Youth Digital Storytelling

Attending counseling therapy is not something I am used to doing. But since my parents required me to attend one due to my depressive state, I happened to engage with a therapist and tell-all.

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But before I opened up about my darkest secrets and fears, I could ask the professional a few questions. Some include “will this therapy help me?” “Will the therapist do something about my current condition?” “Will the therapist ensure me that I can soon deal with my struggle?” and a lot more that requires assured answers to keep me from going on with the treatment. Reality therapy and medication can help you understand and focus on the underlying causes and get you out of your issues faster than you think.

As a teenager, I experienced quite a lot of rebellious acts that I am not proud of. People may think I acted because I wanted to do it for fun. But the truth is, my actions are far more unrelated to what I honestly feel. Some antics are made to let people close to me know that I want to hold my own life. But of course, some of them are by choice because I’m a brat who thinks she knows best and does not want to listen to anyone.

As part of my tough act, I dropped from school and never told my parents about it. I often stayed at a friend’s house, and I was pretty sure I was not in good hands there. I started drinking heavily, taking addictive substances and pills, smoking cigarettes and weed, and engaging in sexual activities with multiple partners.

These activities were not worthwhile but entertaining at that time, so I engaged. But I never thought I would soon pray the price.

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The First Dose Of Depression

With my actions, I thought I was trying to make a point that I was showing how I hate my parents because they are controlling me and are always telling me what to do with my life. I thought by going through all these negative things, I was actually making their lives miserable. However, the first realization that I was hurting myself was when I got diagnosed with AIDS.

I felt so depressed that at a young age, I would have to deal with a serious illness that not everyone is more than willing to talk about. I am 16, and having AIDS is something I know could ruin my social connection and probably end my life. I felt so terrified and, at the same time, deserving of the situation.

I told my therapist that after the disease’s health complications, I became so uncooperative with the treatment. I was too convinced I would suffer due to my actions. I hate myself for being inconsiderate of my parents and other people who only want what’s best for me. And now that I am suffering from the condition, all I can do is wished it should never have ended this way.

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The Severity Of My Mental Health

With the disease, I am more uncertain of what life brings. Now that I am dealing with this complication, all I can think of is ending everything, including my life. That is where my parents found me overdosed with pills in my bed. I was too sure that I wanted to die that day. But then God forbade me and sent my parents to check on me.

The moment I thought I would die, I admittedly felt scared. I want to live, but I can’t have the right reasons to keep moving. My disease is controlling me mentally and emotionally, and there’s nothing that anyone can do to make me feel better. Or at least cure me of this condition. During the therapy session, I cried wholeheartedly and told my therapist that I felt deeply sorry for hurting the people around me and ruining my life just because I wanted a little freedom.

I am more than willing to help myself change and become a better person. It’s not because I have an incurable disease but because I owe myself an apology.

Final Thoughts And Takeaway

I felt bad that I had to go through these entire struggles, but there was not much choice. I must be present and consider how I should spend my life accordingly. Not because I am diagnosed with a disease without a cure, it doesn’t mean my life should end. I believe that God allowed this to happen for a reason.

For teenagers like me who think they have control over everything, always remember that you are not invincible. Despite a younger age, you are still prone to different conditions. And what you do to your body will surely get you back big time. I learned my lessons the hard way. Please don’t be like me, who went overboard just because I want to prove to myself and others that I own my life. After all, we’re just kids who need guidance and support.

 

As a teenager, I have tons of academic responsibilities that I sometimes cannot handle. And aside from that, I also have a lot of duties and responsibilities at home that I need help managing. I believe the culprit for that is time management. But in reality, it’s about my mobile gaming addiction.

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I started thinking about going into therapy when I realized I was not myself anymore and was different from how I was. I used to be an organized teenager that handled her schedules well. I maintain good grades, accomplish daily household tasks, and even learn something interesting every day. But all of these quality traits suddenly changed when my mom bought me an android phone for my 17th birthday.

The mobile device was the most expensive gift I received, so I was so overwhelmed to have one. My mom told me I deserved it because I was doing great academically and was a good daughter. Honestly, it was all the reasons I can think of and agree with.

Every time I’m done with my school homework and also finished with my daily chores, that is where I use my phone. At first, I was responsible enough to use it on schedule and only when I had spare time. However, my habits changed when I installed a Multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game.

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The Unnoticeable Changes

A week after I started playing MOBA, I felt so entertained that I sometimes forgot about my daily chores. Sometimes I can make up the tasks and work on them double time, saving me the day. Then there are these school assignments that I missed submitting too, but I got a couple of passes due to my high exam scores. Thus, I thought a couple of unfinished responsibilities won’t hurt that much since I could still manage to come up with a better solution to fix my problems.

Then after a month of getting hooked on a particular MOBA game, I began to see the huge impact on my life. So suddenly, I lost interest in becoming the best at school. My classmates and teachers constantly asked me if I had a problem at home because I could no longer maintain good grades. I can no longer submit my school papers on schedule and have difficulty understanding most of our daily lessons. I am also not participating in extracurricular activities anymore and often sleeping while in class.

At home, I also experience the same struggle. My mom is constantly yelling at me for not attending to the needs of the house. I forget to throw a week’s bundle of trash. I do not wash the dishes and clean the house anymore. I do not clean my room and sometimes even do not take care of myself. I lost interest in self-care and often forgot to cater to my hygienic needs.

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The Emotional Turmoil

The problems with my unfinished home and house tasks are piling up, and as the days go by, I become less uninterested in accomplishing them. I only have time for playing, which I don’t want to quit doing.

With all the bad side comments I hear about what I do and how I change, I become resentful towards the people around me more. Their constant complaints about my bad attitude make me want to trigger them more and not give a damn about their feelings. I become so angry at them for always talking me out of using my phone. I can only clap back by insinuating that it is not my fault that mom gave the phone to me and it is not my fault that the school is now boring and longer interesting.

I became more hooked on my mobile game experience that when my mom took it away from me, I ransacked the whole house and ruined things. I can’t believe I even threatened her that I would commit suicide if she didn’t give back my phone. Worse, I threatened to kill her if I lost a rank in the game because she was holding my phone captive. All I could think of was getting a hold of my phone and continuing playing regardless if I hurt myself or my mom’s feelings. I was angry and frustrated just because I couldn’t play that stupid game.

Takeaway

It took me a while before I realized I was in serious need of mental health support. Seeking professional help was the most crucial part of my struggle because I didn’t believe I needed it. It was my family’s worst battle that made us think through our mental and emotional well-being.

Right now, I believe all is well. I am still using my phone and playing MOBA from time to time. But now, in moderation. My friends, family, and therapist are helping me cope with my mobile gaming addiction and supporting me with my emotional regulation recovery.

I have been a long-time fan of fantasy and animated movies ever since I can remember. I enjoyed watching fantasy movies while growing up. Their stories always hooked me and made me feel like I was really somewhere else, even if I was only in my bedroom. When it’s over, I feel better than ever. Have you heard about reality therapy?

My friends and family think and say I need to see a reality therapist, and I looked it up. Apparently, humans who experience similarly can benefit from real therapy.

What Is Reality Therapy?

Reality therapy is a form of therapy and an effective therapeutic strategy. In this treatment, the expert begins by guiding a person’s attention away from past behavior in order to focus on the present. A form of conventional therapy, reality therapy seeks to help individuals to improve relationships with others.

Reality therapy is a form of therapy that is solution-oriented and views behaviors as choices. It states that it is not because of mental health conditions that psychological symptoms occur, but because of the organized behaviors, we choose to satisfy unmet needs. Reality therapy treatment planning is also confidential because it rejects the diagnosis of stress and mental illness.

A therapist says that current behavior and feelings are not affected by past events, it is set on the present unmet needs. The therapist states that to attain desired results, a person needs to have a sense of their actions and take responsibility for their present behavior.

Why Being Good Is A Choice According To Reality Therapists?

Psychiatrist William Glasser developed the reality therapy perspective and choice theory. William Glasser’s choice theory and reality therapy were developed and medically reviewed after several years in clinical practice. Glasser believed that every individual has an inherent need to control their enjoyment and situations with their problem-solving, which causes people to show forceful behaviors.

According to choice theory, people have this perceived quality world that satisfies their basic needs. Essential needs like love and belonging. We always compare this perceived world to our reality which causes unhappiness, less freedom, and a failed relationship with survival love, which produces mental illness and unhappiness that may manifest a person’s problems. Glasser believed that we have control of our own behavior by choosing how to act and think. Check out the William Glasser Institute today for more info about this.

Now, if you think about movies like Disney’s Descendants, Minions, and recently Fe@rless, they have one thing in common. The villains in those films inherited their evilness from their parents. And it was not as if they had no control over doing it. In truth, they are in dire need of reality therapy. It helps people live out their current behavior and focus on becoming a better person through new connections.

Reality: It’s Easy To Be A Bad Person And Make Mistakes

Peer-reviewed studies revealed that it is so easy to be bad because the life satisfaction and overall behavior of bad people are typically thrill-seekers who need reality therapy methods. It entails that the more danger they put themselves in, the more they want to do something all over again until they achieve their goal. They thrive on action planning and risk. In the fantasy movies’ cases, that would be mass destruction and world domination. They would only stop if the heroes could render them powerless. Even in the real world, you know, it is also easy to become bad. It is always easier to make the wrong choices.

The reason is that people tend to follow in their parent’s footsteps. For instance, if the child sees their parents stealing, abusing substances, and doing other awful activities, they could see them as normal behavior. And when they grow up, they may think that those effective behaviors are the only way to get through life. It does not always happen, but you’ll be surprised at how many new actions commonly happen.

Choosing To Be Good Is Not Easy But Not Impossible

When bad people get busted for wrong or ineffective behaviors, others are quick to judge. They say, “Oh, apples don’t honestly fall too far from the tree.” Or, “Going to prison serves them right.” No One knows that poor choices may have been prevented if the wrongdoers had access to reality therapy. Believe it or not, you can control your behavior and choose to be good with reality therapy. You will gain a belonging power and support that is necessary for the situation.

Reality Therapy – An Effective Therapy

Saying the last statement out loud would often earn me weird looks from other people. They would nod and smile, but their eyes would be saying, “Okay, it’s your funeral.” Then, I would come across more blunt ones who would tell me that that’s a load of crap. “Bad people don’t change behavior,” they would insist. “If you try to help them, you will get sucked in and hurt in no time.”

I cannot blame the behaviors of those individuals for thinking this way, of course. I am privy to some folks who would act friendly when you are facing them. But when you turn your back, good luck – you cannot imagine the crazy things they might do or say about you.

Despite that, I will stand behind my initial belief that being good is a choice. It genuinely is. Although many people follow their parent’s evil deeds, become criminals, and embrace lawlessness, more people with worse role models fight hard to ensure that they would be nothing like their parents. I repeat: that is always a chore, especially when you think of how easy it is to choose to become bad. Still, they take every day that they don’t snap at someone a victory. Their behavioral choices keep them on the right path.

I have come across a number of people who did not know that they were doing awful things until they tried reality therapy. I would ask them to recount their past behaviors for self-evaluation and see if they were harmful to others. Once they realize it in reality therapy, they want to know how to make the correct choices and current behavior to become good. And while no two people are the same, the ideas on how to make a more fulfilling life are always similar. Reality therapy is a form of counseling that views behaviors as choices.

If You’re Angry, Back Away

When anger rules over you, it may seem that the genetic instructions are driven and easy that you can automatically confront the person who made you angry and brawled with him. That behavior informs others who’s boss and that they should not mess with you.

Despite that, good people don’t start fights. Instead, they back away and wait until they can control their behavior. Only when they are calm enough and have internal control to form coherent words that they speak up about their issues with the other person.

Don’t Do What You Never Want To Experience

It seems typical for wrongdoers to feel better about what they’re doing by thinking that they succeeded in their evil deeds because their victims allowed them. Well, that is not a very healthy way of thinking about the situation. It’s as if you are saying the others want to be taken advantage of, which is never the case.

As a rule of thumb in choice theory techniques, you should never try to do something that you don’t want to experience in this lifetime or the next. Reality therapy’s key concepts cover an ineffective slew of things. Whatever you can apply this to – be it robbing, hitting, etc. – you’re correct. You should never do any of them.

The effectiveness of becoming a good person should be easy when that’s what you have always strived to achieve. Even when you have done some awful things in life, you can still hope and be good if you choose it and by taking accountability. This is where reality therapy focuses.

Reality Therapy Conclusion

Is It Worth It To Try?

It is beneficial for people who have a hard time deciding because of life experiences and confusion about the things that happen because of external factors. Reality therapy and medication can help you understand and focus on the underlying causes and get you out of your issues faster than you think. If you have not heard of the nontraditional approach of reality therapy before, you can ask your reality therapists if they can provide it. Give it a shot. Seek professional help from the psychiatric community now to know how therapy can help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the basis of choice theory?

How is reality therapy different from CBT?

What are the three R’s of reality therapy?

What techniques are used in choice theory?

Who invented choice theory?

What are the five basic needs of reality therapy?

What are the weaknesses of reality therapy?

Who would benefit from reality therapy?

How can you know that you need reality therapy?

What theory is reality therapy?

What are the eight steps of reality therapy?

Were does choice theory focuses on?

Who is the founder of choice theory?

What are the criticisms of reality therapy?

What are the core principles of choice theory?

 

Whining or grumbling is not an uncommon thing in society. It surrounds us every day. Constant grumblers live to perform a chronic complaining sense of habit. If you are one of them, perhaps you should read this article.

Usual Objections

When I became a licensed psychologist and counselor, my brother dealt with me visiting his company once or twice a year and assessing his employees’ mental behavior. He wanted to seek solutions to one of the company’s biggest problems — that of a chronic complainer.

What is it with objections? How do we cope with chronic complaining every time we go across it?

How do negative people who violate clear boundaries at a work shift affect one’s positive attitude? Listen to what this article has to say.

It was set to be informal feelings where I could go through various departments, talk to constant protesters during breaks, or even chat with typical naysayers up in the hallways.

The goal was to acknowledge how protesters who constantly fire sad negativity through their non-stop whining and complaining, felt about their jobs, projects, and even teams of coworkers – perhaps distinguish chronic complainers from those who were not.

During my first few visits, constant protesters were a bit guarded about their words and emotions. They did not express fear or sympathy. It’s just pure negative energy and an unwarranted bad mood of expression. These lead to a certain response and validation that one could get stuck with out of sight. It gets everyone exhausted.

As you must know, many typical complainers saw mental health professionals as no different from law enforcers. It’s not like they are afraid, but rather the opposite. To them, health professionals and law enforcers fail to offer solutions and advice. They picture them as the ones who should not be in control that’s why they shut them.

Chronic Complainer Versus Usual Worker

A chronic complainer knew that I could see through his lies and that my presence could cost his job. But once I established that I was there to help constant protesters and not snitch on them to their big boss, constant protesters grew to trust me with positivity and sometimes even confide their worries to me. They join me in my session.

Different Perspectives

I wanted to see the room of perspective between the persistent complainer differently — the person who performs constant complaining — and the usual worker — the person who works and is happy about it. I want to support them by all means.

“It was set to be an informal setting where I could go through various departments, talk to constant protesters during breaks, or even chat constant protesters up in the hallways. The goal was to know how constant protesters felt about their jobs, projects, and even coworkers – perhaps distinguish constant protesters from those who were not.”

How To Spot Potential Chronic Complainers

In my brother’s company, they accepted part-timers and interns of any age. My brother did not care if the positive person was fresh out of high school as long as they were willing to learn and be good to most people in the company.

On my previous visit, I met an 18-year-old part-timer named Jane. She did not know who I was and assumed that I was a senior employee from another department.

She was even nice and sweet once we talked, and then I asked her how her first month was at the company. That’s when a slew of complaints flooded my eardrums. I can’t handle a single point of complaint, what more if there are tons?

Was she one of the annoying constant protesters?

The Frustrating Jane

“Well, you know,” Jane started, “I am still learning everything, but I have a hard time dealing with different managers here. They all have different skills and techniques for doing their jobs, and I was expected to learn all of them. I mean, why can’t they pair up one manager per intern so that my life would be easy here?”

The Overbearing Jane

I tried to understand and realize her through a world-harmonious conversation — the chronic complainer. There’s no threatening situation there as I said “I hear you, but I don’t see what’s wrong with any of them. Isn’t it good that you have managers doing all these things to ensure the project’s success?”.

“…chronic complainers were a bit guarded about their words. Many of them saw mental health professionals as no different from law enforcers. They knew that I could see through their lies and that my presence could cost their jobs. But once I established that I was there to help them and not snitch on them, chronic complainers grew to trust.”

“Sometimes, foster problems remain as problems because we do nothing to solve them. Things may get better if you speak up during work,” I advised.

I was no longer shocked when I did not see Jane anymore on my next visit. That’s how typical naysayers usually act – usual naysayers could be excellent at airing out their called-out or complained issues, but typical naysayers are awful at listening to what people suggest.

What’s my advice to all the young individuals who want to succeed in life? Please don’t be like cold Jane who loves to create a loud problem. Please break the cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Type Of Person Complains All The Time?

Is Complaining Toxic Behavior?

What Is The Root Cause Of Complaining?

What Does Complaining Do To The Brain?

What is chronic complaining?

How do you identify a persistent complainer?

How do you deal with a persistent complainer?

What are the different types of complainers?

What do you say to someone who complains?

What are the dangers of complaining?

Are persistent whiners toxic?

How do you identify a persistent whiner?

Is complaining a coping mechanism?

Is complaining narcissistic?

Are complainers happy?

 

The youth, especially those going through adolescence, can experience mental and emotional distress. As symptoms continue, it is necessary to seek immediate mental health assistance. Unaddressed mental health conditions can extend and develop as serious problems in adulthood. 

There are various ways to seek mental health therapy or counseling. If a physical session is difficult for your teenage child, maybe they can try remote treatment through teletherapy.  Through research and technological developments, therapy is now possible in the comfort of your own home.

With teletherapy, there is no more need to travel back and forth from the therapy clinic. It is truly convenient, especially to those who have busy schedules, as it saves transit time.

Moreover, it also helps those who have a physical disability to conveniently and independently attend sessions. The application and benefits of teletherapy are certainly endless as it grows like a field of practice.

Teletherapy may not seem like the conventional way to receive professional help. However, it is currently widely practiced, especially in this age of technology. Teletherapy became even more prevalent with the recent COVID-19 pandemic as people needed to stay home. 

The younger generation is open-minded to different available and practical options. It is, however, normal to have questions about this relatively new method of therapy for mental health care.

Usually, people wonder how it compares to the typical face-to-face therapy sessions. Is it as secure and effective? How does it work? Here are the frequently asked questions about teletherapy, its advantages, and how it can treat mental health.

Is teletherapy secure?

Yes. In teletherapy, the safety and security of the patient are of top priority. Like face-to-face therapy, the therapist would keep everything brought up within the session confidential.

Furthermore, most teletherapy platforms have end-to-end encryption to secure the confidentiality of each therapy session. It allows patients to feel safe and comfortable during their therapy sessions.

Does online therapy really work?

Despite numerous questions surrounding online therapy, studies have consistently shown its effectiveness in addressing mental health concerns. Not only is it practical, but some studies have also shown that it’s just as effective as face-to-face therapy. Furthermore, it is highly cost-effective in terms of sustaining follow-up therapy sessions. Online therapy is best for addressing conditions such as depression and anxiety disorders.

What is teletherapy?

Teletherapy refers to a type of therapy conducted by a licensed therapist through an online platform means. It can be through live video conferencing, text messaging, or calling.

This form of treatment has been around since the 1990s in the U.S. It is beneficial for a diverse range of treatments, such as occupational, speech, and mental health therapy.

What should I not tell my therapist?

The goal of therapy is to provide a safe space for patients to share their honest thoughts and feelings. It is regardless of whether these thoughts and feelings are good or bad.

Keep in mind that everything told within therapy sessions is kept confidential with certain legal disclosure limitations. However, other than that, honestly opening up to your therapist can help in your recovery. It will teach you many things about yourself that may be hard to face outside therapy sessions.

What are some possible advantages and disadvantages to online therapy?

Despite the proven advantages of online therapy, there also arise some disadvantages for particular circumstances. Looking at these pros and cons will allow you to decide if online therapy is suitable for you.

Some of the advantages of online therapy are remote accessibility, convenience, affordability, and effectiveness. Meanwhile, its disadvantages include insurance coverage limitations, technological privacy issues, limited body language evaluation, and other ethical and legal concerns.

Is online therapy expensive?

Like face-to-face therapy, online therapy fees vary depending on provider and type of communication. To give you an idea, chatting and messaging would start at around $40 a week.

Meanwhile, live video conferencing may cost approximately $59 to $99. It is significantly more affordable than in-person therapy, which typically ranges from around $75 up to $100.

Is online therapy as good as in person?

Research has found that online therapy can provide the same service quality as face-to-face therapy. Furthermore, it can also address a range of mental health concerns. Some patients may find online therapy the best therapy option depending on their individual circumstances and the severity of their condition.

What is online therapy called?

Online therapy is known in many terms, including teletherapy, e-therapy, e-counseling, or cybercounseling. Different providers and different online therapy platforms would use varying names, depending on preference.

What are the 3 types of therapy?

The three most common therapy types are psychodynamic therapy, behavioral therapy, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). These therapies can be conducted through one-on-one, group, or online therapies.

Essentially, a specific therapy would suit certain types of conditions and circumstances best. Make sure to talk to your therapy provider to know which type of therapy suits you best.

Teletherapy may be considered as one of the top choices when it comes to mental health therapy services. Because of its practicality and cost-effectiveness, mental health care is now more accessible to those in need.

Regardless of the type of therapy you need, teletherapy can be a good fit for you. It allows different types of therapy such as psychodynamic therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), or behavioral therapy, 

With the latest online security features, teletherapy is a safe and reliable option. It is proven to be effective since the convenience of teletherapy results in a more consistent follow-through. There will be significant savings in time and costs in the long run.

At the end of the day, the most important thing is your mental health. So, as long as you feel comfortable with online therapy, you can enjoy the benefits of teletherapy.

Just like any other form of treatment, teletherapy may have its disadvantages as well. Because there is the use of gadgets, technical and privacy issues may arise. Insurance coverage may also hinder people from seeking mental health care.

Aside from those, there are also limitations in the practice of therapy virtually. However, finding a professional and skilled mental health care provider can help ensure your therapy success.

The result of teletherapy varies per individual and their conditions. Make sure to consult with a healthcare provider first for the best assistance. Each person requires individualized treatment and care because every situation is unique.

A health professional’s expert opinion will help you understand how a specific kind of therapy, like teletherapy, can work for you.

The practical use of time and resources are contributors to a person’s mental health and well-being. So see to it to make practical choices when it comes to taking care of ourselves. Exploring and understanding our options is the first step towards enjoying a better quality of life.

We have come to a point in humanity where the previously judged and stereotyped have now become a huge part that defines us as people. From extreme hate and misunderstanding, we have come to love and appreciate the LGBT community. From misdiagnosing and shame, we have come to embrace and understand the common mental health disorders and issues of the world. And from controlling and manipulating our youth, we have come to allow them to be free to be passionate and express themselves. We have come a long way from the stereotypes that previous generations have created for us. We now live in a world that is more accepting and appreciative of change.

Continue reading Why Adolescents Are Prone To Cognitive Problems

They say our family affects our choices and opinions, our beliefs and truths, our red flags and green flags. In everything in our life, we are guided by the virtues and values of the family that we grew up in. We form everything around the norms that we grew up in. This is why some kids grow up to be passionate people and some grow up to be lost souls.

Continue reading Family Values And Virtues Shape Us

It didn’t occur to me that stress, anxiety, and depression can be brought about by this pandemic. It’s not just us parents who are experiencing these mental health issues. Even children are also susceptible to it. My third child broke down the other day, saying, “I cannot live in this house without going out for another day!” I had to talk to her and ask why she was feeling that way, and her reply was, “I am so sad, mom!”

Continue reading Kids And Teens Can Get Stressed Out Too With This Lockdown

The 2019 Digital Health Event discussed how emerging technologies and approaches could improve health. With these continuous advances, almost every information is within our reach, and our children’s. What we don’t want to explain to them, they can find unfiltered online. And one of those things we don’t want to talk about is sex.

But, the truth is that most teens wanted to get the sex talk from their parents, not from the web or their friends. If you don’t know where to start, here are some topics that you should include in the sex talk.

Body And Puberty

Start talking to them about their bodies at an early age, and use the correct names for their private parts when you start the talk. Explain to them what happens during puberty and how it is different for girls and boys, and from child to child. You may use anecdotes to help them better understand the changes their bodies will undergo.

Gender

Explain to your teens how gender is different from sex. And if they say that they don’t feel like the sex assigned to them at birth, then acknowledge and talk about it. What’s important is that you make your child loved and accepted, regardless of their gender identity.

Relationships

Your teen will most likely develop a romantic interest or relationship with another person when they hit puberty. That is why the best time to talk about sex is before that, as they will be less likely to act defensive about being in one when they’re younger. Also, never assume that your teen is only interested in having a relationship with the opposite sex. Talk about both heterosexual and same-sex relationships with them.

Intercourse, STD, And Pregnancy

When you start talking about sexual intercourse with them, talk about consent, and safe sex. Then, talk about the effects of unprotected sex – pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Your teen will be unlikely to tell you when they do try to have sex. That is why you should have a conversation about sex with them before they even do so.

Start early is the best tip for all parents when giving the sex talk. Your teens will listen; they’re just waiting for you to be ready to discuss it with them.

On lockdown and every day, my three teens always want a piece of the story that has long been buried. They have a lot of questions about their dad about me, about my parents, and his parents. No, we are not divorced, but he is not around. He is not around anymore. My husband was a hero, one of the firefighters who died in 9-11, and I always tell our children that he was the most honorable man I have ever met and had the privilege of loving.

Continue reading Talk And Bond With Teenage Kids – Lockdown Diaries