Just in time for Valentines Day, my latest article for UT HealthLeader tackles the topic of teen heartbreak. Remember how painful that first breakup was? I remember sulking in my room for hours and thinking I was never going to be happy ever again. Of course, I got back in the swing of high school life soon enough. But the experience was rough at the time.
Why is first love so intense? Blame hormones, says my source for the article, UT Health psychiatrist Oscar Bukstein. Also, the brains of teens still are not fully developed (a fact every parent of a teen knows). So parents should cut teens some slack for their moody, mopey behavior. Be there for them. Don't give heavy handed advice. Just listen.
And hopefully that will get you through another Valentine's Day.
In related news: Worried because your teen is not dating? Check out my sidebar on wallflowers and latebloomers.