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Teenage Isolation E-mail

No man is an island
Your teenager comes home from school and goes straight to his room. His other siblings rarely get a peep out of him. He stays there alone for hours, maybe even taking his dinner inside instead of joining the family at the table like he should. Sounds familiar?

If you find out from peers, teachers, or the school counselor that your teen hasn’t been socializing with other students at school or having difficulty working with others in group activities, then he may have a problem.

The saying is quite true-- no man is an island. Isolating one’s self when your teenager should be dealing with making new friends in a new environment (high school) may be a sign of a troubled teen. Normally, teenagers value their peer friendships more than other relationships, even sometimes to a fault when they rebel against their parents as they choose friends over family. But when your teen shows hardly any interest in peer relationships then this may definitely be a cause for concern.

Fostering negativity
By brooding to himself all alone in his room, he may be fostering the growth of negativity within. A teenager’s peers can be a positive influence too! If your teen is left to himself often, then simple negative thoughts that may once have entered his mind may even lead to depression. If your teen has been even taking his dinner into his room alone, then insist on the family having dinner all together at the table. Try and take him out of his cave by shining warmth upon him with your company.

Teenage isolation may foster negativity in your teen because of the focus that he may give to this kind of mindset when he is alone. When others around him, he will most likely be engaged and even entertained by the company, this will leave less room for the growth of negativity. Having time for one’s self is one thing, but separating yourself from your family and friends to the point of isolation is another.

Time with your Teen is Gold
Fighting teenage isolation with warm company is a key tool. It’s important that you give him some of your time. Even if you have obligations at work to fulfill, by taking time for your child you show him you really care. Your time is gold. Your time with your teenager is gold. Also, coaxing your child to socialize more wouldn’t hurt. Just make sure that you don’t come off like you are forcing it. Isolation for a depressed teen can be detrimental. If he’s out there and people are around him, it is less likely that he will focus on his feelings of negativity.

 
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