Emotional literacy is the ability to recognize, manage and express your emotions, which also allows you to understand the emotions of others. Developing a strong foundation in emotional literacy is important for many reasons. It can foster better mental health, stronger relationships, emotional maturity and academic success. 

For many teenagers, feelings can be confusing and difficult to process. Emotional literacy can be challenging to develop, and as a parent, you may observe signs that your child is struggling. Identifying and addressing these signs can help your teen, and our team is here to provide support.

Here are five common signs your teen may be struggling with emotional literacy.

5 signs your teen may be struggling with emotional literacy

Recognizing the following indicators is the first step toward helping your teen overcome emotional literacy challenges:

• Difficulty naming or describing emotions

Some teens have trouble articulating their emotions. They may say they feel “fine” when they don’t, or they may say nothing at all. If a teen cannot describe their emotions, they may bottle up their feelings, which can cause frustration or an emotional shutdown. As a parent, you might see your teen avoiding conversations about their feelings or providing vague answers to questions. You can share your own feelings to provide them with healthy models, for example, “I feel unhappy because …” If you listen to your teen and let them know you understand, they may be encouraged to express their feelings more.

• Frequent emotional outbursts

When emotions build up, they can lead to an outburst. Common types of outbursts include yelling, crying and slamming doors. If your teen has trouble regulating their emotions, it’s possible that they don’t understand them. This lack of understanding can lead to an explosive reaction to a small trigger. You may also notice mood swings and outbursts that happen quickly. A great tip is to validate their feelings. You can say, “I see that you’re upset,” and help your teen describe their feelings and the cause. 

• Trouble with friendships and relationships

Without emotional literacy, there can be conflict and a lack of communication in relationships. Fortunately, your teen can strengthen this skill, and developing healthy emotional literacy can help your teen maintain better relationships, reducing the temptation for isolation. If your teen is struggling, you may notice them arguing with their siblings or friends, being excluded from activities, or avoiding social situations entirely. You can help your teen through this challenge by encouraging them to use “I feel” statements. This strategy can help them communicate more clearly with others. 

• Withdrawal and isolation

Teens may withdraw from social situations because they can’t express their feelings. They may also isolate out of fear of being misunderstood. Continued isolation can worsen feelings of sadness, loneliness and anxiety. It can also cause them to feel disconnected from everyone else. As a parent, you may see your teen spending long periods of time in their room and declining invitations to social events. Even though you want to respect their space, you can check in from time to time. Let them know that it’s OK to share their emotions with you.

• Physical signs of stress without explanation

When a teen doesn’t express their emotions, it can lead to physical signs. They might have headaches, fatigue or difficulty sleeping. It can be easy to interpret these signs as physical issues rather than emotional ones. You may notice your teen complaining about not feeling well, missing school, or having difficulty sleeping without any obvious explanation. To help alleviate these signs, you can encourage your teen to engage in stress-reducing activities like taking a short walk or journaling.

How you can support your teen

According to a report from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, 76.9% of parents reported their teens always get the social and emotional support they need. However, only 26.7% of teens feel fully supported. 

Fortunately, you can try several strategies to make your teen feel understood and less alone, including:

Start with open conversations

Create an environment where your teen feels supported and heard. Instead of asking yes or no questions, ask open-ended questions like, “What was the hardest part of your day?” Listen and show that you understand your teen’s feelings. You can say, “It makes sense that you feel that way” and refrain from judgmental language that can cause them to stop sharing their emotions. 

Teach helpful tools

You can share helpful strategies with your teen. Journaling can be a great way for your teen to articulate and understand their emotions. They can try calming exercises like deep breathing when they feel overwhelmed. Many teens also do well creatively expressing themselves through art or music.

Get professional support when needed

Licensed clinical therapists can identify and address signs of emotional literacy challenges. Trained professionals have experience helping teens regulate their emotions and strengthen their emotional literacy. Finding additional support can help your teen feel better sooner.

How Lightfully can provide support

Observing the signs of your teen struggling with emotional literacy can be challenging, but your teen can build this essential skill. Now that you know the signs to look for and proven strategies to try, you can help your teen feel supported. If these tips haven’t produced the outcome you’ve been hoping for or you would like additional support, a licensed clinical therapist can help.

At Lightfully, we use evidence-based and whole-person-centered care to help each person we serve. No matter what your teen may be going through, we’re here to provide a safe environment, listen to your teen and give professional support. We are currently accepting admissions for our Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). These programs can provide therapeutic support for teens while allowing them to go home after treatment each day. We can help determine which option would be most appropriate for your teen.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of your teen.