4 WAYS TO HELP YOUR TEENAGER DURING LOCKDOWN

This is how you can make your adolescent process emotions positively during a difficult phase


Social distancing can be hard, especially for teenagers used to spending most of their waking hours with friends. Now, during this lockdown, several teenagers are struggling with being confined to the home.

“Most teenagers are experiencing insomnia or sleep pattern disruptions. They’re sleeping at 5 or 6 am and getting up in the afternoon. There is a lack of concentration and focus, low motivational drive, and irritability. They’re getting into scraps with their parents over home chores. Their use of social media and gaming have gone up. And unfortunately, even pornography,” says Dr Zirak Marker, senior psychiatrist and advisor at Mpower - The Centre.

Experts share how to help young adults deal with the situation:

Find the trigger

“First, figure out why the lockdown is difficult for them,” says clinical psychologist Priyanka Kartari. “Is it because they don’t have access to their friends? Is it because they don’t like the house? Sit down and figure out what you can do to make it easier for them.”

Set a firm schedule

Dr Marker believes setting a proper routine with fixed timings for meals with the family, exercise, socialising with friends, sleeping, etc.

will help teenagers get back on track. “None of us has fixed a time for exercise or socialising with friends online. It’s important for parents to bring everyone together for basic interaction — whether it’s breakfast/lunch/dinner.”

Give them freedom

Now that they’re confined to the house, many teenagers are struggling with a lack of independence and the ability to make decisions for themselves.

According to Kamna Chhibber, HOD, Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, adolescents need reassurance. “Engage them in decisionmaking and provide them with opportunities to make choices, not just for themselves, but for what activities the family can do together.”

Don’t overwhelm them

“It is critical that parents themselves remain calm and relaxed,” points out Chhibber. She says that parents should hold back on sharing troubles and challenges with their kids, who can get overwhelmed. Focus on helping them express what they are going through. “Give them the space to share their thoughts and keep giving them reassurance,” says Chhibber.

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