Understanding Mental Health

Mental health is an essential part of life for most people, especially teenagers, whose brains are still developing in the prefrontal cortex until they are 25. 

Mental health also affects what we think, feel, and behave like, expressing our emotions in many ways, and during this time, teens go through many changes in their personality and finding out who they are as a person and through their bodies and how they want to look.

“Mental illness occurs when our mental health is compromised or neglected for so long that it affects our ability to function in our everyday life,” a certified therapistKati Morton said.

 Teenagers tend to have a lot of mental health struggles. According to the website Mental Health Foundation they say that over 70% of teenagers between the ages of 5 to 16 experience mental health issues that most adults and guardians don’t notice, so it causes them to struggle and not get the help they need and deserve.

Social media pressure

Social media can be a nice and fun way to express yourself and see new trends, but it can also make teens feel pressured to look perfect or to look a certain way to be popular or to feel included in something.

This causes unrealistic beauty standards and causes people to develop new inceraites about themselves and their opinion on how others look too. 

Most influencers lie about how they look naturally by using filters to get stuff done on their face, including botox, surgery, and filters or editing their photos on the app Instagram. Influencers might do all of this work because that’s what society has come to know nowadays, but now that’s what this generation thinks is perfect and what they want to see out of women and men and what teens are going to see when they go on social media.

Depression 

Depression is a serious condition that makes people feel sad and drained at the end of the day. It leaves people feeling hopeless and empty throughout the day or just throughout long periods such as their lives. When teens are going through depression, it’s a very serious thing.

 It causes teens to lose interest in actives or hobbies they used to enjoy, having low energy multiple times throughout their day, or even have thoughts of hurting themselves or suicidal thoughts. Teens might feel they have nobody to talk to about feeling depresset and blaming themselves for feeling this way or no even knowing what to do, if you or anybody close to you might be having theses thoughts and unsure of what to do try your best to talk to a adult or you gudarian if you feel uncomfortable with doing ethier try taking to a consulor at you school or a social worker. 

Mental pain is less dramatic than physical pain, but it is more common and harder to bear. The frequent attempt to conceal mental pain increases the burden: It is easier to say ‘My tooth is aching’ than to say ‘My heart is broken.’ – S. Lewis

Anxiety

Anxiety is when someone feels extremely nervous or worried even though there mightn’t be a big danger at all. Teens may feel anxious about school, such as stress piling up on them about all the work they have to do, especially when final exams come around, 

or the future and how things might turn out for them. Symptoms of anxiety are usually shortness of breath or trouble sleeping at night because you might be thinking of overwhelming thoughts and difficulty concentrating at school. After all, they might be stressed out with something to do at home or at school. 

When teens or young adults are experiencing symptoms like this, it can lead to an attack of intense anxiety and fear that can manifest with physical symptoms like a racing heart or shortness of breath, which can be very dangerous for your body and can cause you to faint or experience health issues.

90% of Teenagers experience stress, anxieity and depreseion from schoolwork, family expectations, and peer pressure from classmates or friends outside of school. If you feel stuck and feel like you can’t get any help please go to an adult, a consulor or a social worker at your school for help.

Credits: https://mhmgroup.com/