emotional development (2023)

1

hormonesThese critical chemicals in the brain that trigger physical changes also affect adolescents' moods and increase their emotional responses. These characteristics together mean that adolescents are more easily swayed by emotions and have difficulty making decisions that adults consider appropriate.1Adolescence is also a time of rapid and sometimes stressful changes in peer relationships, school expectations, family dynamics, and concerns about safety in communities. The body responds to stress by activating specific hormones and activities in the nervous system so that a person can respond quickly and perform well under pressure. The stress response is faster in adolescents than in adults, whose brains are fully developed and can moderate a stress response. Not all stressors are bad. Positive experiences, such as getting a first job or getting a driver's license, can trigger a stress response that allows teens to face a challenge with mindfulness and concentration.

2

Self-management.By managing their own emotions, teens can set positive goals and understand how their emotions can influence their goals and future. To improve their ability to manage emotions, adolescents must first learn to recognize and describe strong and complex emotions. Although young people learn to describe basic emotions earlier in life, as they get older, they develop the ability to truly understand what emotions are and understand their impact. When teens can recognize how they feel, they can choose how they will respond to a situation. They also learn to avoid the problems that strong emotions sometimes cause. However, because the frontal lobe of the brain, which is responsible for reasoning, planning, and problem solving, as well as emotions, does not fully develop until the mid-20s, teens may have difficulty controlling your emotions and think about the consequences. Your Actions Over time, and with the support of parents and helpful adults, teens can develop the reasoning and abstract thinking skills that allow them to step back, examine their emotions, and consider the consequences before acting rashly.

1

Self-esteem.The way people feel about themselves, or the way they perceive their own talents, traits, and life experiences, can affect their sense of worth. A teen's self-esteem can be influenced by family approval, peer support, and personal successes. Research shows that teens with a positive self-concept experience greater academic success than teens who lack this quality. Body image concerns are also common and can provide opportunities for parents, teachers, and other adults to care for themselves by teaching self-care, offering encouragement, and reinforcing a positive body image. For some teens, body image concerns are extreme and, when combined with other warning signs, can indicate an eating disorder. Eating disorders are a type ofmental health problem among adolescents. However, feeling good about yourself does not necessarily protect against risky behavior. Therefore, it remains important to limit adolescents' exposure to risky situations and to empower young people to make healthy choices when they inevitably face such a situation.

2

Identity formation.There are many facets to identity formation, including such developmental tasks as becoming independent and achieving a sense of competence. Teens may question their passions and values, examine their relationships with family and peers, and think about their talents and definitions of success. Identity formation is an iterative process during which adolescents repeatedly experiment with different ideas, friends, and activities. Such experimentation is normal and can provide teens with the opportunity to learn more about themselves and others, but it is not always balanced with thoughtfulness or the cognitive ability to consider the consequences of their actions. While this path to finding one's own identity can be challenging for some families, it can also motivate teens to learn about themselves and become more confident in their own unique identities.

3

Stress.Adolescents live in a variety of environments and experience a wide range of stressors that affect emotional development. Learning healthy responses to stressful situations is part of normal development, and some stress can even be positive. However, some adolescents face particularly traumatic events, such as experiencing or witnessing physical or sexual abuse or school violence. Some of these events are prolonged or recurring, such as chronic abandonment or bullying. Some teens also have to deal with various types of traumatic stress. These more extreme forms of stress, often called toxic stress, can weaken a teen's immune system, resulting in chronic physical health problems and can lead to depression, anxiety, and other illnesses.mental health disorders. Toxic stress can also lead to stress-related illnesses and cognitive decline in later life. Teens who experience this form of stress are also more likely to use harmful substances, engage in other risky behaviors,2and experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition in which a person relives a traumatic event through lingering memories or flashbacks and experiences other symptoms such as insomnia, angry outbursts, or feelings of tension. However, people respond to stress differently, and a strong support system can help protect teens from lasting negative effects and create an environment that allows them to thrive.

1

Make your own emotional well-being a priority.you might find it usefuljoin a parent groupwhere you can safely navigate your feelings with people who understand your point of view. Being aware of emotional well-being is especially important for people who work with traumatized adolescents. EITHERVicarious Trauma Toolboxit can help victim service providers, law enforcement, first responders, and other professionals deal with the emotional impact of their work.

2

Practice setting healthy goals.Let go of ideas of perfection for teens and yourself. Set realistic goals and break them down into smaller, more manageable tasks. When you hit a roadblock or experience failure, focus on what you can control and let go of the things you can't.

3

Valuing the unique identity of each adolescent.Even when you don't identify with a teen's feelings or experiences, your understanding and respect as a parent or caring adult is very important.

4

Resolve conflicts with respect for others.When you disagree with someone, remember what you like about that person and focus on solving the problem instead of blaming them. Take time to calm down and think things through when you start to feel overwhelmed. Family conflicts can be especially stressful because of the intense emotions and relationship dynamics at play.

5

Manage your anger.Practicing relaxation exercises and using humor to defuse a tense situation are some strategies you can use tomanage your angerA. Seek professional help if you are not sure what to do.