Blog
How Social Media Shapes Teen Identity and Self-Esteem
Once upon a time, figuring out who you are happened mostly offline. You had the chance to explore different friend groups, styles, versions of yourself, and then receive feedback from the people in the room in real time. Now, much of this exploration happens on a screen, in front of an audience that never logs off. Each post you make is a small piece of who you are. Every like or comment becomes proof that the experiment worked. And every bit of silence tells your brain this isn’t working.
Common ADHD Symptoms in Teen Boys
ADHD doesn’t always look as you would expect. Many people recognize the kid bouncing off the walls or being disruptive in class. In teen boys, however, it rarely presents like that. It’s a more subtle version, harder to name, and easy to write off as being a teenager. If you’re a parent trying to figure out whether you’re seeing normal teenage behaviors or signs of something more, or you’re a teen reading this to learn more, here’s what ADHD tends to look like. Once you have a base understanding, it will make more sense why teen ADHD often goes unnoticed until later in adolescence or adulthood.
Understanding Friendship Anxiety and Fear of Losing Friends
A friend texts you back three hours later, and suddenly you’re convinced they’re over you. Someone posts a photo with other friends that you don’t recognize, and your stomach drops. It makes you question and replay a past conversation, wondering if you talked too much or said something weird. If you are familiar with this feeling, you’ve got plenty of company. A lot of people your age carry this type of friendship anxiety around with them.
Ways to Manage and Reduce Persistent Anxiety Thoughts
Your brain is resilient, yet it manages to pick the worst possible moments to spiral. When trying to fall asleep at night, you’re suddenly met with a repetitive loop of an awkward interaction from last week. While sitting in class, your stomach drops because you’re convinced you failed a test that you haven’t even taken yet. Your friend responds with a one-word reply, and you immediately assume there’s tension between you two.
How Trauma Can Lead to Deep Feelings of Loneliness
People surround you, yet you still feel completely alone. Your family and friends could be sitting in the same room with you, and you find yourself feeling like you’re on the outside looking in. There isn’t anything necessarily wrong with them, or with you. You just have this underlying sense that no one sees you, even when they say they understand you.
How to Stay Grounded When Current Events Bring Up Old Trauma
It’s a day just like any other. You’re scrolling through your phone, like you normally do, when something stops you in your tracks. It might be a news story or a specific video. Maybe a comment thread catches your attention. Suddenly, you’re not just upset about what’s happening in the world, but you’re feeling a full flood of emotions.
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