We’re all familiar with grief.
Grief manifests itself in a variety of ways. We all know this. We’ve all experienced this firsthand. We know just how ugly it can really get.
Grief hits teenagers particularly hard. Teenage years are already a tumultuous time, and grief can complicate the process. So what does grief look like for teenagers? Are there any common demoninators in terms of how grieving teenagers conduct themselves?
Unfortunately, the statistics on teenage grief are not very comforting. For example, 57% of young adults who lost a parent when they were in the 13-16 range say they do not feel they had a healthy way to process their grief in the first six months post-loss.
Often, unhealthy coping mechanisms snake themselves into teenagers’ lives. We are all familiar with teenage misuse of drugs and alcohol. But unhealthy grieving takes other forms as well. Unhealthy grieving can show itself in a greater tendency towards impulsivity, irrationality, and pessimism. Unhealthy grieving can ultimately reshape one’s personality.
So how do we rebuild? How do we come to terms with our loss and keep moving forward? It isn’t easy. It isn’t simple. It takes time and dedication. But as this video shows, it is possible.