Teenagers are learning new things each day. At the same time, they are faced with many challenges. This guide will go over the ten common problems that they’ll face.
Basepoint Academy has plenty of resources for parents and teenagers. Especially if they are dealing with mental health issues or the challenges of being a teenager in general. Learn more about what Basepoint Academy can do for your teenager in order to make sure they live a better, fulfilling life.
Let’s take a look now at the following common problems to address.
Bullying
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One of the top issues teenagers face is bullying. This exists in forms such as physical, verbal, and cyberbullying. It is important that parents and educators must work together to deter it.
This includes open communication and active listening with teenagers. If one has a concern about bullying, it needs to be addressed as soon as possible. Teenagers must learn how to stand up for themselves while reporting other incidents of bullying.
Bullying has also led to teenagers committing suicide. This issue cannot be solved if nothing is done about it. Make sure you (as a parent) talk to your kids about how to deal with bullying.
Stress
Stress is normal for anyone in life. Especially teenagers. However, they might be overwhelmed by it to the point where they might have no clue how to handle it.
They may even use drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism. This should never be the case for anyone, regardless of what stage of their life they are in. Instead, introduce healthy coping mechanisms for them.
This includes but is not limited to: exercise, meditation or mindfulness, managing their time, and so on. It’s also important to teach them how to give themselves balance in life when it comes to their work and personal lives.
Drugs and alcohol
We previously touched on this a bit. Drugs and alcohol are abused by teenagers as a way to ‘have fun’. Others use it for a coping mechanism for negative thoughts and feelings.
Yet, it should never be a part of their lives at all. You want to talk to your teenagers about the dangers of drugs. If they are hanging out with friends regularly, you want to remind them of the actions they can take to avoid drug or alcohol use.
Teach them to say ‘no’ or walk away altogether. Let them know that if they lose friends because of it, it’s no great loss. Because life is more precious to lose than friends.
Academic pressure
Teenagers tend to face academic pressure on a regular basis. This can be due to the fact that they want to be good enough to get into their dream college. Athletic programs also require team members to meet specific academic requirements to compete.
Make sure they know how to set realistic expectations in terms of their academics. Parents and teachers should help make this happen. Remind them that if they are struggling, there is no shame in asking for help.
Mental health
Mental health has been one of the most talked about concerns regarding teenagers in recent years. That’s because the number of depression and anxiety cases in teenagers have increased. It’s important that you look out for any signs of mental health disorders.
Encourage them to seek professional help, if such is needed. They will be able to access therapy with a counselor. If needed, medication may be included with their treatment plan.
Mental health issues may be linked to addiction or even suicide in teenagers. The sooner they are taken care of, the better.
Body image
This issue has been common for a long time. Especially with the seriousness of eating disorders. However, it has become one of the most discussed topics in recent years.
Body image issues, especially involving teenage girls, are often exacerbated through social media use. It’s important that parents and educators discuss positive body image. At the same time, they should also discuss healthy eating and dieting.
Another valuable lesson teenagers must learn is that negative comments about body weight and shape does not help a person out much. Especially when they have concerns about body image and other issues.
Peer pressure
Earlier, we mentioned peer pressure in regards to the use of drugs and alcohol. Teens want nothing more than to fit in somewhere. So they might do something risky in order to attain such a reward.
However, there are alternative ways. A teen needs to learn how to set boundaries and stick with them. They can get quite a bit more respect and admiration for that instead of caving into peer pressure.
A teenager that has ‘friends’ because they cave to peer pressure may as well be expendable to the group they’re trying to fit in with. Instead, it’s important for a teenager to know that the coolest way to be cool is to respect yourself and stand for your boundaries.
Technology addiction
In an age where technology is easily accessible, it’s easy to get hooked on it. This is common among teenagers. As a parent, you need to set limits on how often your teenager should use technology.
Encourage them to take part in other activities and hobbies. It’s also important to monitor their social media use as well. Some negative consequences may arise if you are lax in watching who they are interacting with and what they are posting.
Relationship issues
Teenagers are mostly experiencing relationships with their first romance. They are also spending time with friends. However, issues may arise for whatever reason.
That’s why it is important for parents to talk to their teens about this. Talk about the solutions to these problems. Open communication and healthy relationship skills must be learned by teenagers to ensure that if things go south, there should be healthier solutions they can use.
Decision making
Decision making is one of the most vital qualities we possess. For teenagers, this can be a challenge. You’ll want to provide guidance and teach them how to make better decisions, especially when they are preparing for adulthood.
One decision can be enough to alter one’s life, for better or worse. Teach them how to think things over before making a critical decision. This can apply to almost any decision they need to make in life.
Teach them whether or not the decisions they make will benefit them in the long run or not.
