The Effect of Divorce on Adolescents
Are you concerned that your teenager will struggle with the news of your divorce? Do you wonder whether your teenager can emotionally handle your divorce? When you end your marriage, you never intend on altering the course of your child’s life, and you may never want them to be negatively affected by the situation. However, many children deal with divorce in different ways, and they may struggle to accept their new reality. At counseling in Winter Garden, we work with many adolescents to get through these family issues without the negative effects. These are some of the most common ways that divorce can affect adolescents.
Mood Swings
Adolescents do not fully understand how to cope and manage their emotions when they are overwhelmed, angry, or confused. This may lead to an increase in their irritability and a rise in their actions to deal with these emotions. They may direct their irritable behaviors towards people they love the most, like parents, grandparents, and trusted friends. When this occurs, talk to them about the root of their emotions so that you can understand why they are acting out.
Decreased Interest in School
When children have disruptions to their everyday routine, they will become confused. They may even blame themselves for the divorce. These disruptions can cause them to slack off at school, skip classes, miss homework assignments, and drift off during lectures. As this occurs, you will notice their academic performance start to lower, and their grades may also suffer. Talk with your child’s school and teachers so everyone is there to support your child through these difficult times.
Decreased Socialization
Many children also may suffer from disruptions to their social life, which can impede their social skills if this continues over time. They may start to feel social anxiety, withdrawn behaviors, and low self-esteem that can make it difficult to meet new friends and connect with others. Divorce may make children feel as though it is tough to connect with other individuals, especially those who are not from similar circumstances.
Constant Guilt
Many children that have divorced parents may blame themselves in the beginning. They may feel like they have done something wrong to cause their parents’ marriage to fail, and this can lead to an increased pressure to perform in other aspects of their life. It can eventually cause depression, anxiety, stress, and many other health problems.
These are a few of the most common issues that adolescents may face when their parents go through a divorce. If you and your spouse are splitting up, it may be better to face these issues with your adolescent sooner rather than later. Consider working in counseling in Orlando to have a space to discuss and heal as a family. Contact Orlando Thrive Therapy to hear how we can help you and your teens today.
