Teenagers, aged 13 to 19, experience severe problems and issues daily because this is the most difficult and inconvenient stage of their lives. Teens are exposed to some tremendous external and internal changes during this period. They must deal with hormonal changes, puberty, social and parental demands, work and school pressures, and so on.
Many teenagers believe they are misunderstood. Their parents must validate their feelings and thoughts. Parents must approach their children who have been coping with teenage growth concerns with caution and friendliness to tackle the matter.
Not surprisingly, all of these frequent adolescent difficulties are linked in some way. However, this does not imply that possessing one will result in the other.
Here are 7 common problems and Issues faced by Teenagers today:
A Need for Community and Identity
Many kids struggle to find their position in society, seeking to be acknowledged and accepted for who they are. This is one of the most significant responsibilities in their lives, and they are experiencing a great deal of anxiety and insecurity while working through it.
When teens are told they don’t belong and don’t fit in, it can lead to feelings of loneliness, detachment, and melancholy. What should a teen do? Is it their fault that they are perplexed, belligerent, or out of control?
Children are raised to be courteous, helpful, kind, gentle, tolerant, and to follow morals and principles of honesty, integrity, and so on, but the world sends the message that these values are out of date. As a result, they feel out of place and eccentric.
Time-Management Stress
The number of tasks to complete, tests to pass, and social drama to deal with increases as students become older, not to mention sports and other extracurricular activities. Dating, clubbing, and hanging out with pals open up a new and enticing social horizon. Meanwhile, they are continually diverted by electronic media. A teen who is learning to balance all of these expectations is under a lot of pressure.
The adolescent is suddenly expected to behave as an adult. They are expected to manage their work autonomously, make and implement sound judgments, and manage their finances.
Social and Parental Pressure
Parents frequently live through their children and expect them to achieve everything they want but lacked. It is a lot of pressure to expect a teenager to obtain high grades, make nice friends, thrive in extracurricular activities, and be well-behaved, and responsible for themselves and, at times, their younger siblings.
Peer pressure is another factor. Teens feel compelled to conform in their likes, actions, and looks to be accepted by their classmates and become “popular.” When everyone around the teenager is seeking to shape him or her into a different shape, the pressure mounts. Parents, instructors, family elders, siblings, friends, schoolmates, and social groups all play a role and influence a teenager in various ways.
Mental and Physical Health Issues
Lack of nutrition – Teens’ eating habits are bad and unmonitored. They are encouraged to develop eating disorders, either by starving themselves or by bingeing on unhealthy, greasy, high-calorie junk food.
Sleep deprivation – The teen foregoes sleep to do and be everything. They need approximately nine hours of sleep per night, but teens only get about seven. This means they are running a deficit every day.
Anxiety and depression Hormonal changes, combined with the stress and strain of organising, prioritising, accomplishing, and meeting expectations, place a teen under significant emotional strain. This manifests as mood swings, anger, depression, anxiety, and, in extreme cases, a full breakdown.
A Lack of Positive Role Models and Heroes
The largest bullies, richest spoilt brats, and most self-destructive children are frequently held up as the most enviable and popular. Social media promotes these ideologies in a teenager. Wherever they go, teenagers get a diet of negative role models who imbibe twisted values within them.
Drugs and Alcohol
Adolescents frequently experiment with alcohol and drugs. Unfortunately, youngsters frequently fail to recognise the connection between their acts today and the consequences tomorrow. They also have a propensity to believe they are invincible and immune to the troubles that others face. Both alcohol and marijuana can harm a developing teen’s brain. It’s critical to talk to them about what’s going on in their school and peer group, find out what they’re exposed to, and educate your child about the dangers.
Bullying
A good proportion of teens today get affected by bullying – either as a victim or as a perpetrator. Bullying is not limited to physical space, it happens on social media too. Many people are unaware that bullying can be direct or indirect, including gossip and rumour-spreading. Many children are unaware of what cyberbullying is or the potentially harmful consequences of their online conduct.
Takeaway
Teens today are forced to live on the outskirts of society, with no acceptance and very little positive affirmation. They are expected to learn how to live by watching television and surfing the internet, where there is no focus on moral values or personal achievement.
It is necessary to inculcate positive values and behaviours in teens. Be willing to listen to their point of view. Give it a good thought before you trash it. An encouraging and supporting attitude goes a long way. Remember, kids, do what they learn.
About the Author
The Emissary is also a global mass media platform where teens can connect and learn alongside other teens with similar interests. The Emissary comprehends and is also keen on discussing issues concerning youth. The Emissary stands to provide a space for teenagers with a global facet to every aspect, enriching them with the imperative exposure that leads to highly beneficial experiences.