5 SIGNS YOUR TEENAGER COULD BENEFIT FROM LIFE COACHING AND THERAPY

• AVOIDANT

  • Withdrawn: In their room 24/7, isolated from friends and family

  • Escape: Spending too much time online (media and screens) or using substances

  • Seemingly Lazy: Ignoring responsibilities or always doing the bare minimum, especially anything uncomfortable and hard (i.e. conflict, asking a teacher a question or reaching out to friends)

• DISENGAGED

  • Always tired: Difficult to wake up and impossible to get out of bed

  • No Spark: Not interested in things they use to enjoy and not excited about anything

  • Poor Performance: Not attending school or class, skipping practice, not completing assignments or turning things in

• MOODY

  • Angry: Easily irritated, agitated and frustrated, mad at the world and society

  • Mood Swings: Frequent explosions and quickly changing from happy to sad

  • Stubborn: Inflexible (especially during transitions), resistant and defiant

• ANXIOUS AND DEPRESSED

  • Teen Depression: Sad all the time time, overwhelmingly pessimistic, feelings of guilt and worthlessness

  • Panic Attacks: Experiencing breakdowns and anxiety attacks (sharp increase in intense anxiety and stress)

  • Crippling Anxiety: Overthinking and overwhelmed with doubts and regrets, fear of judgment and catastrophizing (assuming the worst)

• LACK OF SELF CARE (BAD HABITS)

  • Poor Hygiene: Not showering, brushing teeth or using deodorant

  • Poor diet: Not eating enough or eating too much, eating junk food

  • Poor Sleep: Terrible sleep hygiene (e.g. sleeping with a phone), staying up too late and sleeping in too much

Many teens may seem lazy, withdrawn and moody but are actually struggling with self-worth, self-control and self-sabotage.

Why is it so hard for young people today?
UNIQUE CHALLENGES FOR GEN-Z (Zoomers)

• Invasive Technology: Beep! Ding! Rumble, rumble! Everything is online, from school to friends (which is only a synthetic version of reality); made worse by our screen based lives which are designed to pull us in again and again leaving us deeply dissatisfied, longing and unfulfilled.

• Intolerance: Increasingly, Gen-Z is exhibiting higher signs of unwillingness to being out of their comfort zone; there is an aversion to risk, boredom, criticism, and offense. This intolerance exacerbates fear of failure and leads towards avoidance while decreasing resilience.

• Constant Comparison: FOMO is at an all time high. The voyeuristic nature of social media allows a window into everyone’s life 24/7 and immediately knowing if/when they are not invited or involved in something. Now, teens have to run their own PR campaign - never actually being in the moment.

• Access to Substances: ‘Everybody is vaping’ is a common teenage phrase. Marijuana is everywhere and alcohol is easy to get. Substances aren’t new but the ease of access and potency of substances is.

• Pressure: The competition to meet expectations from self and others is at an all time high. Youth are experiencing higher rates of school stress, athletics is treated professionally, and peer-pressure remains constant.

• College or Bust: How many high schools have 100% college admittance as their goal? How many colleges have 100% graduation as theirs? Of course education is of vital importance but many students do not see other options or they view their life-paths as a failure.

INCREASING PRESSURE & CONSTANT AVOIDANCE LEADS TO YOUTH FEELING
ANXIOUS. DEPRESSED. ANGRY.