When we consider our social culture, we can begin to better understand why more Oswego (IL) teens may struggle with anxiety, stress and depression.
Having goals can be a positive asset if approached in an even, healthy way, especially as we find fulfillment in the journey as opposed to the destination – a route that often includes trial and error and certainly imperfection.
At the same time, if the focus on the destination overrides the journey, it can have notable personal costs. Teens find themselves in perhaps the most malleable region of this cultural context. They are no longer children but not yet adults. Many are still navigating their identities with uncertainty of who they are and will fully become.
All the while, they can feel intense pressure to compete, succeed and be perfect. Beyond that strain, an Oswego teen might be dealing with other personal factors such as:
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Empowered Life Therapy supports those in Oswego who may be contending with teenage stress, anxiety or depression. We offer Oswego teens a compassionate, confidential, non-judgmental space for exploring their feelings and deepening their understanding of what they feel and how they can heal and grow in their own time.
In one recent poll of 1,015 U.S. teens age 12–17, key findings identified:
64% feel the world is more stressful now than when parents were their age
About 17% report experiencing negative emotions all the time or often
25% have been diagnosed with a mental health condition
28% report having received mental health treatment
65% said they felt comfortable talking about their mental health with those closest to them. However, only 48% talked regularly with their parents about their mental health and only 22% talked regularly with friends.
67% thought schools should offer days off for mental health
Just like adults, teenagers can experience daily stress. Many will experience greater stress when they perceive a situation as dangerous, difficult or painful and do not have the resources that allow them to cope. This in turn can lead to more unhealthy behaviors such as acting out, social withdrawal, sexual promiscuity or drug and alcohol use.
Empowered Life Therapy helps Oswego teens develop the skills to recognize and manage stressors in healthy and constructive ways. Working one-on-one with your teen, we listen and learn according to what matters to them. Over time, we help reinforce their ability to recognize and manage stress triggers, practice self-compassion and self-trust, and tap into their inner wisdom.
Over time, your loved one can become increasingly resilient and calm in moving through the teenage years toward a future full of hope, balance and purpose.
Symptoms of teenage anxiety might include:
When the young, formative mind becomes accustomed to constant stress and worry both real and perceived, it can develop chronic anxiety in which the inner alarm bells do not quiet. If not addressed, it can evolve into debilitating panic attacks and depression.
Symptoms of teenage anxiety might include:
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The World Health Organization identifies anxiety disorders as the most prevalent emotional disorder among this age group. Anxiety is among the top causes of illness and disability among teens as well.
Anxiety also can be treated and managed with support focused on your specific teen. At Empowered Life Therapy, we give your teenager the care and attention they need for working through their anxiety. We also adapt to their personality and circumstances in offering the tools for greater socio-emotional learning and psychological well-being.
Depression in Oswego teens can range from mild to severe. On the milder side, it might result from a current difficulty in the teen’s life, such as the loss of a loved one or the fallout from a broken relationship. On the severe side, depression can become a chronic condition that if left untreated can lead to self-destruction or even suicide.
In October 2021, leading pediatric organizations including the Children’s Hospital Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in children’s mental health. A 2022 youth survey including data collected before the pandemic revealed that:
just over 15% had experienced a major depressive episode during the year
more than 60% report having received mental health treatment
65% with major depression did not receive mental health treatment
youths who identified as more than one race had the highest rates of severe major depression
If you begin to recognize depression symptoms such as anger, irritability, low energy or a loss of appetite, you can be a great asset to your teenager by expressing your love and concern and your desire to help them find meaningful help.
Empowered Life Therapy provides professional support for Oswego teenage depression. We help to guide your teen as they find the comfort to share their thoughts and concerns and return to greater peace, mental clarity and ultimately hope.
As your teen feels better and finds their footing, they gain the skills to become more self-compassionate through increasing mindfulness, self-kindness and understanding of their humanity. They also develop the outlook and tools for strengthening their resilience in the face of life’s obstacles.
At Empowered Life Therapy, we understand what teenagers wrestle with as they try to adapt to shifting environments and senses of self. We also recognize that your teen is a unique individual with a lot to look forward to, and sometimes all they need is the support of those with the training and experience to assist them
To find out more about our counseling and therapy for teenage stress, anxiety and depression in Oswego (IL), call us today at (630) 842-6585 or visit us at empoweredlifetherapy.org.
