When we are children, we have a sense of freedom and care-free innocence, unaware and unsullied by the stresses and demands of the world, we are happy creatures. Then nature conspires against us, and introduces the most painful, confusing and scary process in the world: growing up. Hormones, trying to develop social skills, and treading that fine line between autonomy and independence, with the responsibilities attached with it and the luxury of having decisions made for us. Being a teenager is not fun. Whether you are a teenager suffering the anxiety, self-doubt and general negative feelings that comes with adolescence, or a struggling parent uncertain as to how to deal with a moody teenager, this article will (hopefully) give you some much needed tips.

Teenager girls are much more prone to the self-doubt and anxiety that plagues teenagers than their male counterparts, especially where females have a strained or difficult relationship with their parents. A tragic and shocking fact is that teen suicide is the third biggest killer of teenagers, and regrettably, teenage depression is an area overlooked, underfunded and generally given a low priority. A major difficulty is that teenagers
will suffer from period of depression, anxiety and low self-worth which is normal, and there is often a tendency to write such episodes off as “one-offs” and “just a phase”. Even more distressing is how frequently such times are written off as attention-seeking.

If you are the parent, then remember that any and all outbursts that your teen makes are not personally aimed at you. Your teenager does not hate you nor wish you were dead (no matter how often this sentiment maybe said). In such situations, rather than retorting, losing your cool and saying something you later on regret, put some distance between you and your teen. With the initial anger and outbursts dispelled, you will be able to have a far more productive and meaningful discussion, able to resolve issues rather than simply shout each other down.

It is contradictory and infuriating but teenagers want to be respected. If you show that you love them, be affectionate, and respect them as not just as a kid, but an adult in the making, they will in the long run respect you in turn, all the more for it. Try and maintain a balance between granting your teen more freedom, and attaching responsibilities to it. Most importantly, don’t forget to tell your teen how much you love and cherish them