Learning to be BOLD

Guest Blog by Jen Moyer, LPC

In the last two blogs, you learned how to recognize when anxiety is keeping you stuck in a cycle of avoidance and now to use motivational skills and committed action to break the cycle of anxiety and live more aligned with your values.

Anxiety often feels overpowering, for the person who experiences it and for the parent who witnesses their teen or young adult struggle. 

As a parent, it can feel confusing — even jarring — to watch your sweet, snuggly child suddenly morph into someone who seems to roll their eyes at everything you say.

They slam doors. They cry harder than you expect over things that seem small. They question every rule. They want space. Lots of it.

There’s a moment that hits harder than you expect.

The moment your child stops asking for hugs.

The moment the jokes get an eye roll instead of a laugh.

The moment you feel like you’re tiptoeing just to keep the peace.

It’s not that you’re afraid of your teen.

Summer is supposed to be a break—but for a lot of families, it becomes a season of stress. When your teen is struggling with big emotions, impulsive behaviors, or frequent outbursts, the downtime can feel anything but relaxing.

We all hit moments that feel like too much. For teens, those moments often come fast and loud—sudden overwhelm, big emotions, and the urge to do something to get relief. Sometimes that “something” makes things worse: snapping at a friend, shutting down completely, picking a fight, or engaging in self-harm.

Ever rehearse a conversation in your head 10 times—then still stay silent?

You wanted to say no to something, or ask for space, or share how you were feeling. But the thoughts started rushing in:
“What if they get mad?”
“What if I’m being too much?”
“What if they think I’m selfish or dramatic?”