Why Is It So Hard Being A Teenager?

These are some of the comments I found while researching this subject:

I just don’t understand adults. I try to make my parents proud of me, but I find it impossible. My parents are more concerned about work, paying bills and never having enough time to themselves. Teenagers are so disrespectful and poorly behaved compared to in my day. I hate the pressure of what clothes I should wear, how I should look, exams, and expectations from my parents.

Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental development. Biological (puberty), social and psychological changes all take place, accompanied by an increased independence allowed by parents or legal guardians. The average age for girls to start puberty is 10 to 12, while for boys it is 10 to 14.

As a teenager you may experience feelings of loss at metaphorically losing your parents/significant family members, and internal conflict and fear may arise as part of this disengagement. You may also experience mood swings and emotional and attitudinal changes, and start to view your peer group (friends) as more important and influential than your parents/guardians.

You are also likely to find yourself targeted in marketing campaigns for certain clothes, mobile phones or computer games etc. Because of peer pressure you may feel the need to indulge in activities not deemed as socially acceptable, or ‘wrong’. Many of your principles regarding right and wrong will have been shaped by your parents/guardians, or other authority figures such as teachers.

In your search for a unique social identity you may find your own emerging beliefs contradict what you have learned in childhood, and this may cause confusion, frustration and perhaps even fear.

As a result of these various changes you may find yourself feeling bored, indecisive and/or demotivated.

But being a teenager is not all about negatives. It is also a time of psychological breakthrough as you become your own independent person, with your own thoughts, ideas and beliefs about the world and what you would like your life to be about.

Are teenagers more disrespectful now? Or are adults just less in touch with teenagers?