The Emotional Lives of Teenagers

I read The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents by Lisa Damour after seeing the title on my friend's GoodReads page. Since I may have faced an emotional teenager at times, the book seemed relevant, so I got the audiobook from the library. The book description reads, "In teenagers, powerful emotions come with the territory. And as teens contend with with academic pressure, social media stress, worries about the future, and concerns about their own mental health, it’s easy for them—and their parents—to feel anxious and overwhelmed. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Parents who read this book will learn:
• what to expect in the normal course of adolescent emotional development and when it’s time to worry
• why teens (and adults) need to understand that mental health isn’t about “feeling good” but about having feelings that fit the moment, even if those feelings are unwanted or painful
• strategies for supporting teens who feel at the mercy of their emotions, so they can become psychologically aware and skilled at managing their feelings
• how to approach common challenges that come with adolescence, such as friction at home, spiking anxiety, risky behavior, navigating friendships and romances, the pull of social media, and many more
• the best ways to stay connected to their teens and how to provide the kind of relationship that adolescents need and want."

This was such a good read. I found it super relatable and relevant, and it was a great parenting guide on how to navigate interactions with teenagers in a healthier, more helpful way. I found myself laughing at times because it was describing things exactly how I've experienced them. Mostly it just helped me understand why teenagers have such emotional states at times and the importance of how I can best support my kids. This was a great book. I may purchase it so I have it to refer back to.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)