Teen problems

Problems that teenagers are faced with today can take so many forms. Even in stable, solid family units, teenagers will face confusion and (6) ________ with themselves and life.

For a teen who has decided to take that big next step and become sexually involved - pregnancy is a factor that you need to think about. There are methods to prevent pregnancy. (7) ________, accidents do happen and you risk becoming pregnant.

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, (8) ________ 80% of high school students have tried alcohol and many have tried drugs, too. Teens (9) ________ drink or use drugs put themselves at risk for many problems – problems with the law, at school, and with their parents, just to name a few.

As a teenager, your body is changing drastically. For many teens it is (10) ________ to adjust to these changes. Some teens may feel they are too big and don't like the weight that they are (11) ________. Some may feel that they are developing too fast and this is bringing them unwanted attention and perhaps more responsibility than they are ready for and some teens may feel that they are not developing fast enough and being left (12) ________ their peers. All this may affect you so much, it can lead you into eating disorders, like bulimia or anorexia.

Whatever the problems you may be facing are – it is important to have a positive body image and to understand what your body is going through.

Teenagers today live in a very competitive world. It is more important than ever to succeed at school if you hope to have a chance in the job market afterwards. It's no wonder that many young people worry about letting down their parents, their peers and themselves. To try to please everyone, they take on too many tasks until it becomes harder and harder to balance homework assignments, parties, sports activities and friends. The result is that young people suffer stress.

There are different ways of dealing with stress. Everyone knows that caffeine, in the form of coffee or soft drinks, keeps you awake and alert. But caffeine is a drug which can become addictive. In the end, like other drugs, caffeine only leads to more stress. There are better ways to deal with stress: physical exercise is a good release for stress, because it increases certain chemicals in the brain which calm you down. You have to get enough sleep to avoid stress and to stay healthy and full of energy.

Another way to avoid stress is to manage your time effectively. It is better to do a few tasks really well, than lots of tasks badly. Know your limits and try not to take on too much. Finally, if it all gets beyond your control, don't panic or get hysterical. Find the time to sit down quietly and breathe deeply for ten to twenty minutes. Do this regularly, and it will help you calm down and put things into perspective.