Teen Grief

Teenagers are people too…………………They hurt, they grieve!!!

Grief for an adult can be difficult at best.  But for a teenager it is harder yet. Why is this?

1.  They go into denial mode.  They deny the reality of the passing, which makes healing very difficult.

2.  Some believe it is somehow their fault that the person passed.

3.  Some teens can become suicidal and it can lead to some developmental issues. 

4.  Some kids act out by becoming involved in gangs, alcohol and drugs.     Some can withdraw into themselves.

5.  Many could feel a sense of insecurity or have feelings of fear or even guilt associated with the loss.

6.  Feelings of loss can manifest through physical illness such as headaches, stomach aches when there is no medical basis for the symptoms.

With all of this being said and done, children need to be able to verbalize their grief. As adults, our mouth needs to be closed; our ears open at all times, our presence available.  Allow our grieving teens to speak and be heard. Give them the opportunity to come to grips with their feelings and then to verbalize their thoughts at a later time if there is a need for professional counselling, then this can be arranged.

It is imperative to assure our teens that are facing the loss of a parent or friend, that it is not the teen’s fault.  They did not cause the person to pass.

Grief can be one of life’s most difficult experiences.  There are no easy answers, everyone is unique and each situation has to be handled on its own merit.

Always remember: “To experience grief is to acknowledge we are human.”