social media dangers to checking in on your "time in" or quality family time, Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and School Counselor Abby Schaber, makes us all take a hard look at the BOUNDARIES we have set in raising our children in today's world. This episode will help you regulate the boundaries you set with your adolescents and teens -whether you have that age child now or in the future- and encourage you to make connecting in real life a priority for your children - Help them to connect with nature, with family, with God. Just connect MORE within the walls of your own home, where your most important work is done.
Let's grow!
Jennifer
Connect with Abby via email at brightsidecounselingnky@gmail.com
on Facebook HERE
Join our PRIVATE Families That Stick Togather Moms group over on Facebook, "Strong and Faith-Filled Families For Today's Mom" where we share with one another about this episode and go on this journey of motherhood in today's world TOGETHER. Join us HERE!
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS EPISODE!
“The most important work you will do will be within the walls of your home.”
When dealing with adolescents and teens, we need to understand that their brain development is still taking place. Because it is still “under construction”, the way they handle emotions, decision-making, planning, and consequences is different from how we, as mature parents, would handle those same things.
It is a truth that kids, especially teens, are facing increased depression and anxiety. Social media is contributing greatly to this:
Leads to constant comparison to other people’s lives
Distortion of what is posted and what’s “real”
Leads to disconnection from what really matters
Lack of HEALTHY COPING STRATEGIES is also greatly contributing to this depression and anxiety
Our children NEED boundaries and today’s boundaries can be so blurred. How can we help our children have more?
Give them ways to have healthy coping strategies:
exercise, gratitude practice, relaxation techniques, prayer
Model the behavior you want them to repeat
Don’t allow the social media or set strict limits.
Don’t worry about being the “cool parent”
The best boundary we can set is giving MORE TIME IN
More family time
More time to connect. Connect with nature, with family, with God
If it feels hard to stay consistent and even know what to set, find your group that is going to cheer you on.
“If I can get you back to these simplistic concepts and help you nurture those, how can that change you?”