Emotions for Teenagers - Something we can Embrace

(By an anonymous teen)

A concept that I believe all adolescents are familiar with, is putting on a ‘brave face,’ and being able to hide negative emotions, rather than showing them.

I count myself among you.

Trying to act as if everything is okay when really you aren’t, has been normalised, especially in social media. The phrase ‘I’m fine,’ has been used by me on many an occasion, to distract and deflect away from how I feel.  

Only, after this, I can end up feeling worse. My mind can then begin to spiral because I didn’t take a moment to watch my emotion. Sometimes just naming it to myself helps. Whatever the emotion or reason for the emotion (e.g. loneliness, frustration, feeling that you are not good enough etc), the notion remains the same. We tend to hide what we are truly feeling.

What we need to hear more of today is that it is okay to show emotion, and it is okay to cry. It has been said that showing emotion makes you look weak. If anything, it makes you a stronger person. What does not make you a stronger person, is attempting to box it up.

As well as this, asking for help can be thought as ‘uncool’ and ineffective. Asking for help is something that I have also struggled to do. Additionally, I have tried to encourage some of my friends to get help if they need it, but this stereotype is still apparent even if they are experiencing horrible pain. It is something that takes great courage, admitting that you need support. But only then, can we truly let go and begin a new chapter.

I cannot stress enough that adolescents need to hear that asking for help or for someone to talk to is okay. As weird as it may seem, it will hopefully feel as if a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

In times when the world feels as if it is changing constantly, your emotions are needed. They help us to respond, to care and to reach out to each other.

You’ve got this.

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