Emotional health is important for everyone, adults, children, and teenagers. A person with good emotional health can understand and control what they think, what they feel, and what they do. They have high self-esteem and have a positive self-image. They keep their problems in perspective and maintain good relationships.

Being a teenager, however, can be very difficult for one’s emotional health. Teenagers undergo physical changes. They feel pressure from friends to fit in. They face competition from classmates. They are obligated to do well in school and get good grades. They strive to be the best in their chosen sport or hobby. And they become tired because of their part-time jobs. All these things can considerably shake a teen’s emotional health.

As a parent of a teenager, the adult must realize that his or her child is struggling between childhood and adulthood. The teen wants to be independent and this is why he or she is trying on new hairstyles (that are horrifying in the eyes of adults), new clothes (that are simply tasteless), and new ideas and values (what on earth is my teenager thinking of?) The adult will be uncomfortable but he or she need not be offended. Such are normal for teenagers and they need this to keep their emotional health in good shape. All the adult needs to do is to assure the teen of his or her love. The adult must also communicate good values and must establish limits and expectations. For example, the parent must insist on honesty, respect and self-control.

The adult must also watch out for signs that the teen is having emotional problems. If these signs are ignored, teenagers develop low self-esteem and they may even resort to alcohol, drugs, and unprotected sex.

Some of the signs are the following. The teenager shows restless or agitated behavior. An agitated behavior is different from an impulsive action. The former indicates a problem that is difficult to resolve while the latter is related to a problem that a teenager wants to solve immediately. Another sign of emotional health in danger is the drastic loss or gain of weight. Teens with emotional problems channel their frustrations to their eating habits. Some have trouble falling asleep. A drop in grades is also a sign that the teenager is wrestling with an emotional problem. The teen has lost his focus on his studies and he has trouble concentrating on anything. Another sign of emotional problems is when the teen no longer cares for people, activities, and things around him. He has lost both enthusiasm and motivation. And he exhibits continuous melancholy.

When a parent finds these signs, he or she should immediately ask what is troubling the teen. And if necessary, the parent should seek professional help.