Teenage Problems
Teenage is a very sensitive and important part of life that all of us go through. Usually many have happy moments to cherish about that part of life but I bet along with that most of us also have some bad, awkward and stressful memories of it.
Hormonal changes make the voice harsh, the body fuller with fresh growth of hair all over the body but a pressures is there today to look good always.
A teenager no longer remains your cute and cuddly kid but wants to be loved and cuddled as he is your child after all.
There are many problems that arise during the teenage but a parent must be there to acknowledge, guide and make things comfortable for the kid and help him overcome this phase of life.
Problems faced by teenagers
Though if we delve deep we can find innumerable problems, pressures and hassles that are being faced daily by teenagers. I am keeping crime, violence and sexual abuse out of it but still many young developing minds at a tender age are dealing with many difficulties. Let’s find out what are the problems that a teenager usually faces:
Friends or lack of them
While growing up some of our friends are left behind and we keep on making new friends. But the teenage brings out different aspects of friends and friendships. Sometimes a teenager might not have many or any friends. It may be due to a lack of social skills or having a persona that puts off others of his own age.
Friendlessness might also be possible due to a lack of common interests with his classmates and peer groups.
Sometimes teens find it hard to make new friends because they are not sure who is trustworthy.
But it is important to make the teenage kid understand to make friends of all kinds as it is better to have friends with varied interests than being a loner. Being alone all the time decreases your social skills and is unhealthy for the mental and physical development of a kid.
Change of school or sections within a school sometimes leads to the withering of previous close friendships due to lack of time. But you can maintain your old friendship even if you are too busy with your studies or activities. You only need to communicate regularly, commit to meeting on special occasions like birthdays and accept that friendships evolve and change with time and space.
Stress and depression
Stress and depression are common these days among teenagers, if your child is feeling stressed, their body will clearly show the symptoms. There might be a heart rate going up or breathing getter faster and their muscles might tense up.
It is for people of all age groups especially teenagers to accept that stress is part of life. Everyone experiences stress, and little stress is OK for getting motivated enough. But these days teenagers are feeling stressed out as they are worried a lot about themselves — their performance in school or sports, grades, how people behave toward them, other’s perceptions about them, and the changes happening in their bodies.
Many teenagers acknowledge that low grades, balancing school with extra activities causes stress. They are sometimes irritable or feel overwhelmed due to stress.
Stress can be easily identified in teenagers when there are difficulties with sleep, unexplained fatigue, feeling depressed, disengaged, anxious or panicky, having headaches or stomach aches, irritable behavior along with difficulties with concentration and focus.
Teen depression is a serious problem that causes a continuous feeling of sadness and loss of interest in activities. Sometimes peer pressure, academic expectations of others especially parents and changing bodies can bring a lot of ups and downs for teens.
Body image
Children in this age group are more concerned and conscious about their body image, looks, and clothes. Their focus on themselves sometimes oscillates between high expectations and a lack of confidence. Some young kids experience more moodiness and irritating behavior.
But kids cannot be blamed alone as sometimes grownups and society, in general, make them conscious of the changes happening in their bodies. They were looked down on for their height, hair color, skin color and sometimes body shamed for being too thin or fat.
The least we can do is to understand the changes they are experiencing in their bodies and make them understand the changes they should expect internally and externally while growing up.
Cyber addiction
Cyber addiction is the bane of this young generation as this addiction has robbed their childhood and active lifestyle. Sometimes more than the adolescents their elders are responsible for their plight. Instead of talking or having any activity with their elders, they waste hours with their digital devices. This can be harmful to their mental and physical and take away precious study time.
Sometimes forceful confiscating of digital devices by elders can result in rude and defiant behavior. They needed to be handled tenderly but firmly to make them understand the difference between, time management and time waste.
Other common problems
Peer pressure, competition and rivalries, lack of time management, absence of motivation, bullying, low grades, pressures of assignments, hurt ego and self-esteem due to over interference of elders and frequent arguments with parents and siblings are some other problems that make things bad for already stressed out kid. These days young kids are facing all sorts of problems and pressures at home, school/college and all sorts of comparisons and nudging to be better than their peers. Every one of them is made to be a part of this race to achieve excellence and choose a distinguished career path. Are we making their life stressful? It is better to choose their life path according to their choice and the best of their abilities.
How to make your teenage child feel better
You need to understand that this is your teenage kid's transition phase where they need your love and support in abundance. Impart your knowledge and guide them with full trust, rapport, respect and acceptance of their skills and abilities.
As a parent, you need to be more patient and a very good listener. It would be better if you teach your kids problem-solving skills and a positive attitude. They should learn to listen without engaging in arguments and be mindful of their behavior and responsibilities too.
They need to focus on conflict management at home and outside. The focus should always be on problem-solving then people or emotions. Let them search for practical solutions to the problems
Showing empathy and understanding, and showering them with lots of love and hugs can keep things stress-free for your teenage kid. Try to be a less fussy parent/teacher or mentor.
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