How Movies and TV Shows May Help Teens With Attachment Disorders

How Movies and TV Shows May Help Teens With Attachment Disorders

Teens watching movies and binging TV shows on a streaming platform can seem like a giant waste of time in some parents’ eyes. But, what if you were told that it might actually be helping your teenager, particularly if your kid struggles with an attachment disorder?

A groundbreaking study found that out of over 1,000 participants, people found it easier to connect with others and manage their different attachment disorders with the help of TV shows and movies.

Struggling Teens Can See The Value Of Attachments

Teenagers, whether they have an attachment disorder or not, tend to ignore what their parents have to say. And when it comes to attachment issues, whether your teen struggles to form attachments or is overly needy in their attachment, being lectured or even advised by parents isn’t likely to make much of an impact.

While that shouldn’t stop you from trying, you should know that movies and TV shows can help your teen see what you are talking about in action. For instance, teenage girls who are struggling can see that they don’t have to be subservient to a partner to deserve love and attention with the right media. Instead of seeing attachments as something draining that requires all their energy to maintain, teens can see on the screen healthy relationships where partners—both platonic and romantic—are supportive and caring.

Exploring Complex Emotions Can Be Easier

Part of what teens struggle with when it comes to attachments is the emotions tied to interpersonal relationships. Teenage boys at therapeutic boarding schools often learn specific skills on how to connect with others and navigate their complex emotions.

But for those teens not at therapeutic boarding schools, movies and TV shows can be a great way to safely explore the complex emotions that come with attachments. In the safe venue of the media, your teen can see how emotions are processed and how characters deal with each other in relation to their tough feelings.

Ways Parents Can Maximize TV Watching Time

You don’t have to wait and hope that your teen’s attachment issues are resolved by TV shows and movies. Instead, here are some ways you can proactively maximize your teen’s interest in media:

Pick out shows with healthy relationship skills – Let’s be real—not all TV shows and movies showcase the best relationships. It is one thing to have a tough relationship that ends up working out, but some entertainment thrives on truly awful relationships between characters. Instead of leaving it up to chance, you can proactively pick out healthy options for you and your teen to watch together.

Discuss media after watching – By watching the TV shows and movies together—or at least both of you being familiar with the material—you and your teenager can discuss it. Through this discussion, you don’t have to clearly point out how the different attachment styles work, but it will likely come up naturally.

For instance, after an episode where a romantic couple fights, but ends up healthily talking through their issues, your teen is likely to ask how realistic the situation is, giving you an opening to talk about appropriate conflict resolution.

Encourage your teen to visualize – Teenagers with attachment disorders often struggle to visualize a positive relationship, whether platonic or romantic. So, when your teen runs into a tough spot where they aren’t sure how to appropriately react, encourage them to visualize how the characters they watched would act. For example, how would Captain America react to an argument with a close friend? How would Jim from The Office fix the hurt feelings of Pam?

By taking simple steps and choosing appropriate media, you may be able to help your struggling teenager develop a stronger sense of self and attachment skills.

Request Free Admissions Information

Step 1 of 3 - Your Contact Info

Written by Natalie

23 Jul, 2020

Recent Posts

What is a Boarding School for Troubled Teenagers?

What is a Boarding School for Troubled Teenagers?

When children are struggling, the instinct of most parents is to circle the wagons and keep them as close as they can. Our desire to protect and help even our troubled teens can be strong, despite the frustration and stress they may be adding to our lives. That said,...

Helping Your Teen Learn Effective Organization Skills

Helping Your Teen Learn Effective Organization Skills

Are you organized? Is there a place for everything in your office? Is your kitchen perfectly labeled? Or do you tend to fly by the seat of your pants? Being organized is a life skill that can prove helpful for each of us. For a teen, being organized can help them with...

Teaching Your Teen How to Say No to Peer Pressure

Teaching Your Teen How to Say No to Peer Pressure

Peer pressure can sometimes feel like something of a cliché. It’s something covered in after-school specials from the 1980s and 1990s, not something faced by teens of today. Unfortunately, peer pressure never faded away. There is more awareness about it, what it looks...

Teen Post-COVID Struggles: Adapting to “Normal” Life Again

Teen Post-COVID Struggles: Adapting to “Normal” Life Again

While some may be thrilled with the anticipation of being able to shed the mask they’ve been required to wear for over a year, not all of us are looking forward to a restoration of normalcy. For those who struggle with social anxiety, the mask has been more than just...

Teen Money: A Guide to Teaching Teens Money Management

Teen Money: A Guide to Teaching Teens Money Management

It’s never too soon to learn good money management skills. Perhaps you were fortunate enough to have parents who taught you about financial literacy when you were a teen, or maybe it was something you had to learn through trial and error as an adult. Teaching your...

How Can Outdoor Time Help Your Teen?

How Can Outdoor Time Help Your Teen?

When your child was younger, you may have sent him outside to play in the backyard or taken him to the park to run around with his friends. Now, he’s grown up into a teen who may prefer to spend more time alone in his bedroom. This may leave you wondering if there’s...

You May Also Like…

Can ODD Be Cured?

Can ODD Be Cured?

You're not alone if your teen has displayed anger or dismay when you or another adult has set a boundary or enforced a...

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *