Its Tough Being A Teenager

“The Stereotypes of teenagers:

“Antisocial”, “Grumpy”, and “Impossible to get along with.” We have all heard them, and the ones that say: teenage girls care too much about how they look, make-up and hairstyles are the second most important thing in their life, and the most important thing is boys.

But they are not the reasons why being a teenager is so hard.

There are a lot of changes between childhood and being a teenager, and many of them are unexpected.

You start to see the world as a completely different place, a place where drinking and drugs are common problems, where peer pressure is a daily factor in many of your decisions. Friends you have known since forever begin to do things you don’t agree with, and eventually they turn into strangers. You worry about everything, about doing well at school, about being the most good – looking person in the class, about the amount of likes you get on pictures, about how many followers you have on twitter and about what other people think of you.

You spend a lot of time not even knowing how you feel. One minute you can be happy, relaxed, calm and cool, but then one short text message can leave you angry, jealous, scared, worried, and frozen. People don’t tell you when you turn thirteen that feelings can bounce and change in seconds.”

So what can help tackle these hard teenage years?

1.    Take a walk
 Slip out the door and let your feet take you somewhere. Not only will walking give you the opportunity to clear your head and take a break from all the stress, but it’s great aerobic exercise, too.

2.    Call a friend
 We all have someone whose voice alone perks us up. Give them a buzz, even for a few minutes. Whether with a joke or a funny story, or just by listening, they will likely put a smile on your face and calm you down. Besides, what are friends for?

3.    Write in a journal
 Expressing our feelings could be the best way to deal with stress. Keeping a journal is a way to capture those feelings at any moment. You don’t have to worry about what others think or say, just let your pen do the work. By the time you’re done, those feelings will be on their way out of your system.

4.    Play a board game
 Remember these? Maybe there are a dozen stashed in your closet, waiting to be dusted off. Monopoly probably should be saved until you have a few hours to spare, but quick kids’ games like Candy Land, Chutes & Ladders, Connect Four, or even Twister are always good for a smile.

5.     Work up a sweat
 Have some pent up frustrations? There’s no better way to get rid of them than by exercising. Pop in a workout tape, hop on your bike or grab your jump rope. You’ll be too busy working up a sweat to worry about what’s stressing you out. Picture the stress leaving your body through your pores.

6.     Plan something fun
 Is there a trip you want to take but never had time to get it together? Or a dinner you’ve always wanted to make? Now’s the time. Not only will you take your mind off things, but you’ll be spending time eagerly anticipating a great getaway or meal later. It’s a win-win situation.

7.    Take a hot bath
 A hot bath will initially give your body a kick, which in turn will give your mind a kick too – and then it’ll slow both down. Add bubbles and a few candles and you have the ultimate soothing atmosphere. A rubber ducky is optional.

 

Tips to help someone who seems down:

 Depression Alliance, a charity that provides support for people affected by depression, gives the following advice to friends, family and carers:

·         Encourage the person you're worried about to see their doctor.

·         Encourage them to talk, and listen to what they say.

·         Let them know you care about them.

·         Remind them they can't help being affected by depression.

·         Encourage them to help themselves, for example by doing regular exercise, eating a balanced diet and taking part in activities they enjoy.

·         Get information about the services available to them, such as psychological therapy services and support groups in their area.

·         Stay in contact with them by sending a card, phoning or visiting them. People who are depressed can become isolated because they often find it difficult to leave their home.
 

If you are very concerned you should speak to someone about the person, do not let yourself tackle someone’s depression alone, it’s unfair to put the pressure on you. You can always talk to a parent or guardian, teacher or friend and they can help too.

 

SELF HARMING;

Sometimes when people self-harm they intend to punish themselves, express their distress or relieve unbearable tension. Self-harm can also be a cry for help.

A survey of people aged 15-16 years carried out in the UK in 2002 estimated that more than 10% of girls and more than 3% of boys had self-harmed in the previous year.

In most cases, people who self-harm do it to help them cope with unbearable and overwhelming emotional issues, caused by problems such as:

·         social factors – such as being bullied, having difficulties at work or school, or having difficult relationships with friends or family

·         trauma – such as physical or sexual abuse, or the death of a close family member or friend

·         mental health conditions – such as depression

However, if you are someone that has come across this topic, there is always teachers or parents/guardians that you can go and talk to and they will always be ready to listen.