The Emotional Lives of Teenagers

Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents

By: Lisa Damour Ph.D.

Narrated by: Lisa Damour Ph.D.

An urgently needed guide to help parents understand their teenagers’ intense and often fraught emotional lives—and how to support them through this critical developmental stage—from the New York Times bestselling author of Untangled and Under Pressure

In teenagers, powerful emotions come with the territory. And with so many of today’s teens contending with academic pressure, social media stress, worries about the future, and concerns about their own mental health, it’s easy for them—and their parents—to feel anxious and overwhelmed. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Parents who listen to this book will learn:

• what to expect in the normal course of adolescent emotional development and when it’s time to worry

• why teens (and adults) need to understand that mental health isn’t about “feeling good” but about having feelings that fit the moment, even if those feelings are unwanted or painful

• strategies for supporting teens who feel at the mercy of their emotions so they can become psychologically aware and skilled at managing their feelings

• how to approach common challenges that come with adolescence, such as friction at home, spiking anxiety, risky behavior, navigating friendships and romances, the pull of social media, and many more

• the best ways to stay connected to their teens and how to provide the kind of relationship that adolescents need and want

With clear, research-informed explanations alongside illuminating, real-life examples, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers gives parents the concrete, practical information they need to steady their teens through the bumpy yet transformational journey into adulthood.

*Includes a downloadable PDF of recommended resources from the book

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Lisa Damour (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“The Emotional Lives of Teenagers does a very simple and very difficult thing. It helps me feel ready for the joy, and the storm, to come.” —Slate

“Filled with relatable situations, examples, and suggestions for constructive conversations, this book will be welcomed by parents and anyone who works with adolescents. Parents looking for timely advice and reassurance will find it here in clear layman’s language.” —Booklist

“A calm, wise, and empathetic guide to a difficult period for both adolescents and parents.” —Kirkus Reviews

Invaluable Resource for Parents!

I just finished listening to The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, and I am just blown away by how much important information Dr. Damour was able to squeeze into this book, which was wonderfully enjoyable to listen to. There was a perfect mix of research and practical tips with lots of interesting anecdotes sprinkled in. I especially liked Dr. Damours suggestions of actual things you could say to your child in a variety of challenging situations. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is a parent or who works with adolescents!

Short and sweet. Lots of examples. I loved it.

Great book. I loved the way is written. Very practical advice. Do yourself a favor and buy it!

Stay the course!

This is my most favorite book by Lisa Damour. Disclaimer: I currently have 2 teenage boys. There is a bounty of helpful & applicable information. Key takeaways for me: LISTEN, sympathize, be nearby “in the background,” and just because they don’t want to be seen with you or like your outfit does not mean they do not love you!

She does it again

Lisa Damour is such a brilliant and comforting voice of reason during the confusing and very tough stage of raising teenagers. I only wish I could put my daughter in her office.

This should be a required parental reading

Provides all the insight needed to get through the teenage years with love and connection. The voice is easy to listen to and makes it enjoyable. Wish I had this for my older kids.

Super helpful

This book nails the interactions between parents and teens, and provides not only the reasons for the reactions, which are quite reasonable and easy to understand. As a teacher of teens and a mom of two teens, I didn't know what I was doing wrong until this book!

Much needed for mom of two teens!

Highly recommend this book for parents of teens. educators, counselors, and anyone working with or supporting adolescent humans!

Only at introduction and…

THIS RIGHT HERE! Only at introduction and have realize so many things I need to work on and understand THIS right here is so far from what I can tell anyway going to help me help my daughter graduate. She only had 4 months left and has been wanting to stay home weekly from school due to various issues. I try to be supportive and not wanting to minimize her feelings and didn’t know when I was being insensitive or needed to push more. I definitely didn’t want to harm her mental health. I will be listening to see if I can get my answer that I have asked therapists and her psych dr of “ How do I push her without it coming across as insensitive or cold, or how do I know when I have pushed enough and lay off? I feel like it’s hindering her further to allow her to come home when she feels a certain way” I will update my review as I listen more as to if this is what I’ve been searching for the last 3 years! Thank you to the author for hitting it so far!

She has done it again!

Amazing resource for parents of teenagers and one you could go back to time and time again for reference and counsel. Love Dr Lisa and her practical advice.

Required reading for anyone with kids under 18

Loved it and told all my friends with kids that it was a must read.