Health Issues That Cause Stress In Teenagers And How To Reassure Them
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Every year, many parents find themselves rushing their teens to the emergency room for various reasons, from minor injuries to severe illnesses that may sometimes require surgery.
About 18.8 million children, including teenagers, end up in the hospital, which can be quite a daunting experience for them and very worrying for you as a parent.
You’ve probably witnessed many occasions
where your teenager has felt stressed or anxious about a physical condition that required medical attention. So, what are some of the prevalent illnesses that keep your teens anxious, and more importantly, what can you do as a parent to reassure them?
Listed here are just three out of a multitude of conditions – as well as some useful pointers on how to encourage your teenager.
1. Dental Emergencies
Studies show that many adolescents are scared of visiting medical professionals like dentists. Not only are they in pain but, they are usually very uneasy during the procedure – thereby making their treatment a challenge to complete on occasions.
Many dental clinics actively look for strategies to ease the fears of their teens and young adult patients.
For example, Asha Madhavan DDS is known for putting dental fears and therapy dogs together, which has worked well for both nervous adults and teenagers. In addition to this, you can help by reassuring them, listening to their concerns, and comforting them when they are in pain.
2. Physical Injuries
Hearing about a physical injury sustained by your child can literally be a parent’s worst nightmare – depending on the severity of the injury of course. Regardless of the age of your child, you still feel their pain to some degree, and relieving that pain as quickly as possible becomes your number one priority.
The thing about teenagers is that they are rapidly branching off into adulthood, and sometimes there’s not much you can do as a parent – apart from stay hopeful that they’ll accept your advice.
It’s important to understand that it’s not just you that is anxious – your teenager also worries about their injuries and if they witness your anxiety, it may not help their state of mind.
Rather than panicking, do your best to remain calm and rational so that they can look to you for solace and comfort. Reassure them by focusing their mind on making a speedy recovery and helping them to go about their normal activities in a bid to get them back to normal life as quickly as possible.
3. Cancer
Unfortunately, about 5000 to 6000 adolescents in the US are diagnosed with cancer annually, and it’s the fourth leading cause of death among teenagers. A teenager receiving the diagnosis of cancer will instantly feel like their whole world has been turned upside down.
Suddenly, there are so many things they cannot really do anymore, which can cause the development of severe anxiety. As a parent, you have to be open and honest with your child about their diagnosis.
Always be ready to listen to their fears and be there for them as they process the news and start their treatment. Ask them how best you can support them, then be sure to deliver on this support, as they will be counting on you. Try as much as possible to give them a semblance of normal life.
Anxiety is a normal emotion that your teen will face whenever they are unwell. As a parent, you have to ensure that your teenager does not feel overwhelmed by it and develop strategies to help them feel better.
Don’t forget about other very serious health issues such as eating disorders in teens. This is a serious mental illness that can easily be overlooked causing severe emotional and physical stress not only for the parents but primarily for the teen. As a parent, talk to your child and recognize the signs that something might just not be right and possibly consult with a therapist or medical doctor.
Let’s help our teens!
