Why Are Teenagers More Susceptible to Changing Emotions
Featured in Parents: Why Your Teen May Be Hiding Their Emotions Around Friends
Parenting a teenager comes with unique challenges, and one of the most confusing is when teens act outgoing or fine with friends but come home and shut down.
In a recent feature on Parents.com, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Reesa Morala, LMFT, helps unpack this pattern known as expressive suppression.
Expressive suppression happens when young people hide or mute their emotions in social settings as a way to protect themselves. For many teens, the fear of judgment or rejection makes it feel safer to stay silent than to share what they’re truly experiencing.
Reesa explains that while suppression can feel like a short-term solution, over time it takes a toll on a teen’s emotional health and relationships. Instead of growing comfortable with vulnerability, teens may struggle to communicate their needs or process their feelings openly.
So what can parents do?
Reesa highlights the importance of creating emotional safety at home. She suggests modeling honesty by naming your own feelings, validating your teen’s emotions instead of minimizing them, and gently inviting them into conversations about what they need.
Even small practices—like sitting quietly with your teen during tough moments, introducing grounding tools, or building safe rituals—can help reduce emotional suppression and build trust. By prioritizing presence over pressure, parents can help teens develop the confidence to be authentic both at home and with peers.
As Reesa shares:
“Expressive suppression comes much more naturally and is a quick fix for creating emotional safety in a space that feels too dangerous to have true emotions in.”
This perspective reminds parents that the goal isn’t perfection—it’s connection. By meeting teens with empathy and patience, families can create an environment where authenticity and resilience thrive.
If you’re in Murrieta, CA or anywhere across California, learn more about my parenting therapy intensives and parenting classes for more support.
