This can be a chaotic time in your life. These are years that shape who you are, your identity. There are hard times and new pressures. Whether it’s your appearance, your family, dealing with the social scene at school, homework, part-time jobs, pressure to smoke and drink, get high, have sex... You’ve got a lot going on.When there are more downs than ups, it takes extra energy to handle your feelings. But you can learn new skills for coping with what goes wrong – from little things to major problems. For lots of people, it helps just to do things that make them happy. This might mean playing basketball, listening to music, dancing, or writing in a blog or journal. For others, it might mean spending time with family and friends or getting involved in activities at school or in their communities.

 

Speaking out is another way to relieve stress and deal with problems. Through developing a more positive outlook, doing things you enjoy, and relying on friends and family for extra support, you might find that the problems become smaller because you are feeling better in other ways. That being said, sometimes what’s happening is more than occasional angst or sadness. Teens who feel overwhelmed by their troubles or distracted by what the people around them chalk up to “normal” teen problems may be dealing with a more serious issue.

 

Feeling down or getting depressed from time to time is common, but if these feelings don’t go away and a teen’s sadness or anxiety affects things like his sleep, appetite, and how he gets along with others, something else such as a mood disorder may be present. If this sounds familiar to you, you should talk to an adult you trust to get some help. Asking for extra help isn’t a sign of weakness or something to feel ashamed of – it’s a smart and courageous way to help yourself to feel better.