May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and I want to highlight the challenges of adolescent mental well-being. Developmental changes include puberty, starting a new school, and geographical changes. Transitions can be easy or hard for different people depending on how they adapt to potentially life-changing situations. Specifically, adolescents adapting to a new routine can have pros and cons. A change of environment or routine is never easy. For adolescents, the impact of a new routine can bring about opportunities as well as increase stress. Elevated stress levels can often trigger anxiety and challenge mental health.
Transitioning from middle school to high school can feel like entering a new world. It’s a time for tremendous growth, and at the same time, immense pressure. Teens often struggle with their mental health between developmental changes, family pressure, fear of weakness, family dynamics, and lack of awareness.
As a first-generation student and the eldest sibling, I hold a huge amount of pressure to be a role model for my siblings. With this pressure comes stress and during stress, I lose my sense of time management. In the back of my mind, I always have my mom’s words, “No te rindas” (don’t give up). With that, I figured she was watching me go through these challenges, I would assume my younger siblings also notice when I go through tough moments.
At the beginning of my college career, I got used to always putting a tough face in front of my family to hide my struggle. My family did not know I was going down this rabbit hole, fretting about how I could make them proud. I ended up pushing my feelings to the side and that was not the best choice I could have made for my mental health.
When I hide my feelings, it does not allow me to work through obstacles with the support I need. I learned along the way that when I keep my feelings inside, it feels like I’m stuffing old things in a box and storing them in the attic. When the moving day comes and I come across this box with old stuff, the memories lead me to feel over-stimulated as I try to figure out what to do. These feelings take over. I noticed I do not prioritize these feelings and they take over my head space all at once, then I become irritated for not knowing what to do. My family would only see the effect of the situation which means, they would see me when I was already overwhelmed, stressed, and irritated, and did not understand the root cause.
There have been times when I’ve been overwhelmed and reached a breaking point and my family sees the final outburst. They assume I get triggered easily. This is frustrating because it’s the result of many issues building up over time. I believe by opening up when these feelings first start, these breakdowns could have been prevented.
Having received professional mental health support for over 15 years, I’m familiar with the early signs of feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and stressed. I have learned to identify these feelings earlier, more consistently, in the last couple of years. I know what signs to look for and can spot similar cycles in my family. On the other hand, my mom has not received support in years. There are generational differences in our family in accepting mental health services. This can make it difficult to have open discussions about how we are feeling. I understand that these negative stereotypes might make it hard for her to fully understand my experience without feeling the need to “fix” things. I truly believe that by having open conversations about mental health, our entire family dynamic could improve significantly.
Why Teens Feel Hesitant
Many adolescents believe that they are alone with their challenges and struggles with mental health, but that is often not the case. Many adolescents experience feelings of anxiety, stress, and depression during this period.
Society often throws teens and young adults into a confusing mix of expectations and emotions with little to no guidance. It’s like telling them to “figure it out” while navigating a life maze filled with school, relationships, and their developing feelings. This pressure to be self-sufficient can be incredibly frustrating and set them up for failure. We can do better by providing them with resources, open communication, and a safe space to explore their emotions and navigate these challenges.
Unfortunately, the stigma around mental health can make teens feel ashamed to seek these vital services, even when they recognize the need. It can be for many reasons such as:
● Fear of Weakness: During adolescent development, many worry about how they will fit into friend groups at school. The fear of looking incompetent to be in certain groups due to their mental health can impact what they can ‘bring to the table’ and offer the group. In recent years, an attempt to normalize messages about mental health and getting support or care. There are cultural barriers that impact adolescents and even adults to seek help because they feel stigma and shame.
● Lack of Awareness: Failing to address the mental health conditions of adolescents can extend to adulthood which has limited opportunities (World Health Organization, 2021). Many adolescents have no idea what mental health conditions are or know the signs and symptoms. The individual’s family dynamic also takes into effect how the young adult can feel about talking about mental health. Family support systems in the home can vary from openness to imparting fear and shame.
● Family situations: As I have my generational differences, there is a lot more than just one person who also relates to my challenges. Teens today face a complex mix of challenges, including financial pressures, value clashes, and family conflicts. Witnessing parents fight can be especially difficult, as teens often learn by observing adult behavior. This can lead them to adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms unconsciously.
Warmlines and Hotlines Available: (call for support)
Warmline call or text: 855-600-WARM (9276) to speak with a counselor 24/7
For suicide & Crisis, you can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org
Breaking Down the Barriers
There is no shame in seeking mental health services! I always thought that seeking assistance would be interpreted as a weakness. As someone who has received mental health services throughout my life, I can say it has made me stronger. I know how to address certain situations when they’re brought up again. When I have stressful situations, I know what signs to look for and know how to address them. I took the tools I gained from talking to a professional, and through the process, I learned that they helped me immensely to get through my job, school work, and personal life.
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mental-health/index.htm
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health