Teens and the Winter Blues

Everyone experiences ups and downs from time to time, but some people are more affected during the winter when we have short, dark days. This is a perfect time to encourage your teen to get adequate rest, exercise regularly, eat healthy foods, and maintain a reasonable daily routine. All of these choices help to strengthen the immune system, making it more possible for our bodies to resist disease, manage stress, and maintain emotional as well as physical health. Parents can encourage healthy habits by role modeling them at home – not only will your teen be more likely to follow suit, you might feel better yourself after exercising, eating healthy meals as a family, limiting caffeine, and sharing in activities that everyone enjoys.

 Sometimes, despite our best efforts, our kids experience troubles anyway. As a parent you can help by spending time with your teen and showing you care. Keep communication lines open, even if you feel shut out. If your child has withdrawn from you, isolated from friends, lost interest in favorite activities, earned lower grades than usual, or recently experienced other significant changes (conflicts with peers, break-up with boyfriend/girlfriend), try talking with your child about what is going on. If this does not seem adequate or you remain concerned about your teen’s well being, seek out other resources for help. You may want to speak with your family physician, contact a counselor, or talk with teachers to find extra assistance for your teen during difficult times. Supportive peers and adults alike can help your teen overcome challenges and experience success, even in the dark days of winter.

Note: This article was previously published in the Wenatchee High School Parent Newsletter for December '09/January '10.