Sometimes going to high school is like traveling through a mine field of social relationships. Every day people are fighting, feeling upset, or giving someone the cold shoulder. Friend groups that are close can suddenly split up or turn against one person. One day your best friend is texting you through the night, and the next you’re left on "read" with no reason behind it. A simple snap, eyeroll, or sarcastic moment can move us from feeling happy and confident to feeling confused and alone.
Teenagers who are having difficulty with toxic relationships are often the ones who are actually good friends themselves. You may find yourself feeling like you need to apologize, when in truth you have done nothing wrong. A toxic relationship can make you feel unfairly guilty or bad about yourself, and can lead to anxiety, stomachaches, headaches, lack of sleep, or worries about what others are thinking or saying. Even worse, you may feel that you can't talk to your friends about this, perhaps because you feel guilty about saying something mean, or simply because no one else seems to be having these problems.
You might be surprised to learn how many teenagers are struggling with these kinds of relationships. In fact, almost everywhere you look, you can find people engaging in toxic behaviors, such as excluding other people, talking about people behind their back, or shifting loyalties from one person to another. For every toxic friendship, there is a person who is stressed and sick of dealing with it!
I know that you might be thinking. "Sure, this is all true, but there isn't really anything I can do about it. I'm not going to start a big fight with my friends or just walk away from them." Well, it's exactly because you are the kind of person who cares about others and wants to avoid conflict that you need a safe space for your own thoughts and feelings.
Teenagers who are having difficulty with toxic relationships are often the ones who are actually good friends themselves. You may find yourself feeling like you need to apologize, when in truth you have done nothing wrong. A toxic relationship can make you feel unfairly guilty or bad about yourself, and can lead to anxiety, stomachaches, headaches, lack of sleep, or worries about what others are thinking or saying. Even worse, you may feel that you can't talk to your friends about this, perhaps because you feel guilty about saying something mean, or simply because no one else seems to be having these problems.
You might be surprised to learn how many teenagers are struggling with these kinds of relationships. In fact, almost everywhere you look, you can find people engaging in toxic behaviors, such as excluding other people, talking about people behind their back, or shifting loyalties from one person to another. For every toxic friendship, there is a person who is stressed and sick of dealing with it!
I know that you might be thinking. "Sure, this is all true, but there isn't really anything I can do about it. I'm not going to start a big fight with my friends or just walk away from them." Well, it's exactly because you are the kind of person who cares about others and wants to avoid conflict that you need a safe space for your own thoughts and feelings.
You see, maintaining a toxic relationship is like trying to squeeze yourself into a shirt you wore in first grade: it just doesn't fit anymore. Upgrading your self-esteem and revamping the style of the friends you choose can have a dramatic impact on your everyday life. The best news? More often than you think these changes can happen without drama, conflict, or even leaving your friend group.
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Benefits of joining "Red Flags" Support Group for Teens
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"Red Flags" support group runs in 8 week segments on Tuesdays from 7:30 - 9:00.
The next segment begins October 11 in Garden City.
Group Leaders: Caroline Rudin, LMSW, MS.Ed & Andrea Panebianco, M.S.
To sign up please call us for an intake at 1-800-871-5491
or schedule one online
with Rukiya Symister, M.A., Group Intake Coordinator
or schedule one online
with Rukiya Symister, M.A., Group Intake Coordinator
Intake: $65.00
Group Sessions: $40.00 each or one-time payment of $280.00 for all eight sessions
Insurances accepted: Blue Cross, Aetna, Northwell Direct
Group Sessions: $40.00 each or one-time payment of $280.00 for all eight sessions
Insurances accepted: Blue Cross, Aetna, Northwell Direct
Ready to start? Click below to request an intakel
Still have questions? Click below to schedule a call.