Parents Dealing with Adolescents or Young Adults
Parenting….never stops! It’s a continuous cycle of new changes and challenges presented at each and every stage of a child’s growth right through and into their young adulthood. You weave in and out of emotions and overall concern as your teenager navigates his or her pathway. During what typically will be a stressful and trying time for your teenager, it’s normal for you to be struggling with your own emotions and expectations. You may find it difficult to connect and communicate with your child or perhaps you may experience increased worry and concern over the choices your child is making or behavior they are displaying. Hugs and kisses have been replaced with eye rolls and arguments; conversations replaced with grunts; and happiness replaced with sadness, fear and quietness.
This wildly emotional passage may leave you wondering if everyone will be able to weather the storm and emerge with sanity intact once it has passed. Seeking help from a qualified mental health professional may help you manage the challenges and emotions you’re experiencing and provide you with useful tools that can help you parent more effectively.
Major life transitions for young adults, including those transitioning from high school to college or college to working adult, come with a whole new set of challenges. That independence your once teenager was fighting to obtain has now become a reality and that reality can be very scary. Signs of difficulty dealing and coping with transition, include:
• Self identity issues, low self esteem and lack of confidence
• Inability to complete tasks or goals
• Difficulty understanding their direction in life
• Inability to be self-reliant
• Independent living skills are limited or non-existent
• Lack of motivation
• Lack of accountability and responsibility
• Unrealistic expectations
• Anxiety or depression
If your young adult is experiencing any of these issues or you’re struggling to get them to transition, counseling may help them or you find a balanced path forward.
Coping with Ageing Parents
As an adult child there are many changes that take place in your relationship with your parents that can be a source of stress, anxiety and isolation. Finding yourself in the role of caretaker for those who once took care of you can be difficult to come to terms with and manage. It can be even more difficult if you’re in the midst of a “sandwich generation” situation. The “sandwich generation” refers to adult children who feel squeezed between meeting the needs of their ageing parents while raising their own children. They may also be trying to meet the demands of their careers in the midst of everything else.
Adopting the role of caretaker for an elderly parent can be one of the most complex and emotionally difficult experiences you may go through. Often times, these situations may cause high levels of stress, anxiety and isolation not only for your ageing parent but also for yourself (and siblings). The primary caretaker may often struggle to manage the financial, physical and emotional responsibilities of caring for their parent(s), especially in situations where there’s a lack of support from other family members.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, which may include feelings of sadness, resentment, anger, and frustration, it is vital for you to learn how to deal with these feelings effectively so that things don’t spin out of control to the point where you can no longer manage. Leaving these feelings unaddressed can be a detriment to your health, your family relationships and your job. It’s imperative that you obtain the proper coping skills that allow you to maintain a healthy balance and approach to care for yourself and your parent(s). A mental health professional can help you develop successful coping strategies to deal with these challenges.