It isn’t your imagination: being a teen is hard. You’re learning new things academically and socially, while also trying to figure out who you are as a person. Being deaf can make an already challenging experience feel overwhelming. Here are some tips on what you need to successfully survive your teen years.

Tips To Help Deaf Teens Through Teenage Years

1. Schedule Some Time to Rest

Many teens aren’t getting enough rest. As a deaf teen, many social situations may make you feel anxious and tax your energy levels. You may constantly feel overloaded with information and as though everything is a little harder for you than everyone else. Perhaps you spend so much time advocating for yourself, that being ‘on’ all the time and explaining your deafness to everyone is simply exhausting.

This is why sleep and relaxation are so important. Schedule some time to do something you really enjoy that helps your body recharge. It is also a good idea to take your devices off to give you some real quiet time to rest your hearing.

2. Invest Time in Hobbies and Physical Activities

Physical exercise is one of the best and easiest mood stabilisers. If you’re feeling frustrated or angry, consider going for a run, lifting weights, or engaging in another physical activity. At the same time, consider starting or going back to hobbies that you enjoy, and trying out new things. Your teen years are the perfect time to figure out what kinds of things you like.

3. Spend Some Time With Your Family

Your family time can be incredibly valuable socially. As you grow older, you may feel as though you want to spend less time with your family, or you may feel as though you want more independence overall. But checking in with your family can help you gain perspective on issues that you’re currently experiencing.

4. Practice Being More Responsible

Being a teenager is often about training your brain. Take some time to take on responsibility. Create a schedule for yourself, develop a chore list, or take on more responsibilities such as caring for a family pet. Being more responsible actually helps you. When you’re responsible for something else in your life, it helps build your self-worth and self-esteem.

5. Take Some Time to Talk

Whether with a school guidance counsellor, a therapist, or a network of your peers, be mindful about your emotions and schedule some time to talk about things. Just explaining your feelings and your situation to someone else can help you really figure out your emotions and how you’re feeling, as well as helping you feel more connected.

Being deaf can make everything feel a little more difficult. Meeting new friends who also identify as deaf can help. We offer a wide variety of programs that are intended to help with building resilience, communication skills, negotiation skills, and problem solving. If you need help, contact us today.

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