What Lies Beneath: A Therapists Thoughts on Teenage Transitions and Turmoil
With thanks to our member, Chloe Borg, for this article.
Have you ever felt as though you’re reliving the ‘terrible two’s’ all over? Feeling overwhelmed, helpless, unequipped and unsure on how best to respond?
In my practice so far, it is becoming increasingly evident that teenagers are struggling to navigate their internal world not only emotionally, but physiologically too- like a washing machine of thoughts and feelings. In a world that is constantly consuming and trying to keep up with the next trend- not to mention the fast rise of AI for a quick solution, is it any wonder that many teenagers are feeling disconnected- not only from the people closest to them but from themselves?
As time goes on, I cannot deny my own curiosity as to whether these struggles are purely psychological. I continue to be drawn to the intricate relationship between hormonal shifts and the gut and the importance of this on an individual’s well-being. It is fact that during adolescence, hormonal fluctuations are a natural part of the transition from child to teen yet the turmoil that accompanies this is less often considered. The gut- often referred to as the ‘second brain’- is significant in regulating mood, anxiety and emotional balance.
I like to imagine the connection between the two like the tide. When the brain and body are in balance communicating effectively, they are smooth gentle waves and when the two are out of balance it’s like having two different tides moving in different directions at the same time resulting in unpredictable currents. Apply this to teens it can often leave them feeling as though they are trying to navigate something they have no control over with a backwards compass feeling more like a passenger of the ship rather than the captain. In practice recognising this helps to shift the narrative from ‘what is wrong with me?’ to ‘what might my body be trying to tell me?’ this simple change in narrative can help to alleviate so much frustration and hopelessness helping my clients to feel more in control of there ship again they begin to feel empowered and curious rather than confused and frustrated.
When we begin to magnify what lies beneath, teenage turmoil starts to make more sense. Having an understanding even at a basic level of the relationship between hormones, the gut and emotional wellbeing helps us to acknowledge that teenagers are trying to manage something that is actually quite complex the more we unravel the messy ball of wool, reminding us to deepen and broaden our knowledge and therefore making room for us to respond from a place of empathy, compassion, warmth and curiosity. This will create a space where young people feel safe to be vulnerable and let us inside there world. The growing pressures of society on people in general today let alone young people can be damaging to someone’s perception of self, perhaps, then the question should not be focused on managing teenage behaviour, but how we as therapists, teachers, parents, professionals and members of society can think outside of the square peg round hole and think more along the lines of ‘what do I not yet understand?’ and ‘how can I support this person to get back in the captains seat?’
www.chloebtherapy.com
