Self Esteem in Teen

Low self-esteem in teens is quite common. If you are a teen who has low self-esteem, you are certainly not alone in your plight. Teenagers struggle with self-esteem issues from early middle school and well into high school and college. If you are finding it hard to feel good about yourself, take solace that your friends are most likely going through the same feelings as you.

You are not alone with your self-esteem issues and it is always important to remember this. A heightened level of self-awareness and self-consciousness is common among teenagers. As teenagers, you are never quite sure if you are smart enough, pretty enough, strong enough, or thin enough.

Being a teenager, you have a lot of concerns and stressors that can contribute to low self-esteem. There are also strong demands placed on you that create competition with others and a strong need to measure up and succeed.

Body image and looks become very important when you are a teenager. You want to look pretty if you are a girl, handsome if you are a guy. You also want to be able to successfully attract members of the opposite sex. This becomes very important when you are a teenager and this can actually become all-encompassing.

It is easy to lose focus on schoolwork, extra-curricular activities, family, and hobbies when you are so concerned whether or not you fit in with your peers.

Sometimes teens get depressed and become quite withdrawn. Some turn to drugs ,alcohol, and unprotected sex to escape feelings of low self-esteem.

Television, movies, and magazines portraying very thin, beautiful people can also give you an unrealistic comparison of what you think you are supposed to look like. When you start comparing yourself to these Hollywood stars it becomes hard to measure up.

Some of the things you can do to improve your self-esteem is:

• Remember that you are unique and adorable and have a lot of great qualities that make you and interesting and special person. Nobody is quite like you.

• Do not forget to do the things you love to do because you truly enjoy these activities. Who cares if it is not cool. If you love studying the piano, do not give this up because your friends do not play the piano.

• Take care of your grooming and hygiene on a daily basis and always put your best foot forward. You will feel so much better.

• Choose your friends wisely, and do not associate with people who put you down and make you feel bad.

• Do not, under any circumstances run away from your feelings with drugs, alcohol, sex, and gambling addiction. Please seek help from a caring trusting professional if this happens.

These are just a few tips to help you improve your self-esteem. Building self-esteem is a lifelong process that will take effort, courage, persistence, and determination.

Michelle Tee (author)

To learn more about Michelle Tee and her writing, please visit her blog at http://www.myselfesteem.net.

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Childhood is more than how a child grows, it's about the series of stages a child goes through to get to adulthood. Going through childhood is work, a lot of work. Each stage of a child's life has different demands on the child. A new parent may not always be aware of what is considered "normal" during the various stages of their child's life. Below are a few examples of the various stages.

Age Eighteen: This is not the magical time when your child suddenly becomes an adult. Many children have not yet reached adulthood emotionally by 18. They are still struggling with who they are and what their purpose is. Your child will experience social strains at this point. Graduating from high school, leaving the safety of their home to explore college or living on their own. They may also find that their high school friends will go off into different directions, leaving them behind. Without those friendships they may feel temporarily lost. Again, this is all apart of the growing up stage. Try and be as supportive as you can. Realize that your child needs to go through this stage to mature into an adult. Guide them when possible. Do not be too critical of what they choose to do with their lives.

Ages Twelve & Thirteen: This is often a time in your child's life when they are going through many physical changes. They may gain weight, grow taller, feel clumsy and awkward. Because their body is going through a lot of physical changes it can be a difficult time for your child. Answer any questions your child may have. Do not feel embarrassed if they ask something that you're not sure of how to answer. Or maybe you don't know the answer. Children can often be very sensitive about how they look at this stage of their life. Be a supportive parent. If you are uncomfortable with answering questions, talk with your pediatrician (or let your child talk with them).

Ages Fourteen & Fifteen: This is the age when your child may have growth spurts. They can cause physical discomfort; such as headaches and joint pain. If your child complains too much of discomfort consult with your pediatrician. Sometimes there may be other reasons for the discomfort. This is also the time when their hormones will kick in. Try and make your child comfortable with what is happening to them. They may not always want to discuss the strange feelings and sensations they are having. Mostly because they don't understand them. Talking with your child about their changing body is the best way to put them at ease. There are some great books available on the teenage body. These books will cover all the physical changes and the emotional changes your child is experiencing. I would suggest you read the books first and decide which ones will best answer the questions your child may have.

Ages Sixteen & Seventeen: By the time your child reaches this stage in their life, they will begin thinking about what they want to do when they leave high school. At least many of them will. They might want to get a car (to establish more independence) or even a job. Some will wonder about college. This is often a difficult time for your teenager because they are not sure that they want to become and adult. Many teenagers will suddenly fear leaving home and becoming independent. Some will think themselves invincible. This is a time of jumbled feelings. Try to keep your teenager on the right track. Keep an open line of communication with them. This can be a time when your teenager experiences a fun and positive side of growing up or a negative and unsafe time. Too many young people get involved with reckless behavior at this time in their lives. Be aware of what your child is up to, who their friends are, and where they spend their spare time.

Wendy Greif is a mother and graduate of USF in Special Education. She has taught children with various disabilities in both South Carolina and Florida. Mrs. Greif operates an informational website for parents and caregivers of children and/or adults with special needs ( http://www.specialneedschildrenandadults.com ).

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Issues with teen self image also known as body image, which is the way they internally picture themselves, can be a major ordeal particularly during adolescence. Teens and tweens are bombarded by the media leaving them with an unrealistic view of the perfect body. Sometimes this causes them to under appreciate their own abilities and interests. During adolescence their bodies are going through hormonal changes which they have no control over. As they become so preoccupied with their teen self image they, in some cases, develop an eating disorder and have little regard for their developmental health.

Teens have a picture in their minds of what the perfect body is and they try to measure up to that image. If they are are happy with their body shape they generally have a positive teen self image. On the other hand, if they don't measure up - their teen self image becomes more of a psychological issue. The way teens see themselves and the way they believe that others see them is an emotional reaction. In other words, they change their ideas of their own bodies according to their emotional well being and that of others around them. Adolescent girls are more susceptible to having poor teen self image and developing an eating disorder. They tend to be more focused on appearance giving the impression of self worth. When in reality their teen self image is low and this leads to poor self esteem and the potential for psychological or eating disorders.

Body image is a modern day issue that has slowly developed over the years. There was a time when being thin was a sign of being poverty stricken and of poor health. Clothing has changed the way teens look at themselves. As the newest fashion comes out they want to look good in the newest styles. Along with the change in fashion is our teens lifestyles. Adolescent girls are dating at younger ages than before leading to problems with their teen self image. Magazines, television, and Hollywood have fueled the desire to be more body conscious.

By: James Rouse

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James Rouse is a personal weight loss coach and author of the popular www.helpcurechildobesity.com – a website created out of his passion. Possibly you have a passion or hobby you'd like to write about. Discover how to turn it into a profitable Web site like James has. Visit: www.helpcurechildobesity.com/how-i-did-this- bx2 to learn more.

Having a low self-esteem has a profound effect on your daily life, and a lot of people don't even realize that they are lacking in the esteem department. Practically every situation in your life has something to do with your self-confidence. Meeting and handling people, driving, starting a new hobby, reaching for a promotion at work. It may seem like you need certain skills and you feel like you are unqualified - and that's exactly right. Your lack of confidence is directly related to your lack of skill.

I'll start by creating an imaginary person that doesn't like to go out. He is anything but shy around his close friends, but quiet and reserved in public and new people. He rarely makes eye-contact. I couldn't tell you why he's that way. Maybe he was shamed as a child when he tried to meet strange people. Perhaps he was in a fist fight and was humiliated and didn't know what to do. Maybe he was poor, and was laughed at about his "choice" of clothing. Who knows? But the fact is, he doesn't like to go out much, and it's probably because he lacks confidence at times where he doesn't know the outcome of the situation. He plays the game of life safely, and is overly precautious about protecting himself from perceived harm.

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When babies are born, everyone starts on equal footing. The events that happen years later will determine if someone is smart or just average. This will all depend on the child's upbringing until one becomes a teenager.

At that age, the individual will be able to think for him or herself without that much assistance anymore when one was still an infant.

Nevertheless, the process of building self esteem still continues at this age. This is because there is still much to learn and there will be other challenges that the person will experience before one can ever be called a man.

One way teens can build self esteem is by taking certain risks. The student can try out for the varsity team or take up an art or music class for the summer to find out if one is musically inclined or not.

There is a saying that goes, " you can't keep a good man down. " Life has it up and down moments so teens should seize the day and rejoice in the success while not dwelling on mistakes. The person should simply think that this is just one of life's lessons and should try a little harder in the future.

Since some find it hard to handle rejection, this is the time that parents must come in to act as a shoulder to cry on and offer words of wisdom. Rather than making the teen afraid of it, the guardians should encourage the person to do it again because the outcome may be a little different.

Self esteem is not just for the individual. This is for everyone. The teen can share this with others by being happy when others are also successful. Those who need a little push will surely appreciate the help one can give to make the classmates dream come true.

Another part of building self esteem as a teenager is by noticing the strengths and weaknesses one has. Those who are successful in one endeavor can help others excel in the field.

By being aware of what other people have, the individual can also become more confident by learning something from others which is all part of the improvement process.

One of the most difficult things to do especially as a teenager is being able to look at the bright side despite the problem that is at hand. Some adults can't also do this but with constant practice, the individual will be able to have a positive outlook in life that can be seen through words and actions.

It takes time to build the teens self esteem. Parents start the moment the infant is born by showing signs love and affection that will soon later involve empowerment. This continues as long as mom and dad are still living.

Teachers and friends on the one end will also do the same thing by giving positive feedback that will occur when excellence in certain skills are shown.

People have to believe in oneself in order to succeed. This is the only way that a person can get a high paying job and be able to live a life of luxury. Being confident won’t happen overnight but those who feel man enough should face the challenges head on and become someone better after everything that has happened.

Peter Dobler is a veteran in the IT business. His passion for experimenting with new internet marketing strategies leads him to explore new niche markets. Read more about his experience with building self esteem; visit http://building-self-esteem.tip4u2.com

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How many teenagers do you meet that really have a strong sense of self esteem? Not many if you tell the truth. It's a treat to find a fifteen year old who knows and likes who they are.

Healthy teen self esteem is first nurtured at home. A secure home life, supportive parents and a reliable extended family provide the launching point that allows children to thrive. From there it's a safe school environment and positive peer relationships that further affirm their feelings of being valuable to others.

If a teens home life offers more negative feedback than positive nurturing, it is nearly impossible for that child to come through puberty feeling good about themselves.

Teenagers who don't have a strong sense of personal value from their parents are left viewing themselves through the critical eyes of their peers. And what they see there is often disappointing.

Making embarrassing mistakes, feeling clumsy, going through puppy love heart break or not doing everything right the first time you try is all part of being a teenager. But a teen with low self esteem takes every stumble personally and internalizes the failure as being part of who they are.

This is why it is so important to help our kids survive their mistakes and deal with disappointments from an early age. Positive teen self esteem is crucial. The best way to improve your teen's self-esteem is to take a very active role in your teen's life. Just by knowing your teen's interests, friends, strengths, and weaknesses, you will be aware of any problems that may arise.

If you have a teenager who is struggling with low self esteem, you have to take every opportunity that presents itself to remind them that they are valuable to you and to others. Provide them with opportunities to be with people who will build them up and encourage them.

Aurelia Williams is the host of Parenting My Teen Podcast and is also the owner of Real Life Solutions, a free resource site for moms.

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