As a young adult navigating a new world, it can be easy for some teens to feel alone as they are dealing with new experiences and social situations. This feeling of loneliness may be especially impactful if a teen has trouble making friends or is placed into a new environment where they may not feel like they belong.
No matter why your teen may be dealing with these feelings of loneliness, there are things that parents may be able to do to provide them with the necessary support. Has your teen expressed feelings of loneliness? If so, here are five ways that you can help your teen feel less alone.
1. Spend more time bonding with them.
While spending time with parents can seem uncool to teens, they still need to have a strong relationship with you. Make sure to carve out more time in your schedule to sit down with them and talk about their day, play games with them, and engage in other activities that help the two of you grow closer.
Although this won't necessarily help them in their social lives outside of the home, it can help to improve their mood and alleviate some of the pain associated with loneliness.
2. Encourage them to participate in groups where they will have many things in common with their peers.
It can be difficult for teens to find friends if they are not involved in situations where they know they share common interests with others. One great way to work around this is to encourage your teen to engage in group activities to meet new people. Whether that means playing a sport, joining a club, or volunteering with other teens, this can be a great way for them to break the ice with others and form lasting friendships that help them feel less alone.
3. Help them feel more comfortable with being alone.
There is a major difference between alone and feeling lonely. Additionally, spending time alone is not something that one should be ashamed of. That said, some teens may feel uncomfortable with alone time and will do anything to avoid being by themselves. The key to working on this is to help them improve the relationships that they have with themselves.
Do what you can to boost their self-esteem, encourage the interests they may pursue on their own, and help them create a space where they can recharge and begin loving alone time. We can't be surrounded by people all the time, and it is important for teens to learn how to balance time with friends and time spent alone.
4. Consider getting them a pet.
A pet can be a lot of responsibility, but it can also be a source of joy for teens who are feeling lonely and going through a difficult period in their lives. If you believe that both you and your child can commit to an animal, see if you can find a dog or a cat (or something else entirely) that you can introduce to the home. This way, even if your teen is having a hard time connecting with others at the moment, they always have a best friend at their side when they come home.
5. Get them the proper help if the feelings of loneliness are indicative of mental health issues.
There are some teens who can be surrounded by those who love them and still feel completely alone. In cases like this, feelings of loneliness may actually be indicative of a mental health problem rather than one of being isolated from others. For this reason, you have to contact depression and relationship counselling services.
If you believe your teen may be dealing with a mental health disorder, look for local residential facilities for troubled youth that can identify any potential mental health disorders and provide your teen with an effective treatment plan. With the right support, the loneliness that is rooted in mental illness can be treated!
Loneliness can be a difficult feeling for young people to cope with. If you believe that your teen is grappling with loneliness, use the five tips above to help them feel more connected and content in their lives.
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