5 Ways to Teach Your Teen to Emotionally Regulate
We all know the stereotypes surrounding teens and their mood swings. If you live with a teenager, chances are you’ve seen first-hand why those stereotypes exist. While it’s true that teens can seemingly switch emotions in a matter of seconds, it’s not necessarily their fault.
Certain parts of the teenage brain aren’t fully-formed yet. That can make it difficult for them to think things through and problem-solve. It can cause them to make more irrational decisions or see things in extremes rather than reasoning through a situation.
Thankfully, there are things you can do to teach your teen to regulate their emotions. There are skills they can learn now that will help them immensely in the future as they enter adulthood. Not sure where to get started? Let’s cover five ways to teach your teen to emotionally regulate.
1. Serve as a Shining Example
No matter how old your kids get, they will never stop looking to you for guidance. It might feel like your teen hardly listens to you. But rest assured, they’re still observing and taking in everything you do. That’s why it’s so important to be a good role model for emotional regulation. Show them how you respond to setbacks and problems. Don’t act overwhelmed or do things on impulse. Rather, think them through and figure out how to work through a difficult situation. When your teenager has an active display of how to emotionally regulate, they’re more likely to pick up on those skills themselves.
2. Coach Them
In addition to showing your teen how to emotionally regulate, serve as their coach. No parent wants to see their teen struggle. While you can’t (and shouldn’t) attempt to fix all of their problems, you can certainly coach them through things. Help them think things through and work through their difficulties calmly and effectively. Like any good coach, the skills you teach them will be most effective when the next difficult situation arises.
3. Teach Them to Recognize Stress
Everyone experiences stress. Some of it can be a good thing, but it’s important to recognize the stress you’re experiencing and how you can handle it. Talk to your teenager about physical, emotional, and cognitive stress. When they can sit down and process the type of stress they’re feeling, it will be easier to regulate those emotions and work through them faster and more effectively.
Stress is something that shouldn’t be ignored, or it will become worse. By encouraging your teen to accept what they’re feeling rather than pushing it down, they’re less likely to let their stress start to overwhelm them.
4. Stay Calm
It’s not easy to remain neutral when your teen is acting out. However, do your best to consider it a learning experience and a growing pain for them. You’re already doing what you can to be a role model, so continue that practice by showing them how to respond to things like outbursts, anger, or worrying.
Your teen will likely follow suit if you have inappropriate responses to stress. No matter how much they might be lashing out, speak to them calmly, discipline them appropriately, and set an example to show them how things work in the real world.
5. Make Your Home a Safe Space
Your teen should feel comfortable and free to express their emotions at home without being judged or criticized. If there’s too much negativity circulating in the home environment, they will pick up on that and become a part of it. While it’s important to be open and honest in your household, it’s just as essential to maintain a positive and uplifting environment. This will help your teen feel safe with their emotions and more likely to work through them healthily.
It might feel like an uphill battle to teach your teen to emotionally regulate, but these tips can help. If you’re still struggling, feel free to contact me for more information or to talk about more skills you can use to help your teen through this stage of life.
Therapists at Wellness Matters can help. Feel free to contact us today to set up an appointment. You can connect with the Wellness Matters Intake Coordinator by texting or calling (218) 616-1276
At Wellness Matters, the intake process is all on-line and can be done in less than fifteen minutes. On-line appointments make it possible to attend appointments from the comfort from your home or office. In-person services may also be available for people living in northern MN.
