Guilt can stand in the way of accomplishing things in life and can even be used as a motivator to change people’s behaviors. This is particularly problematic when it’s used to change the behavior of children or teens. A teen with an overly active conscience, or anxiety, may wish to be viewed positively by their parents/authority figures and will strive to do as they are told at all times in order to receive approval. This can be detrimental to your teen.

Excessive guilt or false guilt is not healthy. A teen carrying excessive guilt risks developing low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression. To prevent guilt from impairing your teen’s life and future, understand more about what its symptoms may mean, so you can intervene sooner rather than later.

Is This Your Adolescent?

Adolescence is a difficult stage, and many teenagers can behave in unusual ways. Their behaviors may be perceived as “normal teenage behavior”, though when your teenager is exhibiting extreme signs of low self-esteem, they may be experiencing excessive guilt. Low self-esteem can be characterized by; keeping their head down to avoid eye contact, being hypercritical or using a lot of negative words about themselves, apologizing constantly, and/or avoiding people and social events. It is important to not ignore these signs if they are raising concerns for you.

As a defense mechanism, your teen may instead show the opposite behavior in an attempt to feel good inside. They may bully and look down on other people. They may engage in teasing, gossiping, or bragging about their accomplishments. They may talk in a loud voice to attract attention.

Does My Teen Need Help for Their Guilt?

When your teen is affected daily by their guilt, and it is persistent, it may be time to seek the help of a professional. Guilt can be a roadblock on the path to a healthy, productive life. Over time, it can contribute to your son/daughter’s low self-esteem and negativity, which in turn can breed or reinforce depression or anxiety.

Burdened by the weight of false guilt, your teen may fear making decisions that are important to achieving their life goals. When they are afraid of being criticized, they may fail to learn how to make rational decisions or stand by their actions. They may spend their life pleasing others, spending too much time on the needs of others rather than their own, tiring themselves out in the process.

Reading the Signs Properly to Provide the Right Help

Perceiving your teen’s behavior as “just being a teen” may prevent you from recognizing that they are going through real difficulties. This can delay the attention and help they may need. If they are showing guilt symptoms, it may be wise to explore your concerns with a licensed professional – contact Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay – Varina, NC to schedule an appointment.

A great way to know what is bothering your teen is to have their symptoms properly assessed by a licensed therapist independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Fuquay – Varina, NC. Teenage years can be hard, make them easier, make that call now.