(8A SMP)
Being a teenager can be a rollercoaster sometimes, why? We all have those days when we’re happy and excited, but then again there are those days where we just feel anxious, stressed or upset. But what if those days were more than just “bad days”? What happens when all of these feelings start to impact on your life?
Most teenagers would always feel so misunderstood. If a grown adult sees a teenager in a bad mood, most of them would assume that it’s just a part of the teen’s development stage or hormonal fluctuations that cause these mood swings. But what if for once those adults took a second to realise that teenagers are humans too and whatever they’re facing isn’t just some usual mood swing.
The pressure on teenagers today can be overwhelming. From having to focus on academics to their social lives. Depression and anxiety can get serious because of these matters. I mean me, personally as a teen myself, one of the biggest problems I’m facing is chasing my academic dreams. Especially as a person who gets lost in their own thoughts easily and needs to continuously enhance my academic performance.
Sometimes it kind of feels like you’re in a maze and like yeah you know where you need to go and what the objective is. But you don’t know HOW to get there, and on top of that there are many problems that make it difficult to actually get to the objective. And you’ve tried asking for help but no one like NO ONE understands you. So then in the end you’re just stuck there, in the maze of your own problems.
I know there are many other teens that are facing this problem too. Now, I’m going to be listing from my perspective a few of the most common issues that teenagers face nowadays.
- Social Anxiety
The fear of being judged by other teenagers your age is something that hurts so much that it can literally change who you are. Sometimes I think to myself, why can’t people just accept me for who I am? Why do I have to change myself and be someone who I’m not just to be accepted. Because of this, it makes people have an overwhelming fear of social situations. I mean, we are all humans, no?
- Bullying and Cyberbullying
People do realise that bullying and cyberbullying is still a big issue today? Bullying can turn into something really serious. It all starts by you thinking that it’s all just a joke and it’s nothing serious. “Oh they probably meant it as a joke, I don’t have to be so sensitive.” Then just laughing it off. Slowly those people who “joked” about you will start to think you’re an easy target to joke about and will continuously “joke” about you. Soon, it’ll get to you. That maybe it wasn’t just a joke. And from there on, things will only get worse. It will have impact on your self-esteem…becoming inferior and afraid of doing anything. It feels like you are trap in a box.
- Stress
Stress can lead to anxiety. For example, having to catch up in school with a lot of stressful tasks. It’s stressful if you think about it you know? The feeling of self-doubt and having too much pressure to handle. The constant feeling or urging demand of having to make your parents proud and doing good in school. It makes us burden ourselves with stress that is not easy to face.
- Lack of Motivation
Like what most parents like to call “lazy”, having low motivation is more than just the word lazy. Physical and mental health can also be what causes this. Sometimes, even just by parents calling us lazy, that can also cause the lack of motive that we have. Stress, not knowing what to do, the continuous feeling that you won’t achieve your goal. Let’s just.. Stop calling it lazy, okay?
Having no target to achieve in life, or still don’t know what you want to be in the future can also cause the lack of motivation in you to be a successful person for example. Having ambition in life sometimes good as long as you know how to achieve it in a proper way.
- Body Image Concerns
Some people don’t take this seriously enough. The constant feeling of not feeling good looking enough, not being satisfied with ourselves, having to do unhealthy diets so we could please ourselves. Comparing ourselves to other teenagers and wondering why we can’t look like them. People are tending to be judgemental on other people figures, creating standards as well as the feeling of likes and dislikes before you can be accepted in a certain community.
Those who can’t cope with this judgement or feeling annoyed, in turn will show symptoms of anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, ed. “Why do I look like this?” You are then blaming yourself and your surroundings. This is more than just seeking attention.
- Depression
Depression can affect anyone of any age; it’s shown that young adults and teenagers experience higher rates of depression. Depression can be caused by anything, even the smallest things. I personally can’t say much because depression is something teens like me often face. I just hope that anyone who is suffering can get better.
Depression is like a disease that’s playing tricks on your brain. It can create unhealthy illusion. From your brain, it can then impact your mental and physical health, turning into more serious matters such as anxiety, self-harm, etc. If you experience depression, you need to talk to someone you trust or seek expert to help you.
Overcoming these matters are not easy at all. Navigating through social anxiety, bullying, stress, low motivation, body image concerns, and depression can feel overwhelming, but remember you’re not alone. Overcoming these issues start with self acceptance and realising that seeking support is a strength and it doesn’t mean that you’re weak.
Focus on your qualities and strong points and remember to always practice self-kindness. Though telling someone about how you feel isn’t easy, but opening up to people you trust can ease social anxiety and the impact of bullying by having a sense of being heard.
Facing stress and low motivation involves breaking down big tasks into smaller steps and celebrating small accomplishments. Prioritise your physical and mental health by taking care of your daily life habits like exercise and more sleep hours that can boost your mood and energy. For body image, focus more on your internal well being rather than external validation and challenge negative self-talk. Don’t think about those that judge or make you feel negative about yourself. Engage more with those who have positive characters rather than pushing yourself to be accepted in a community where you don’t belong or share similar concern.
Overcoming these challenges is a journey and it isn’t something you can do in an instant. Be patient and always treat yourself with respect. Building self awareness, developing coping skills, and connecting with supportive people are key to navigating teenage life. Have the ability to understand your own thoughts and how you feel. Seeking help is courageous, and there are people who care and want to support you in feeling better.
Remember, suffering with mental health is a normal part of teenager’s life. It is totally okay not to be okay, but you can’t stay there forever. Know that you are vulnerable. Never give up in trying to get better.
Just because someone is upset or “grumpy”, doesn’t always mean they’re just having a bad day. There are so many more reasons on why teenagers are how they are right now. So, I hope we can all learn to understand each other. We can never comprehend fully what someone is going through. What they show, isn’t always how they feel.
If you or someone you know is suffering with mental health, please open up to someone or seek expert help. I know how hard it can be to tell someone about your problems. But trust me, telling someone who is trustworthy is a hundred times better than keeping all your problems to yourself. You matter, and there are people who would love to help you get better.