The teen years can be some of the most emotionally tumultuous times of our lives. When I think back to being sixteen, I can faintly recall a blur of emotions, intensity, social pressures, and an awkwardness that helps me relate to teens I have the honorof meeting every day. I cant even imagine how difficult it is these days with the internet and social media adding to the dramatic flair of the teenage years.
In the face of this distress there are coping skills that we can impart to our teens. Even in the most difficult of times, these steps can communicate a strong sense of empathy and support for our teenagers sense of being able to cope and manage their feelings more effectively.
Here is a list of coping skills that has been worked on by professionals and teenagers themselves. It has been incredibly helpful to get feedback from teens on the coping skills that have been helpful to them in facing their personal struggles.
- Breathing deeply and visualizing a safe calm place
- Drawing or painting
- Listening to uplifting music
- Going to the library
- Holding an ice cube
- Organizing space
- Sitting in the sun and closing your eyes
- Sucking on a peppermint
- Sipping a cup of hot tea
- Complimenting someone
- Practicing exercise
- Reading
- Writing yourself a nice note and keeping it in your pocket
- Dancing to music
- Going for a brisk 10-minute walk
- Going outside and listening to nature
- Calling a friend
- Writing positive affirmations on cards and decorating them
- Planting a flower in a pot
- Knitting or sewing
- Doing yoga
- Watching a funny or inspirational movie
- Making a collage of your favorite things
- Journaling
- Writing a poem
- Swimming, running or biking
- Making a gratitude list
- Doing a good deed
- Counting backwards from 500
- Writing something positive about yourself for every letter of the alphabet and decorating it