Is Your Teen Struggling With Low Self-Worth?
Lately, I have been talking to a lot of parents who feel lost trying to deal with their teenagers. Are you dealing with this too? Have you observed these signs in your teen:
Do they shy away from taking healthy risks?
Do they constantly tell themselves and others how they’re not good enough?
Do they think they’re not attractive or likeable, and try very hard to fit in?
Do they feel lonely or isolated?
Are they unable to cope with failure?
Do they say things like – “I can’t do anything right” or “I’m stupid”?
Are they unable to feel proud of their achievements, thinking they could have done better?
Do they constantly compare themselves to their peers?
If you have noticed some of these signs in your teen, then they may be struggling with low self-worth. Do you feel like you’ve tried everything possible to help your child feel better about themselves, but nothing seems to work? I have been through all this myself and know how painful it is and how helpless I felt.
There could be several reasons for their low self-worth – like academic stress, bullying, starting a new school, moving to a new place. Most children will go through some dips in self-esteem, and then they find their confidence back. But going through this challenging phase in life, with the additional pressures of today such as social media and targeted advertising, compounded by the isolation caused by COVID lockdowns, has affected this generation in a way that we as parents cannot identify with.
But here’s the good news – YOUR support can help them get through this and in the process, they can come out stronger than ever before! With a few specific shifts in what you say and do, you could help your teen rebuild their confidence and self-worth.
Here are some ideas to help you nurture your teen’s Self-Worth:
Love them Unconditionally: We often expect our children to act in a certain way to make us feel better or look like good parents. We need to fully love them with all their imperfections.
Validation and Recognition: Celebrate their achievements, no matter how small.
Encourage Self-Discovery: Encourage them to pursue hobbies and activities that make them feel confident and competent.
Teach Resilience: Teach them that failures and setbacks are part of life's journey and provide opportunities for growth. Talk to them about your own experiences, how you have faced disappointments and failures in your life.
Promote Healthy Self-Care: Educate teens about the importance of self-care, including physical fitness, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep.
Discuss Social Media Influence: Talk about the unrealistic portrayals of beauty and success on social media. Teach them to differentiate between curated online personas and real-life experiences. Listen to their views on this topic. Open frequent discussions remind them to keep things in perspective.
Set Realistic Expectations: Help them set achievable goals and avoid unrealistic expectations. Encourage them to focus on their individual progress rather than comparing themselves to others.
Encourage Positive Self-Talk: Teach them to recognize and challenge negative self-talk. Encourage them to replace self-criticism with self-compassion and self-encouragement. Remind them that they are programming their brain with their self-talk, so keep it positive.
Support Mental Health: Recognize the signs of mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression or eating disorders, and seek professional help when needed. Mental health challenges can significantly impact self-worth.
Peer and Social Support: Encourage healthy friendships and connections. A strong support system can provide emotional reassurance and validation.
Reflect on your own self-worth: Address your own self-worth if it is unhealthy. Are you always upset with your own looks or weight? Are you always apologizing even when it’s not needed? Do you find it difficult to accept compliments with grace? Children often learn from what we do, not what we tell them.
By providing them with these tools, we empower them to face life's challenges with confidence and resilience. Remember that building self-worth is an ongoing process, and we must continue to provide guidance, support, and understanding throughout their journey to self-acceptance. Nurturing a teenager's self-worth is a lifelong gift that can have far-reaching effects on their future success and happiness.
