Self-Esteem Is More Than Body Image

Teenage problems can be much bigger issues than we as parents might think. In fact struggling teens can display many different signs of low self esteem that we simply overlook because we don’t recognize them. With this in mind, it’s important to understand some simple signs to look for in your teenagers when it comes to depression, low self esteem and an overall unhappy persona.

Defensiveness

When your struggling teen tends to get jumpy and defensive during regular conversations, they may be feeling like they need to defend themselves due to a lack of self esteem and confidence. Asking your teen for their opinions and making a point to respect their views when talking to them can help with this issue.

Irritability

Most teenagers display some signs of irritability and rebellion while growing up but then the mood swings become intolerable or start showing up more often than not, it’s time to take a step back and determine why this could be happening.

Less of a Social Life

Teenage problems that include the loss of friends or an abundant social life this can greatly affect their self esteem. If you child doesn’t talk on the phone as much as they used to or hang out with friends as much on the weekends anymore, there is nothing wrong with digging a little deeper to determine what the problems might be here.

Locking Themselves in a Room

If your teenager doesn’t spend time outside of their room and refuses to include themselves in family functions, there is a good chance that they are dealing with confidence and self esteem issues that need to be addressed.

How to Help Struggling Teens

There are a number of ways that you can incorporate some help for the teenage problems your child might be dealing with. The first step is to simply talk to them about it. You might be surprised at how much you learn from a conversation about this. It’s important not to push them or to be judgmental because this can push your child further away. Instead just leave a door wide open and let them walk through in their own pace.

Getting professional help for teenage problems is a great way to handle the struggles that your teen might be dealing with. You can implement family counseling or simply find someone for your teen to talk to alone. This allows them to feel comfortable talking to someone who isn’t biased about their situation and who they can trust not to judge them or become disappointed in them due to their feelings.

Giving your struggling teen an opportunity to choose how they want to handle their problems can also work well. Of course, if they don’t want to do anything about it then you should do what you think is best as a parent. If this means forcing them to attend at least a couple of meetings with a counselor, so be it. Don’t let self esteem become a major factor in the way your child spends their teenage lives.

The Rise of Teens Getting Plastic Surgery

America is definitely image obsessed, which seems to be spreading throughout the world.  Television shows, media, and movies all talk about plastic surgery.  In fact any time a teen has a controversial procedure it is mentioned in the news.  For some reason, we are obsessed not only with image but also about the number of teens going for plastic surgery procedures.  The question is, why are we seeing a rise in plastic surgery and why is it not a good thing?

Cosmetic surgery has tripled since 1992.  Breast augmentation is up 53 percent.  Liposuction has risen 31 percent.  Today plastic surgery is not for the rich and famous.  Instead it is for anyone, including teens.  There are high risk teen procedures happening all over the United States, but we do not seem to be saying ëstop, this is no good!’

Instead parents allow their teenagers to get the procedures, sometimes as birthday presents and sometimes just because their teen has asked.  Parents are just as responsible for teen risk regarding plastic surgery, as the teens themselves.  There are a few reasons why plastic surgery and at risk teen procedures are on the rise.

One of the reasons is that teen self- esteem is suffering.  For someone to feel good about themselves they have to be taught that it is okay to look different.  They have to learn they do not have to be the prettiest girl and that surface looks don’t make the person.  Unfortunately this reason for at risk teen procedures to be on the rise falls squarely on the parents shoulders.

A good solid home in which the parent discusses teen self-esteem helps build self confidence and in general cares about their children will lessen the needed feel for at risk teen procedures like cosmetic surgery.  A healthy relationship in the home can outweigh the peer pressure, taunts of children, and other bad feelings teens have.

Peer pressure is certainly an important factor for why at risk teen procedures are on the rise.  Peers tell their friends they need work or should get work done.  When others pick on teens it makes them feel like they do need to go for cosmetic surgery.  Ads, television, books, and other media have in the last decade made it clear that to feel teen self-esteem a teen needs to change their looks with plastic surgery.

The reasons listed are why it is on the rise, but why is it not a good thing?  The answer is easy.  A teenager is not fully developed physically or mentally.  Making changes to the body when one is not fully developed physically can cause harm later.  It can also lead to some serious health risks and later physical deterioration.  A teen that is not mentally grown can suffer from aftereffects from the procedures, wondering later in life if they made a mistake for a small issue with teen self-esteem that made them feel they had to get a procedure.

Overall, the health risks are the main reason why teen plastic surgery should not be continued to rise.
 

Teaching Your Teen to Be Healthy Without Emphasizing Weight

Going through puberty is hard enough without having to worry about health and weight issues. Children are cruel to each other and verbally lash out making sure to point out other children’s insecurities and being a struggling teen is even harder. A teenager’s body is already going through so much change and if he or she has health or weight issues, on top of that it can make life very hard.

That is why parents need to keep open lines of communication with their teens and make sure to support them without adding to his or her problems. Communication and making one’s teenager feel good about who they are is the key to keeping him or her balanced. Struggling teens shut down and bottle things up keeping it all to themselves thinking no one will understand what he or she is going through. Leading by example is the best way to relate and keep communication with one’s teen helping them silently in the background. It is important to be the teens helping hand.

There are many ways a parent can help their struggling teen with his or her weight issues without voicing the problem. When one’s child was small it was easy to take them out to the park and play, or be able to relate to them on some level. However, as teens he or she is learning who they are and trying to do things on their own. Parents just need to find time to be there with their teens without making them feel they are intruding. Teens help others but rarely think of themselves.

Start with mealtime, parents can take a cooking class that will teach them how to cook healthy foods without letting on that it is healthy food. When it comes to cooking meals, take that time to have the teenager help with preparing the meal. By doing this the parent is spending time with their teen and teaching them how to eat and cook healthy foods. This also allows the teen time to open up and talk if he or she may have a problem. By being the teens helping hand things tend to go smoother.

Have only healthy and good foods in the house. When a teenager comes home from school or activities make sure to have good healthy snacks readily on hand. Teens are always on the go and this ensures the first thing he or she will grab is something that will help their bodies, not hurt them.

Keep your teenager active. Another good way to communicate and get your teenager active is to suggest the teen helping the parents to stay active. Invite the teen to accompany on walks, have them spot during workouts, ask them to accompany you to a swim. Do anything you might feel will interest the teenager and make it appear as if it were to benefit the parents health and make them feel welcomed. The teens help will be easier given if they are helping the parent.

Inspire, uplift, encourage, and always let your teenager know no matter what, they have the support of the parents. Inspire the teenager to be all he or she can. Uplift them every possible chance by giving praise for things done well. Encourage him or her to try new things even if he or she falls and let them know they succeeded no matter what.

By doing these simple little things, struggling teens will see there is hope and security in life. Having the teens helping the parents is in turn helping themselves. All of these suggestions guarantee open communication, a loving family life, and the security a teen needs to know that their parents will love and help them with any problem they may have.

How to Develop Positive Self-Esteem in Your Teen

Having a self-esteem teen is easier if the parents start building the child’s self-esteem from the beginning.  Raising teenagers is not always easy, but it helps if parents instill the proper tools during the learning process.  In addition, ask any teenager and he or she will say being a teenager is not easy either.

Every parent is proud of his or her child and as the child grows into a teenager, the parents are no less proud of him or her.  However, as children grow to teenagers they begin to become confused and feel less sure of themselves.  This is where the parents need to realize the signs and make sure to show their teens his or her self-worth.

If a parent can keep their teenagers believing in themselves they are sure to be self-esteemed teens.  Keeping your teen’s self-esteem up is as easy as complimenting them every day about something.  No matter how big or small, letting your teen know you truly see them is always a good step to building esteem.

Raising teenagers is somewhat hard at times.  Teens can keep things hidden and are less likely to open up about personal things.  With all the growing pains and new things, he or she thinks and feels, they start to withdraw and try to figure things out by themselves.  It is up to the parents to know their teens well enough and recognize when he or she needs encouragement.

Encourage the teens to open up and be and do whatever will make them happy.  Do not set limitation on what he or she is capable of doing.  Show them through loving them, backing their feelings up and letting them know that their opinion counts.  Praise the small things as well as the big things.

Sincerely listen to what your teenager has to say.  Even if as a parent you feel the problem the teen is speaking of is not a big deal let the teen know they are being heard.  Show compassion and understanding and validate their feelings.  With hormones raging and new experiences a teenagers self-esteem falters regularly and hearing someone understands them is sometimes all it takes to boost their self-esteem back to where it should be.

As a parent, do not try pushing your expectations onto your teenager.  Giving advice and helpful suggestions is fine, but do not try forcing a teenager to adhere to your point of view on things, or push them to be and do what you think they should.  Keep open communication and let the teenager know what your ideas for them are, but also let them know, as a parent you are open to his or her thoughts as well.

There is no golden rule that works on every teenager, and every teenager goes through things at his or her own pace.  School is the hardest place for a self-esteem teen.  There a teen has his or her peers to deal with, and they are going through their own growing pains.  A teenager’s peers are the first to give a blow to their self-esteem.  Sometimes they do not care if feelings are hurt because they are only thinking of their own feelings.

That is why it is so important for the parents of self-esteem teens to stay informed and know when something is wrong or out of sync with their teens.  No matter what happens out in the world to your teen, he or she needs to have the knowledge of knowing they have inspiration and security at home.  Raising teenagers may not be easy, but the best are raised with love.

How to Spot an Eating Disorder in a Teen

Teen eating disorders are becoming a common problem in our society. With the constant perception that thinner is better, many teens are starving their bodies, and doing damage to their internal organs. Of all the different eating disorders, teen anorexia is the most common. As these problems first start, the teen will try to hide their disorder, but as time progresses signs become more apparent.

Early intervention is essential in the treatment of teen eating disorders. When it is caught in the beginning stages, the learned behavior can be treated easier. As it progresses though, the behavior becomes a vigorous training of the mind and body, and the recovery process becomes far more difficult.  When you do go for treatment, you need to show you care and offer support, being confrontational with a sensitive eating disorder such as teen anorexia can have a negative outcome.

The following are different warning signs for an eating disorder. While they are in their early stages they may appear to be healthy dieting, and the individual may look like they are just being concerned about their weight. Watch as this progresses and intervene if necessary.

Restrictive Dieting: While limiting their food intake would be natural on a diet to a point, skipping meals as a whole is a warning sign. In teen anorexia for example, foods your child once loved will make them disgusted. They may simply skip meals on a regular basis as well and increase their intake of water.

At the times they do eat, your teen may only consume very small portions of food. They may even look over the packaging while you are making food, and find a combination of foods that deliver the least amount of calories. As the disease progresses further, diet pills and illegal drugs like speed may be used to help curb the feeling of being hungry.

Bingeing: Bingeing is another one of the teen eating disorders. Instead of limiting their diet, they eat normally around everyone at meals. In private, they will eat comfort foods in bulk. Usually there will be hidden stashes of junk food in their room, and sweets and chips in the kitchen may empty quickly.

Personal Image: When you look at a person with an eating disorder, you can begin to see the signs depending on what their body does. Someone suffering from teen anorexia will rapidly lose weight from their body.  At first they may try to conceal this weight loss with baggie clothing, but when they have reached a thinner level will wear more revealing attire. As it progresses further in stages, they will begin to wear clothing that covers them up more to prevent people from seeing their bones.

Weight gain and fluctuating weights are common for binge eating. With all disorders, the individual may spend unhealthy amounts of time in front of a mirror looking over their body and criticizing it as a whole, or specific areas that have some weight to them, even as they grow thinner.

Remember it is important to take the first step in intervention as soon as you notice a teen eating disorder. While many times it could be simple dieting, there is a chance it may be teen anorexia, which can lead to serious health problems.

To recap the following are warning signs every parent should watch for:

    * An unnatural focus on body weight
    * Calorie watching obsession
    * Extreme dieting even when they are thin
    * Unexplainable weight loss, or extreme instant weight loss
    * Heavy consumption of diet pills and laxatives
    * Habitual exercising
    * Avoiding eating
    * Refusal to go to social events where eating may be required
    * Using the restroom after meals
    * Secret late night snacking
    * Stashing junk food

Celebrity Influence on Girls Body Image

Because teenagers lack much world experience they will often look at external sources to craft an identity. This leads them to looking towards celebrities and other famous people as a role model. While most do so in a harmless manner, others take the image they see in celebrities to the nth degree. They seek to duplicate a fantasy image into a reality as a way of boosting teen self esteem.

There is the main problem here: teen self esteem seeks to be built through duplicating the fantasy and public relations character of the celebrity. The image of the celebrity is not the real person. This sets the teen up for a great fall since they can never live up to a fantasy.

Again, life experience here is limited, which is why the teen will fall into a number of traps. Teenage girls, most famously, fall into the extremely difficult trap of having to present a body image that is next to impossible to attain. Often, this is the root of teenage eating disorders and even worse problems.

What the average teenage girl does not understand is that a certain look and image has to be maintained for a celebrity. Celebrities cannot look ëaverage’ or else they will lose much of what makes them special. As a result, enormous steps are taken to boost the appearance of the celebrity, which is achieved in ways that the average person cannot follow.

For example, a starlet training to appear in an action movie can invest 5 hours a day into working out. The average person most assuredly cannot. So, for teen self esteem to be built around such an image, it is more likely the teen will end up being let down. Again, the goals are too difficult to attain.

Such information is not articulated to teens. As a result, they end up having a very unrealistic body image in mind. (Again, that is where much of the teenage eating disorders emerge.) Because teens are never able to succeed in duplicating the figures they see in film and on magazine covers, they can fall into depressing or self-esteem crushing behavior. Such an approach does very little for improving their overall opinion of themselves. 

Will this problem ever go away? No, human beings have been influenced by imagery in the arts for centuries. It is doubtful that human nature will ever change in such regards any time soon. However, there are ways that teen self esteem can be boosted despite the celebrity influence that they are constantly under.

In order to help improve teen self esteem, it becomes necessary that adults do what is necessary to inform teens of the lack of reality such imagery presents. No, it is not necessarily easy to do such a thing but it can be done with the proper effort and patience. In time, it may be possible to guide a teen to a more realistic outlook on the concept. This, in turn, can set the stage to increase teen self esteem.

How to Improve a Teen’s Self Esteem

It is all too easy for teenagers to feel that somehow they are missing the mark and they are not as clever or as attractive as their friends. If you have a struggling teen who feels that he or she just isn’t good enough then you may be interested in ideas on how to improve a teen’s self esteem. Most of us recognize that character and a sense of self is built in childhood but tend to forget that teenagers also watch everything closely and look for clues as to how they should be.

Children and teenagers absorb what is going on around them and then reflect it back at you. If someone is growing up in a home where there are heated arguments and even violence then it hinders that teenager’s chance of developing a solid sense of self and forming healthy relationships.

A child who is emotionally neglected and never praised at home will grow into a troubled teen who sees life as a continual struggle and themselves as of no consequence. A major problem for teenagers is the hormonal trouble that affects us all, which is why teenagers are so sensitive and the way you treat them can have either a damaging or uplifting effect on the self esteem and their sense of self. When you are dealing with a teenager, it might not always be obvious, but praise and words of encouragement when ever the opportunity arises, can have a lasting positive effect on that person’s self esteem and character development.

Most teenagers exhibit the Greta Garbo effect of wanting to be alone at points but this does not mean that you should disengage from them. You need to be able to give them space, as and when they need it, while at the same time being there, ready to offer words of comfort and advice as needed.

Teenagers are often harder emotional work than most four year olds and their behavior is often extremely erratic, due to the hormonal changes in their body. While you can pick up a four year old, give them a hug and put them to bed, it is not that simple with a teenager. It is difficult to give someone their own space, while at the same time being mindful that they need you to be there, ready to offer words of encouragement and maybe offer a hug.

Most teenagers feel unsure of themselves because they are standing on the threshold of the adult world. On the one hand they want to grow up and experience all that adulthood has to offer, while on the other they still need your ready ear, your guiding hand, and your approval. Parenting a teen is not an easy job but if you follow a few general guidelines you will end up with a well rounded adult with a sense of their own worth.

Things That Can Cause Teenage Eating Disorders

Believe it or not, there is a lot that can be done at home in order to prevent teenage eating disorders. While the disease is not completely in your control, you can do a lot in order to help lower the chances of your son or daughter ending up with it. Believe it or not, teen anorexia and other eating disorders can affect both boys and girls. Too many people make the mistake of thinking that this is only something that affects girls and therefore, they end up missing out on signs that their teenage son is having problems with an eating disorder.

The first thing that you will want to do is to make sure that you are learning as much about teenage eating disorders as possible. The more you learn about teen anorexia and other disorders, the easier you will be able to spot any potential problems that your teen could be dealing with right now. Of course, the best time to start preventing such problems is in early childhood. Making sure that adults are not commenting about weight, dieting, exercise or self loathing comments is best. However, if your child is now a teen, you want to continue watching what you say, but you also want to be on the lookout for problems.

Make sure that you are helping your teen become comfortable in his or her own skin. It is not too late to discuss with your teen the different between inner and outer beauty and what a healthy weight is. Talk about how terrible it is that the women and men in the magazines are air brushed. Make sure that they understand that this is not how real people look. You have to make sure that they do not have this thought process that they have to weigh ninety pounds to look good.

If you are always walking around the house telling your teen that they need to exercise more, to stop eating so much or that they will never wear a swimsuit on the beach, you are going to end up with a teen that is suffering from teen anorexia or something else. Teenage eating disorders are on the rise. Your teen already has enough pressure from his or her classmates. If you are adding to the problem, you are only helping to secure your teen’s spot in the emergency room from passing out due to lack of nutrition. Do you really want to do that to your teen?

Also, it is important to make sure that you are controlling who is around your teen and what they are saying around him or her. You can’t protect him or her while at school, but if you notice that your teen has a friend that is always starting about weight or dieting or how fat people are, then you have the right to keep your teen away from that person outside of school.

There are a number of things that can cause teenage eating disorders. Some will end up with an eating disorder after one trauma or after years of verbal abuse or poor self image. If you notice that your teen is depressed is to start to drastically change eating or exercise habits, it is time to seek help for teenage eating disorders. Keep the lines of communication open and you will be surprised at what you can achieve.