The school year is very new or just starting for your teen. Many teens look forward to starting school to see friends they enjoyed being in class with last year. I have heard some teens state that they feel "a little isolated" during the summer, but that their social life picks back up when school begins. But what about the teen who struggles with social isolation?
Teens who struggle with making social connections may feel just the opposite: a sense of comfort being home in their own world during the summer and a sense of anxiety about having to return to school and be around a lot of people. Some teens are introverted individuals who do well with some friends but who do not want to have a lot of social popularity, and these are not the individuals I am referring to as socially isolated teens. Socially isolated teens are those teens who may be introverted but who struggle with connecting with other teens and who feel isolated or apart from the teen world. And teens struggling with this issue often want something to change but cannot see how to make that happen.
Helping your teen with social issues is always a challenge. But looking at the beginning of school as an opportunity to change "your social life" can be a positive spin on the issue. Try to help your teen analyze his school's social structure related to clubs and extracurricular activities. And help him plan a strategy to enter one of those arenas. He stands to gain some friends and a boost in self-esteem. Encourage him to have the courage and be around to help him try again if one attempt is not successful.
Dr. Debra
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