It’s been a heck of a long time since I was a teenager, but I’d like to share with you that, no matter what changes in our world, the things teens worry about remain the same. The pressures might come in different forms than from my teen years, and the solutions certainly present more options these days, but at the heart of it all, the things teens worry about are common to all generations.
Friends are unquestionably one of the most important aspects of any teenagers life, as they provide support and company during one of the most confusing and difficult periods of your life. Friends are one of the top things teens worry about because your mood and overall stress levels can be greatly affected by what’s happening within your circle of friends. And, whether we like it or not, people are often judged on who their friends are, forcing more pressure through the creation of cliques. If you’re worried whether you belong to the most popular set in school, or the geek clique, don’t stress so much – everyone else is worrying too.
It is important for teens to remember that it is ok to not fit in with the most popular group in school. There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to friendship. Teens should strive to find friends who share common interests, values, and respect each other. This is a great way to build strong and meaningful relationships. Additionally, it is important to consider the impact of technology on friendships. Social media can be a great way to stay connected with friends, but it can also create feelings of comparison and jealousy. Teens should be mindful of how much time they spend on social media and the impact it can have on their relationships.
Sex is one of the top teen worries that most parents probably wish hadn’t made this list, although in this day and age, teenagers are learning about, and having sex at a much younger age than previous generations. With issues such as: pressure from the media; peer pressure; pregnancy; and numerous incurable sexually transmitted diseases such as herpes and HIV, it’s little wonder that today’s teens are feeling a little stressed about sex.
Teenagers generally have a great deal on their plate, with many of you attempting to balance school, extra-curricular activities and part-time work. Work can unfortunately therefore, become the straw that breaks the camel’s back, with many young people sacrificing their free time and pushing themselves to the limit. Work also ranks as one of the top teen worries however, as this is the first taste that most teenagers get of life as a “grown up”, and it may not always be to your liking!
One of the top teen worries is definitely going to school; you are forced to deal with the social, academic, and emotional aspects of getting an education on an everyday basis. School is also generally stressful as you have to deal with the fact that your parents, teachers and peers all have different expectations and requests, that YOU are expected to meet.
Then, as if school isn’t enough pressure! College or university is contemporarily seen as a must by many parents, with some families pressuring their teens to study hard and focus on getting into the best school possible. While parents may feel that they are doing you a favor by pushing you to excel, you are among the many teenagers who pinpoint further education as one of the top worries for teens, as you see it as defining your entire future.
Not every teenager has the perfect home life, and even if you do, you may still find your family extremely difficult to deal with during your hormone-fuelled teen years. Family consequently rates as one of the principal teen worries, due to the fact teenagers might be emotionally unequipped to deal with fighting and increased stress at home.
Family relationships can be particularly challenging during the teenage years due to the physical and emotional changes that teens experience. Teens may find themselves feeling overwhelmed by the increased demands of family life, such as more responsibilities, expectations, and disagreements. Additionally, teens may feel misunderstood by their parents or siblings and struggle to express their own needs and feelings. It is important for teens to have a support system to help them navigate these changes, such as a trusted adult or a mental health professional.
Many illicit drugs are unfortunately common and easily available for today’s teen, which definitely ranks them highly on the list of top teen worries. Many teenagers even stress about turning down cigarettes and alcohol offered to them by their peers, as they don’t want to be seen as outsiders by the “in crowd”. You should never cave into to peer pressure and there are ways to stay strong and true to the system of values and beliefs you are building for yourself.
Teenagers generally spend a great deal of time trying to appear “grown up”, although the idea of what your life may be like when you actually reach adulthood is a source of worry for many teens. Young adults stress about a plethora of things such as: whether you should work or go to university when you finish school; if you’ll get married; if you’ll be successful; or even if you’ll be happy. The best way to subdue these worries is to know there are so many options open to you, and be assured, you will find your way.
Every teen is going to experience their first love at some point, and as we all know, 9 times out of 10 things aren’t going to work out. Love and relationships are consequently one of the top things that teens worry about. You might not yet be emotionally mature enough to deal with the strong emotions you may be feeling, but fear not. Every woman, no matter what age, will tell you that love is a learning process – a process that lasts your whole life through.
I know it sounds depressing but truly, it should help you feel better knowing that all your contemporaries are feeling the same. Your issues are only unique in that they are your issues. Embrace all these features of being a teenager – every stress factor, every hassle, every worry and how you deal with them will build who you are. What top teen worries do you identify most with?