The Unlocked View

Entering your teenage years, many things change, from your external, everyday life to even things internally, but most importantly, your brain chemistry changes. Every single day, people fight wars inside their minds, and sometimes they don’t even know that they are. Not only this, but some people don’t communicate what they’re going through and suffer silently; in some cases, it becomes too late. 

According to Healthline.com, the article, “This Is How Your Brain Develops In Your Teenage Years,” explains more of a biological reasoning to the approach that during your teenage years, your brain begins to develop in different areas that control both emotions and decision-making. Because the emotional part of the brain may grow faster, it leads to things such as mood swings; although some teens are more than likely to deal with mental health issues like anxiety and even depression. But more importantly, why do teens respond to stress differently compared to adults? 

The article, “The Teen Brain: 7 Things To Know” by Nimh.nih.gov, also helps to explain that teenage stress feels different from adult stress because the brain isn’t fully mature. Teens depend more on the amygdala (which is in your temporal lobe, controlling emotion), the brain’s emotional center, which leads to stronger and sometimes less logical reactions to stress. On top of that, teenagers release more cortisol, which is the stress hormone, compared to adults in the same situations, which can make them more sensitive to pressure and more likely to develop mental health issues like those previously discussed. 

After looking at the more biological view of why teenagers may experience mental health issues, let’s dig deeper into social influences that may contribute to this… After reading the article “Perceived Social Status and Mental Health Among Young Adolescents: Evidence from Census Data to Cell Phones,” by the National Library of Medicine, the article helps magnify how teens truly see themselves in society based on their socioeconomic status. More specifically, how they believe they fit socially in a world of hierarchy, which, as a young child, can affect their mental health. Teens who feel like they’re lower on the social ladder tend to have more stress, trouble focusing, and behavior problems. This is specifically more true for older teens who are more aware of social differences and how the world views different things; to them, it may not just be about how much money they have, but also how they feel about their place in their community. 

As a young teen myself, I’ve learned that there is still so much life yet to come. Although all teens deal with these issues in different ways, there is still room to improve ourselves. We can learn to positively deal with mental health issues. Personally, I prefer staying active to keep things out of my head! The National Library of Medicine’s “Protecting Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory” explains that young teens should reach out for help! Whether it’s calling a hotline or talking to a trusted, loving adult, you should communicate your feelings and seek guidance. Another big one would be practicing safe online behavior. This is mainly important because of the modern generation’s love for being more present online than in the current present. But most importantly, practice self-love! Make sure you are set on your own; that way, you do not learn to depend on others for your mental health, all of which you can do by setting important boundaries. Remember, you are not alone in this world!