Kelly Thompson Therapy

So many of us brush off what our body is telling us. We say “I don’t feel good” without stopping to ask what’s actually happening underneath.

For a lot of teens (and their parents), what feels like just “not feeling well” can actually be anxiety showing up in physical ways. Racing heart. Stomach issues. Fatigue. Brain fog. It sneaks in quietly and we don’t connect the dots until someone helps us see the pattern.

When you can name what’s really going on, everything shifts. Your teen stops thinking something’s wrong with them and starts understanding their nervous system. You stop wondering if you’re missing something and start knowing how to help.

If you’re watching your teen struggle and want support navigating this together, I’m here.
🤍Book a free intro call at the link in my bio, and let’s talk about what’s going on.

That phone ringing feels like one more thing. One more problem. One more reason you’re not enough.

When you notice that heaviness creeping in, try this: pause and name what you’re actually feeling before you answer. Are you scared? Frustrated? Overwhelmed? Just naming it can help you respond as the parent you want to be, instead of reacting from that depleted place.

You’re carrying a lot. Follow for more on parenting teens through the hard stuff. 🤍

When your teen avoids something that makes them anxious, it feels like relief in the moment. But that relief sends a signal to their brain: “Good call, we shouldn’t do that again.” So next time, the anxiety is bigger. And the list of things to avoid grows longer.

What starts as skipping one class can become staying home for days.

It makes sense that we want to protect them from discomfort. Watching your teen struggle is hard. But when we step in and let them avoid, they miss the chance to learn something really important: that they can feel anxious and still move forward.

The shift isn’t about making the anxiety disappear. It’s about helping them tolerate the discomfort while they do what needs to be done. That’s how they build resilience and break the cycle.

If you’re ready to help your teen work through this, I’m accepting new therapy clients in California. Book a free intro call at the link in my bio to get started.

Anyone been here? I know I have. That season where everyone has different schedules, food preferences, and somehow you’re supposed to make it all work.

When you make dinner one of the following scenarios happens:

What you made doesn’t sound good so they make ramen instead

They decide on the day you made pasta that they are on a high protein meal plan

They went to a friends house after school and ate over there

Their friends are going to grab good out so they ask you for money to join

After four nights of making food that isn’t eaten, having leftovers for lunch the next day whether you wanted to or not, and feeling defeated you decide it doesn’t actually make sense to plan dinner tonight.

And then you get the text from your teen at 6:15 PM, “what’s for dinner?” and you feel like throwing your phone across the living room. Yep, I’ve been there.

When you hit that wall, you don’t need permission to step away. Five minutes in your car. Ten in your bedroom. A walk around the block. Whatever you need to breathe and reset. That’s not checking out. That’s taking care of the person who’s been taking care of everyone else.

Your teen will survive figuring out their own dinner. You’ll survive saying “I’m done for today.” 🤍

Follow along for more content on parenting teens with your sanity intact.

Parents, we’re carrying a lot.

Before you move on to the next thing, give your body a moment to pause. 🤍