>>
>> I
>> I THINK TEENAGERS HAVE AN INNER LIFE THAT MOST ADULTS IN
THEIR LIFE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.
>> FULL DISCLOSURE, I HAVE TWO
TEENAGE DAUGHTERS OF MY OWN AND
IT CAN BE TOUGH.
I WANTED TO PULL BACK THE
CURTAIN ON THE SECRET LIVES OF
TEENS.
TEENS.
TEENS. I
TEENS. I WENT TO THREE EXPERTS WHO
REALLY KNOW TODAY'S TEENS.
AND THEY ALL ENDED UP TELLING
ME THE SAME THING AND IT'S
SOMETHING THEY SAY WE PARENTS
NEED TO HEAR.
WE SHOULD BEGIN BY TELLING YOU
THE STORY ABOUT THE INNER LIFE
OF TEENS, WE ARE NOT TALKING TO
TEENS.
TEENS.
TEENS. WE
TEENS. WE ARE TALKING TO THE PEOPLE
THEY CONFIDE IN.
HEATHER FLEECE A JUNIOR HIGH
PASTOR FOR 26 YEARS, GEORGIA
SCHREIBER ARE LICENSED
THERAPIST WHO IS CANCELED THAT
COUNSELED TEENS FOR 20 YEARS
AND MICHELLE LIVINGSTON, A
STAFF MEMBER AT A NONPROFIT
SERVING TEENS.
SERVING TEENS. THESE WOMEN ARE IN THE TRENCHES
EVERY DAY AND AGREED TO SIT
DOWN WIH US BECAUSE THERE IS A
MESSAGE YOU NEED TO HEAR.
>> I REALLY CONSISTENTLY
EMCEEING THE SAME THING OVER
AND OVER AGAIN.
>> TEENS TODAY ARE OVER
BELLOWED AND AND OVERWHELMED
AND IT'S MAKING THEM SICK.
>> THE PRIMARY THING IS THE
STRIVING WITH ANXIETY.
>> STRIVING TO GET INTO A GOOD
COLLEGE.
COLLEGE.
COLLEGE. THEY HAVE TO PROVE THEY ARE NOT
ONLY AN EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT --
>> THEY CARE TOO MUCH.
>> AN EXCEPTIONAL ATHLETE AND
AN EXCEPTIONAL PERSON.
>> WE HAVE KIDS WHO CAN LETTER
AND VOLUNTEERING.
AND VOLUNTEERING. USED TO BE KIDS WOULD JUST
VOLUNTEER BECAUSE THEY WANTED
TO.
TO.
TO. AND
TO. AND NOW MANY OF THEM ARE DOING
IT SO THEY CAN HAVE THAT ON THE
RESUME.
RESUME.
RESUME. >> THE PRESSURE TO PERFORM IS
CAUSING THEM TO GRAB.
>> THIS IS SUSTAINABLE.
EVENTUALLY IT'S GOING TO CAUSE
EITHER A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE OR
IT'S GOING TO CAUSE SOME SORT
OF ADDICTION.
OF ADDICTION. >> TO AVOID A MENTAL HEALTH
CRISIS, PARENTS NEED TO LOWER
THE BAR ON EXPECTATIONS.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF COLLEGES.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY.
IT'S SO UP HERE.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ROOM
IN HERE.
IN HERE.
IN HERE. AND THAT CAN EQUAL SUCCESS FOR
YOUR KIDS PUT THE MAC THE MOST
IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO TO
ENSURE YOUR CHILD'S MENTAL
HEALTH, IS TO TAKE THE TIME TO
TRULY CONNECT.
TRULY CONNECT. >> THAT TAKES TIME AND
CONVERSATION.
CONVERSATION. AND NOT CONVERSATION ABOUT YOUR
GRADES OR HOW WAS PRACTICE?
BUT HOW ARE YOU DOING?
>> AND WHEN THEY TELL YOU,
WHATEVER THEY TELL YOU, PUT ON
YOUR BEST POKER FACE.
>> THEY ARE FEARFUL THEY WILL
BE JUDGED.
BE JUDGED. THEY WILL -- THEY ARE FEARFUL
THEY WON'T BE SUPPORTED AND GET
YELLED AT.
YELLED AT. SO THEY TRY TO DROP LITTLE
CRUMBS WEATHER THROUGH THEIR
BEHAVIOR OR THROUGH MENTIONING
THINGS TO GET THERE PARENTS TO
INQUIRE TO SEE IF THEY WILL
KEEP THEIR POKER FACE OR FREAK
OUT.
OUT.
OUT. DEPENDING ON HOW THE PARENT
RESPONSE DETERMINES IF THE TEAM
CONTINUES TO SHARE.
>> YOU CAN FREAK OUT LATER.
WITH YOUR SPOUSE OR YOUR YOUR
PARTNER IN PRIVATE OR WITH A
FRIEND.
FRIEND.
FRIEND. IN THAT MOMENT, YOU'VE JUST GOT
TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION.
>> WE NEED TO LISTEN TO OUR
KIDS AND FOLLOW THEIR LEAD AND
BE HUMBLE ENOUGH TO DO THAT.
>> AND BRAVE ENOUGH TO TAKE
SOMETHING OFF THEIR OVERFULL
PLATE IF THAT'S WHAT THEY NEED
TO STAY HEALTHY.
>> YOU CAN BE SUCCESSFUL BUT IF
YOU ARE GOING TO BE STRUGGLING
WITH A MENTAL ILLNESS, YOU MAY
END UP WITH NOTHING YOU WORK
FOR.
FOR.
FOR. >>
FOR. >> A
FOR. >> A RECENT STUDY SHOWED A 20%
INCREASE IN THE DIAGNOSES OF
ANXIETY IN KIDS BETWEEN THE
YEARS 2007 AND 2012.
THE RESEARCH SHOWS THOSE
NUMBERS ARE RISING.
IT'S AN ISSUE IN OUR SOCIETY.
A LOT OF QUESTIONS PARENTS HAD,
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD'S TO
THE POINT WE NEED AFFECTIONAL
HELP?
HELP?
HELP? TOMORROW MORNING ON SUNRISE,
THEY WILL FOCUS AND DIRTY WILL
FOCUS ON THAT TOPIC AND SHE
WILL BE ON FACEBOOK AT 7 AM TO
TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.
THIS STORY EVERY TIME I TOLD
SOMEONE I WAS WORKING ON IT.
I HAD PARENTS TELLING ME THEIR
OWN PERSONAL STORY WITH THEIR
CHILD STRUGGLING WITH THIS
ISSUE OR SING A GOOD FRIENDS
CHILD IS STRUGGLING.
>> IT'S A REAL DEAL.
IS SO IMPORTANT THE POKER FACE
-- MY GOODNESS.
BUT THEN PULLING THE THINGS OFF
THE PLATE.
THE PLATE. >> DIRTY SAYS CHILDREN WILL BE
IN CRISIS AND PARENTS ARE STILL
SAYING WAIT UNTIL HOCKEY
SEASONS OVER.
SEASONS OVER. >> I THINK CHILDREN ARE MORE
CAPABLE OF PULLING THINGS AWAY.
IT'S THE PARENTS THAT SAY KEEP
THE PLATE FULL.
>> WE'VE INVESTED SO MUCH.