Bolingbrook, Illinois, is widely recognized as a fabulous community to raise a family. It has maintained much of its small-town culture despite 75,000 residents calling it home.
When looking for a diverse city with high-quality public schools and lower crime rates for your family, Bolingbrook checks all the boxes.
In 2019, Bolingbrook was named one of the safest cities in Illinois. It also secured a spot on Money.com’s list of the best places to live in America.
Despite all the incredible perks that accompany living in an affluent community such as Bolingbrook, there can be aspects that are difficult for teens growing up in higher-achieving environments.
When your teen is going through a tough time or struggling with an issue, it can be hard to know when to make an appointment with a counselor. This article will explore why our teens face higher rates of mental health issues and how you can find counseling support in Bolingbrook.
Our Teens Are Stressed
There is no question that teens are facing more pressure than ever. Some of their stressors include:
- Expectations
A 4.0-grade point average is no longer sufficient in high-achieving communities. Teens feel enormous pressure to manage their “portfolios” by juggling all the stressors of AP classes, high grades, elevated sports performance, community service, and a myriad of extracurricular activities.
Internal and external expectations for success can influence teens to lose sleep and work until they’re exhausted. This can be a catalyst for anxiety, depression, suicide ideology, and various addictions.
- Social media
Our teens have unlimited access to social media. According to Johns Hopkins University, nearly 75% of teens in the United States have at least one social media account, and 95% have access to a smartphone.
Increased interaction online can increase the pressure your teen is coping with. More time on social media can increase their risk of being exposed to cyberbullying, harassment, sexting, predators, sleep problems, and more.
- Bullying
Bullying is another pressure teens face, and it’s so much more than one teen being unkind to another.
Bullying is “a repeated aggressive behavior where one person (or group of people) in a position of power deliberately intimidates, abuses, or coerces an individual with the intention to hurt that person physically or emotionally.”
A teen can be bullied:
- Emotionally.
- Physically.
- By intimidation.
- Sexually.
- Racially.
- By cyberbullying.
- Global Pandemic:
Social connections are critical to a teen’s emotional well-being, and since the pandemic began, 46% of teen parents report their teens displaying new or worsening mental health symptoms.
The pandemic has ushered less time with friends, which feels isolating for teens. Remote learning and canceled social interactions have led to more time on social media and playing video games.
Additionally, teens are coping with fear and grief related to the losses associated with the pandemic.
Bolingbrook Teen Counseling
Our counselors at Eunoia Counseling incorporate a blend of counseling methods to empower your teen. Therapy benefits your child as they learn coping strategies to thrive.
Get in touch with us at Eunoia today and learn how we can partner with you and your family.
