The death of a loved one can be difficult to process at any age. Whereas young children and adults turn to their families for support leading up to and after the memorial service, teenagers often isolate themselves. To better understand your grieving teen, below are reasons why they hide their feelings, who they turn to, and how you can help.  

What You Should Know About Teens & Grief

They Try to Act “Normal” Around Family

To gain independence, teenagers often conceal their emotions from parental figures. After experiencing a death or going to a memorial service, they might not articulate their grief for fear of appearing vulnerable. Instead, many teens hide their emotions and put up a facade. Some act as caregivers to adults and younger family members, busying themselves to distract from their own feelings. Loss can make a teen stand out in their peer group. To fit in and appear like everything is normal, they might not acknowledge the death around classmates either. 

They Articulate Their True Feelings to Close Friends

Teens often turn to their close friends for support and advice instead of their parents or siblings. To help remember the departed after the funeral or memorial service, they might post tribute videos and messages on social media sites. They might also look to online resources for coping advice and to find out how others have managed their grief. 

They Want You to Be an Objective Listener

There are several steps adults can take to help teens with the grieving process. Many teens don’t open up if they’re afraid of being judged, so stress that you are an objective listener. Grief can impact their ability to function, so schedule an appointment for them to meet with a counselor or licensed therapist. A mental health professional can recommend writing in a journal, joining a support group for adolescents, and additional steps to help your teen manage grief and elevate their mood. 

If you need to plan a memorial service for a loved one, contact the professionals at Brown Funeral Homes & Cremations in Martinsburg, WV. Since 1880, the funeral directors have helped families create joyous tributes to celebrate the lives of those they’ve lost. To discuss making funeral arrangements or planning a memorial service in Berkeley County, call (304) 263-8896. Visit the funeral home online to learn more about its history in the community.