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Jurgen Klopp sets expectations for Caoimhin Kelleher after Alisson injury
Jurgen Klopp sets expectations for Caoimhin Kelleher after Alisson injury
Jurgen Klopp has called on Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to "show his full potential" while deputising for the injured Alisson Becker.
2023-11-30 06:05
How can I improve my teenager’s low mood?
How can I improve my teenager’s low mood?
If there’s one thing associated with teenagers more than anything else, it’s moodiness. But although low mood is extremely common in teens, what’s just as common is that parents don’t know what to do about it. Adolescence is the highest risk period of life to experience depression, and half of adult mental health disorders start before the age of 15, says consultant clinical psychologist Dr Beth Mosley, who provides specialist mental health support to children and their families. “Seeing the signs of low mood in your teen can be worrying if you’re a parent,” she says. “The questions you may ask are likely to be, what are the usual highs and lows of adolescence, and what is something to worry about? Why might my teen be struggling with low mood, and most importantly, what can I do as a parent to help if my teen is feeling down and showing signs of disengaging with life?” Mosley, the author of new book, Happy Families, which is about the most common issues affecting children’s mental health and how parents can help, says although everyone will, at some point, experience low mood, sadness, irritability and loss of interest in things they enjoy, usually such feelings are linked to problems in life. But changes associated with puberty, and brain restructuring, mean adolescents are especially vulnerable to mental health problems, says Mosley, who explains: “These changes increase the possible impact of life stressors and, thus, their vulnerability to mental health difficulties. “The brain changes in adolescence mean teens feel emotions more intensely – both the highs and lows – meaning it’s not unusual to see them experiencing waves of low mood, particularly in the face of challenges.” She says if a teen’s low mood doesn’t go away, and prevents them doing the things they need to, like schoolwork and spending time with others, it would be wise to consider seeking help. The teen’s school may be able to suggest local support. But she adds: “Whether your teen experiences passing or more persistent low mood, the good news is that the brain is flexible and ripe for learning in adolescence, so there’s a lot we can do to support our teens when they’re experiencing low mood. “Importantly, this support will likely improve your relationship with your teen, and help protect them from developing mental health difficulties in adulthood.” If your teenager’s mood is low, these are the things Mosley says might help them… Encourage them to do what’s important to them When someone feels low, they tend to do less of what’s important to them, meaning they get less rewards from life and feel lower, Mosley explains. This is the low-mood cycle. Conversely, by doing more of what’s important to them regularly, they get more reward from life and start to feel better – this is the feel-good cycle, she says. So rather than a teen waiting until they feel better to do the things that are important to them, low-mood teens should do them now to break the low-mood cycle. “Determining what activities they can do more of and what unhelpful activities to do less is a key first step,” says Mosley. “You can support your child by providing more opportunities to do what’s important to them and increasing access to rewards. Give them practical support to do the activities they enjoy, provide encouragement.” Communicate better with them Mosley says that low mood can make it difficult for teens to communicate, but parents learning key communication skills can support how they communicate with their teens and, in turn, help improve their mood. She says being careful how you say things, through tone of voice and nonverbal body language, is important, as teens are more sensitive to criticism and negative social feedback. But there are six communication skills in particular that parents should try to use. They are… Picking the right time to have a conversation. “Open and honest conversations are most likely to happen when we’re feeling calm and not under pressure,” says Mosley, explaining that it’s important to be aware of when your teen isn’t in the right frame of mind for a difficult conversation, and to learn to respectfully pause the conversation and reschedule it for a better time. Starting a sentence with ‘I’ rather than ‘You’ can make a huge difference, explains Mosley, who says starting with ‘You’ often has a blaming tone and makes the teenager defensive and stops them from listening, whereas starting with ‘I’ can explain how you’re feeling, which can’t be disputed and starts a whole different conversation. Instead of over-generalising and using words like ‘always’ or ‘never’, Mosley says it’s much better for parents to be specific and provide an example of a recent event, rather than things that have happened over months or years. She says over-generalising is more likely to make teens feel awful, and less likely to spark a collaborative conversation. Imagining how a young person might feel in/about a certain situation can also help, she says. “Understanding someone else’s point of view, and expressing this to them, can make it easier to have a collaborative conversation and avoid an argument,” she explains. “When we’re particularly worried about our children, thinking about how they feel can sometimes help us connect with them.” If you go into a conversation with your child knowing what you want from it but being aware you might not get it, be prepared with some alternative solutions, Mosley advises. “Having a few solutions in your back pocket before you go into a discussion enables you to show you’re willing to compromise so you don’t get stuck in a stalemate situation,” she says. Although you may not initially get the response you hoped for from your child when you try a new way of communicating with them, it’s vital to persevere, stresses Mosley, who explains: “With these communication hacks we should begin to see communication with our children become healthier and more productive.” Tackle your negative thoughts and help your teenager do it too Mosley advises parents to reduce the habit of getting stuck in negative thinking by trying these tactics, which she suggests should be shared and modelled to teens. Remember it’s just a thought and it doesn’t mean it’s real. “Remind your teen that thoughts are not facts, they are ideas and they don’t predict the future,” says Mosley. Let negative thoughts come and go, rather than fixating on them and becoming overwhelmed, she advises, and take the power out of the thought by sharing it with others. “Getting another viewpoint can stop unhelpful thoughts growing in magnitude,” she says, and suggests parents provide opportunities for teens to share their thoughts with them, on car journeys and walks etc. As many young people get stuck on social media, dwelling on distressing thoughts, Mosley suggests: “Help your teen notice this cycle and learn the art of moving to another activity, even if it’s just moving to a different room or doing some physical activity.” She adds: “If your teen is feeling negative and self-critical, move away from nagging and towards helping them refocus their energy on something they enjoy and/or resolving the underlying problem.” Happy Families: How to Protect and Support Your Child’s Mental Health by Dr Beth Mosley is published by Bluebird on August 31, priced £18.99. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Maya Jama and Stormzy: Can you make it work with an ex? 12 smart ways to save money on everyday back-to-school costs 9 ways to make dark rooms look lighter
2023-08-30 15:00
Women Workers to Be Hurt More Than Men by AI Wave, McKinsey Says
Women Workers to Be Hurt More Than Men by AI Wave, McKinsey Says
Women have more to worry about than men from a coming wave of automation and artificial intelligence that
2023-07-26 12:01
Is Kanye West and Bianca Censori's marriage over? Timeline of a bizarre relationship amid reports of 'intervention'
Is Kanye West and Bianca Censori's marriage over? Timeline of a bizarre relationship amid reports of 'intervention'
Bianca Censori, who has flown to Australia without Kanye West, has apparently been told by friends to 'wake the f**k up'
2023-11-14 15:59
Wood, Petrovic rally Revolution to 2-1 victory over Toronto
Wood, Petrovic rally Revolution to 2-1 victory over Toronto
Bobby Wood had a goal and an assist, Djordje Petrovic made a career-high nine saves and the New England Revolution rallied for a 2-1 victory over Toronto FC
2023-06-25 10:27
Maddy Cusack’s spirit was ‘allowed to be broken’ by football before tragic death
Maddy Cusack’s spirit was ‘allowed to be broken’ by football before tragic death
The family of Maddy Cusack say a “thorough external investigation” has been launched into the death of the Sheffield United midfielder after claiming her spirit “was allowed to be broken” by football. Cusack died at her home address in Derbyshire on September 20, aged 27. Derbyshire Police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death. On Monday night the Maddy Cusack Foundation, launched by the footballer’s family, shared a speech on Instagram and X attributed to Cusack’s mother, Deborah, originally spoken at a memorial service for the former Blades vice-captain in late October. It read: “The saddest and most utterly heartbreaking reason why I am having to stand here and speak to you today is because of football. “From February this year, the indomitable, irrepressible spirit, the spirit called Maddy, the spirit that I had so fearlessly protected was allowed to be broken. Taking her away from me.” The foundation’s post continued: “Those who knew Maddy well will be aware that she had no long-standing mental health issues or troubles. Not that there would be anything to be ashamed of if there were, but there were not. Those that didn’t know her need to know that. “Maddy was a happy-go-lucky, carefree girl with everything to live for and by last Christmas could be described as being at her happiest. This all changed gradually from February this year. “It is no secret, nor should it be, that Sheffield United Football Club have agreed at the request of Maddy’s family to carry out a thorough external investigation into the events that her family believe contributed significantly to her passing at the tender age of 27.” Sheffield United declined to comment when approached by the PA news agency. Prior to her death, Cusack had just started her sixth season with the Blades in the Women’s Championship and was the longest-serving player in their squad, with over 100 appearances, and also worked as a marketing executive for the club. The former England youth international signed a new contract extension with the Blades in July. Read More Sheffield United probe alleged racist incident during home loss to Bournemouth Brighton boss explains ‘big, big celebration’ and says no disrespect was meant Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola full of praise for two-goal Marcus Tavernier
2023-11-28 21:18
Lawmakers Say UK Too Reliant on Markets to Tackle Climate Crisis
Lawmakers Say UK Too Reliant on Markets to Tackle Climate Crisis
The British government’s reliance on market mechanisms to achieve its net-zero targets won’t be enough to rid the
2023-11-29 08:01
In the Market: Looking at the Top QB Prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft Class, Week 12 edition
In the Market: Looking at the Top QB Prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft Class, Week 12 edition
The top college quarterback prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft showcased their skills in Week 12. Find out how they performed and what it means for their draft stock.
2023-11-26 02:18
Birkenstock Owner Considers IPO at $6 Billion-Plus Value
Birkenstock Owner Considers IPO at $6 Billion-Plus Value
L Catterton, the private equity firm backed by luxury French fashion house LVMH, is considering strategic options for
2023-07-07 05:35
Remorseful Swiatek romps at US Open as Djokovic eyes last 16
Remorseful Swiatek romps at US Open as Djokovic eyes last 16
Top seed and defending champion Iga Swiatek surged closer towards a US Open showdown with Coco Gauff on Friday as 23-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic targeted...
2023-09-02 02:43
Amazon's Ring to pay $5.8 million to settle FTC privacy lawsuit
Amazon's Ring to pay $5.8 million to settle FTC privacy lawsuit
Amazon's smart doorbell company, Ring, has agreed to settle a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission alleging that it had "unreasonable" data security and privacy practices, according to a Wednesday filing in the US District Court for Washington D.C.
2023-06-01 03:11
No.2 Scheffler motivated by No.1 Rahm at PGA Championship
No.2 Scheffler motivated by No.1 Rahm at PGA Championship
World number two Scottie Scheffler is making a habit of trading the top ranking with Jon Rahm, but that doesn't mean the thrill is gone...
2023-05-17 04:52