Support resources for teens who are struggling with mental health, stress, and overwhelming emotions. Many teens struggle with overwhelming emotions, stress, or pain that can be hard to explain. If you’re feeling stuck, confused, or hurting inside, you’re not alone. Help is available. This blog is a safe, judgment-free space to share information, coping skills, and support for teens who are dealing with complicated feelings or urges to hurt themselves. Our goal is not to shame or scare, but to help you understand what you’re feeling, learn healthier ways to cope, and find support when you need it.
Healing is possible, even if it doesn’t feel that way right now.
Understanding When You Need Support
Understanding when to seek support can be tricky. Self-harm can be visible or invisible to family and friends, and it may not be easy to know when your intense emotions have become concerning. It is natural to experience negative emotions like anger, sadness, irritation, fear,
distance, loneliness, etc., so how do you know when to seek help? You should seek help if:
Having a strong desire to relieve intense emotions.
o Do you feel so overwhelmed by your emotions that you feel like you cannot escape?
Difficulties communicating distress
o Can you communicate how you feel when you experience intense emotions?
Needing to punish yourself and/or are experiencing self-blame
o Do you think “it’s your fault” that you are experiencing these intense emotions, or is the situation causing these emotions?
Needing to regain control
o Do you feel as though you have no control over your life and need to feel in control?
Common Reasons Teens Seek Mental Health Help
Teens experiencing stressful life events, traumatic or abusive experiences, difficulties in relationships, and problems at home and/or school.
Retaliation against real or perceived wrongs
Relief or escape from unbearable pain
To distract the family from another issue
Intense pressure to succeed
Humiliating experiences
Pregnancy
Break-up with peers
Bullying
Tips
Healthy Coping Skills and Emotional Support Options
Having a safe adult to talk to
o School guidance counselor, parents, preacher, mentor, etc.
Identifying triggers to intense emotions
Find stress reduction activities (yoga, listening to music, walking, hiking, gym, etc)
Using grounding techniques (Deep breathing (5-4-3-2-1 technique)
What to Do in a Crisis or Emergency
In case of an emergency crisis, call your local emergency number and/or 988 suicide and crisis hotline.
Create a safety plan
Know when to get help
Use coping skills
Reach out to social support
Seek help from professionals
Overall, having a safe adult to talk to about life problems, being able to identify triggers, and
strengthening problem-solving, interpersonal, and emotion-management skills help you navigate
self-harm. Remember, self-harm is not a way of “attention-seeking” but a cry for help. With the
right tools, you, too, can overcome self-harm.
If you or anyone you know is experiencing self-harm, feel free to reach out for a free
consultation. Work phone: (239) 565-6921| Cellphone: (448) 242-4266| Email:
info@butterflyhavencounselingandwellness.com