Distress Is Part of Teen Life

Pretend you have a complete toolbox, but the hammer is the only tool you feel comfortable using. Tightening bolts or inserting screws becomes impossible if you won’t use other tools. As a culture, we inadvertently send teens a message to avoid negative emotions and only pull the positive ones from their emotional toolbox. We don’t need to be frightened about distress, even if we don’t look forward to feeling it. Distress is a part of life and serves a critical role in shaping who we are. The key is knowing what to expect, when to worry, and what to do.

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