The COVID-19 pandemic sure has been tough on all of us, hasn’t it? It’s thrown financial troubles our way and turned our health into a daily worry. But what can we do? We’re all in this together, living in unusual times.
We’ve all felt the mental toll of the pandemic, regardless of our age. While we have to deal with our own problems, at least we can do it surrounded by the people we love. We’re staying home to protect ourselves and those around us from the virus. And guess what. This pandemic hasn’t been easy on teenagers either.
The enforced isolation of the pandemic has stirred up a bunch of difficulties for teens. The teen years aren’t an easy stage of life to start with, and the situation we’re in now just piles on with emotional health issues. Schools are closed and social distancing measures mean teens are cut off from their typical support networks. Instead of bantering with friends and participating in school activities, they’re stuck at home, feeling stressed out.
Why is the pandemic hitting teens so hard?
Imagine this — due to COVID-19, everybody’s stuck indoors, right? With no school to attend, teenagers have a lot of free time and a total lack of social interaction. It’s enough to make anyone anxious and bored. They miss hanging out with friends and are frustrated having to stay cooped up.
This virus has robbed teens of their daily routines like social outings, school events, or even just physical activities. All these abrupt new rules are making it hard for them to bear life restricted indoors. There’s also a huge question mark hanging over their futures, leading to feelings of not knowing what comes next and even hopelessness.
What’s all this doing to teenagers mentally?
These low times have led to some pretty serious symptoms in teens who are experiencing depression. They’re condemning themselves (low self-esteem), losing interest in activities they usually enjoy and having sleep and concentration problems. It’s getting difficult for them to carry out routine activities like eating, working, or studying.
On top of that, they’re having trouble getting the right amount of sleep — some are losing sleep and others are sleeping too much. Their mood flips from one extreme to the other incredibly quick. They might show changes in eating patterns, swinging from eating less to more food than usual. Worst of all, they’re slowly isolating themselves from others, losing interest in phone calls, text messaging, and video calls.
How can we help these teens?
Right now, teenagers might seem touchy or distant, which is not their usual self. Physical activities, like cycling or racing, are restricted. All this is adding up and affecting their health. But, hey, there’s hope. Here are some ways to support teenagers during this time:
Spending time with family while staying indoors is a chance to strengthen bonds. You can talk, play games, or just hang around together. These little instances of joy can perk up moods in a big way.
Encourage them to continue doing what they love — it could be singing, dancing, or gardening. These small distractions, little moments of joy, can provide an immense relief from all the difficult thoughts in their head.
And finally, therapy can do wonders in this situation. Counselors and therapists can guide and support teens dealing with the stress of the pandemic. A little professional help might be just what they need to bounce back.
Keep in mind, folks; we’re in a weird time right now. While it’s not easy, especially for teenagers who are feeling more worried and low than usual, there are ways to manage. Following the tips above may help your teen navigate this difficult time and live a healthier and more positive life.
Tags: Mental Health, Pandemic, Teens
