When your teenager has been through a breakup, you may notice that she exhibits certain personality changes, some that you should be concerned about, and some that you needn't be. A breakup can be a traumatic event for a teenager. It can leave her feeling undesirable and upset for a long time past the breakup. Do your best to look for the effects of teenage breakup and support your teen through this time in her life.
Physical Signs
Your teen may not be able to eat immediately following a breakup and may deal with the breakup in other physical ways. It's important to look for any drastic changes in physical appearance or activity, as each teen may take the breakup differently. A girl may change her physical appearance in different ways, either by changing her looks or hair, or by not taking care of her physical appearance as well as she did before. A boy may hit the gym harder than usual, whereas another may stop physical activity altogether.
Withdrawal From Activities
A teen that has been through an upsetting breakup may withdrawal from some of the activities that she normally likes to do. She may drop some of her favorite hobbies and lose interest in activities that aren't involved with the breakup. She may spend a lot of time alone in her room or miss events such as dances and activities on purpose. She's probably trying to avoid social situations where her ex would be present.
Embarrassment
If your teen has suffered an especially public breakup, he may feel embarrassed about the situation and not want to go to school or socialize with friends who know about it. You'll need to watch this embarrassment carefully, as it may cause him to become more introverted and not want to talk about the situation, which means you'll have a harder time deciphering what he is thinking and feeling following the breakup.
Depression
Watch carefully for signs of depression, which would include a combination of the other effects of a teenage breakup; not eating or sleeping, withdrawal from social activities, anger or sadness; or a refusal to talk about it. Depression can follow a breakup when a teenager is already prone to the disease. If you notice signs of depression, you should contact your teen's doctor immediately and perhaps have him talk to a psychologist until the sting of the breakup lessens.
Solidified Relationships
Not all of the effects of teenage breakups are negative. With the ending of a relationship can also come a solidifying of your teen's other friendships and family relationships as she leans on them for support following the breakup. She may throw herself into activities with gusto to keep her mind off of the breakup and come out of it as a better, more confident teen.
