Signs of a clingy teen

Teens who struggle with self-esteem issues often respond by acting too clingy or overly needy. They might cling to siblings, friends or their crush because they are not comfortable being alone.

However, clinginess can put a strain on relationships and the last thing any mother wants is for their teen to have destructive relationships with others. This isn’t good for their health and will only get worse if nothing is done about it.

Here are some of the signs that indicate your teen is clingy:

No personal interests or goals

Clingy teens usually have no interests of their own. Rather than making plan or setting goals, they just stick to what is expected of them or do things that their friends do (even though they might not even like it).  Clingy teens also tend to stay in their comfort zone because for them, it’s a place that doesn’t require them to set short-term or long-term goals.

Difficulty spending time alone

Teens who are clingy don’t like to spend them by themselves. They even need someone to do the simplest activities with, like heading into town or going for a stroll. They avoid spending time alone and actively seek someone to pass the time with.

Irrational jealousy

Everyone gets jealous from time to time. But a clingy teen often get jealous over the smallest things i.e. getting jealous about a friend going on holidays with their mother. This is a sure sign of clinginess and insecurity and they may even become jealous of their friends interactions with other people.

Obsessive behavior

Clingy teens usually smother their friends and family. They always worry about where their loved ones are and wonder why they haven’t gotten back to them. Always needing to know where someone is and obsessing over why they aren’t giving you attention is a sign of needy behavior.

Give your teen as much positive attention as you can and encourage them to develop their own hobbies. Speak to them about creating goals and teach them about self-love. If you see any of these signs in your teen and their behavior doesn’t improve despite all your efforts, speak to a professional about your concerns.