The Negative Voices In Your Teenager's Head Summary

In his article entitled “The Negative Voices in Your Teenager’s Head,” Sean Grover L. C. S. W. provides parents with a glimpse into the socioemotional lives of their adolescents. The first half of the article details the pitfalls of everyday adolescent life. He begins by writing from the point of view of what one might deem a “typical” teenager: one surrounded by new and sometimes daunting challenges, full of terror covered up by angst and a false sense of outer well-being. By describing the teenager’s self-talk, Grover sheds light on why adolescents might react with aggression towards their parents, who seemingly could not understand the struggle of teenage life. For example, the author describes that a teenager may feel drawn towards monotonous entertainment because they find themselves unable to be truly alone with their thoughts and emotions. Without sympathizing too heavily with his imaginary

His first suggestion, to give space to the adolescent in question, seems to be helpful for both the parent and child. He suggests that parents refrain from yelling at their child and instead take their access to electronics away in an attempt to allow the teenager to analyze their thoughts, away from the static of social media. By bringing the teenager into a quiet place, away from the distractions fueled by entertainment, the parent allows the teenager to feel quietly comforted. Though the teenager may object, or push against parental will, Grover suggests they will feel an underlying sense of relief. His last three suggestions boil down to empowering parents to cease showing affection for their teen in the form of spoiling and pampering, and instead find a trustworthy adult for their adolescent to talk to. Lastly, Grover suggests parents spend more time verbally expressing their love towards their turbulent