Unhappiness during teenage years

[Ewan]

It seems to now be widely accepted, at least in the UK, that teenagers are generally moody and depressed. This is a massive generalisation, of course, but I think there may be some truth in it. To me, a lot of my teenage friends do seem less emotionally stable and less able to cope with life's challenges than adults I know. It makes sense to me as well because people get good at things, in this case the 'thing' is life, through experience, and teenagers by definition do not have a lot of experience. There are plenty of other possible explanations for their unhappiness, ranging from hormones to too much homework.

Do you think it is the case that teenagers are unhappy more than adults? If so, what do you think are the main causes for this and what solutions should we be considering?

[Atreyu Zuniga]

ha ha ha

[z-man]

There might be another explanation of why your teen years migth be confusing.
Around 15 your get a peek of neuron connections so you brain gets overwhelmed with impulses.
But when you get older the unused neuron conenctions gets reduced so teh world becomes more sense now since you do not get so much conflicting information.
But that means that around your 15, you have the chance to choose a direction you want so by stimuating those neurons this will become you. Later it is getting harder to rewire your brain to do other things.

[Epirot Fiqi]

I don't think adults are less depressive. Remember that most adults still carry the seem burdens from their childhood years. The same pain.

[Atreyu Zuniga]

very true, epirot

[Atreyu Zuniga]

(i think that teenagers, at least probably most are a little bit unstable compared to most adults.)
((i think the reason could be television and the internet and different social roles that might be a lot different than others so you have basically competing amongst the teenagers- like my style or what i am into is better than what you are into.))



which usually or should die off when you are an adult.

even some teenagers manage to be (((above the social roles))) so there ARE some probably more than it seems teenagers who are at an adults level or mature for their age and manage to be depressed free and less moody than their peers.
thats what i got for now.

A solution could be getting into ipower or self development stuff, to help with the uneasiness and help you be less down or confused and just be happy as a teen so they can build a good foundation for their adult life so ipower it.

[vic]

Do you think it is the case that teenagers are unhappy more than adults?
Yes
If so, what do you think are the main causes for this and what solutions should we be considering?
Puberty/the teenage years are a major period of development, one of the most drastic developmental periods in life. I think that we focus predominantly on the physiological changes and ignore the emotional/psychological/neurological changes. The brain is developing during this time as well, and this should at least be acknowledged. Teenagers should know it's not in any way abnormal, or that they are isolated or different or crazy. It would be nice if it were included and focused on in "sexual education"/"health class" or where ever students are taught about puberty these days in school (if they even are?).

[Hiba]

Yes, I think that teenagers, today at least, are much much unhappier than adults.
I'm not an expert in this area but from my point of view I think it's because they're given too much pressure i.e. because we're obviously living in a fast-developing modern society, teenagers or even young children are given a lot of pressure from adults to perform tasks they're physiologically and mentally not ready for. And it's not even tasks; lets take living for example. Obviously our society's more money-mad these days, always trying for the best jobs with the best money. Now I'm not saying that you shouldn't aim high, but I think that adults are pushing teenagers too much to achieve something which is probably beyond they're potential. That's just a thought - I may be talking a load of rubbish. But generally it all comes down to pressures giving to teenagers to be someone they are not. They feel or are forced to change themselves to suit what they may see as what is "accepted". As I'm writing this right now, more theories are popping up in my head that seems to make sense to me. Like maybe for example, they may not be aware of it, but when they're pressured into acting or being someone they aren't, it might conflict with the way they're brains function so that they become depressed and really unhappy without being aware of why... I don't think I'm making sense, it's difficult to try and explain and sorry if your thinking what the hell is she rambling on about :P
So in brief, it's the changing way of life and the demanding pressures placed on them which they cannot, and should not be able to, handle at this stage of life.
Oh another thought, the pressures that arise might come from the fact that these days teenagers are more aware of what goes on around them.

(I'm thinking does this make enough sense to post lol)