What's up with teen girls these days?

[Anonymous]

I went to a holiday gathering yesterday. 5 out of 6 women I ended up chatting with have daughters in H.S. and college with emotional issues and depression. I wasn't raising the topic, it just seemed to come up in each conversation. My DD who is in H.S. is having anxiety issues and has a lot of drama with friends and school, so I could relate to all of the discussions. It feels like girls with esteem, anxiety issues, depression seems to be prevalent. I don't remember this being the case when I was in high school 30 years ago. Is it the National Capital Region? social media? Media in general? I worry about my daughter and am now sure how I can help.

[Anonymous]

I agree, OP. There has always been teenage angst and people have always had difficulties, but it seems to be more pervasive these days. I tend to attribute it to the social media obsession and 24/7 contact with media and everyone. Kids don't have any down time, are always scrutinized and feel the pressure to always be "on". Add to that the constant pressure to do well in school, get into a great college, be smart, be pretty, be funny, be "trendy". It's all too much for a teenager to deal with...I hate social media...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree, OP. There has always been teenage angst and people have always had difficulties, but it seems to be more pervasive these days. I tend to attribute it to the social media obsession and 24/7 contact with media and everyone. Kids don't have any down time, are always scrutinized and feel the pressure to always be "on". Add to that the constant pressure to do well in school, get into a great college, be smart, be pretty, be funny, be "trendy". It's all too much for a teenager to deal with...I hate social media...

+1. Totally agree. There has got to be serious pushback on use of social media. More and more evidence of his destructive it is for young people.

[Anonymous]

social media 1000%.

[Anonymous]

I went to college at 18 with a raging eating disorder and anxiety. This is nothing new?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I went to college at 18 with a raging eating disorder and anxiety. This is nothing new?

Last year?

[Anonymous]

This is nothing new, parents are just more aware now and they are treating more kids and bringing attention to it. I was a depressed and anxious mess all through high school and battled with bulimia, but I hid it from everyone. I didn't think there was any other option. I guess I turned out fine on my own, but I cringe every time I think of my high school years.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in this area and was terribly depressed as a teen. My brother did and still suffers from anxiety. I have two teens of my own who have both struggled with anxiety and depression. The difference is that now we acknowledge and treat it before it gets worse.

Also also think that not having a more adventurous childhood has left my kids less flexible and able to problem solve. We spent hours on our own roaming the neighborhoods, climbing trees, jumping in creeks, etc. My kids have had some of that but much less, therefore, I think the world seems more overwhelming to them than it should.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree, OP. There has always been teenage angst and people have always had difficulties, but it seems to be more pervasive these days. I tend to attribute it to the social media obsession and 24/7 contact with media and everyone. Kids don't have any down time, are always scrutinized and feel the pressure to always be "on". Add to that the constant pressure to do well in school, get into a great college, be smart, be pretty, be funny, be "trendy". It's all too much for a teenager to deal with...I hate social media...

+1. Totally agree. There has got to be serious pushback on use of social media. More and more evidence of his destructive it is for young people.

AMEN! It's perfectly obvious that the dark side of social media is what's ailing a lot of young people and older ones, too.

Sadly, it will take empirical evidence to convince people of the damage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I went to college at 18 with a raging eating disorder and anxiety. This is nothing new?

Last year?

No, in 1993. Hence me stating that this is nothing new. I played a div I sport and eating disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, binge drinking etc were normal.

[Anonymous]

I think we have a society that places so much worth on people's looks. It must be hard to be a girl growing up on this media BS 24-7. Just look at the Kardasian trash and Victoria secret fashion shows.

[Anonymous]

People are more willing to talk about their disorders and others are elevating their troubles to the diagnosis threshold.

[Anonymous]

I think it's school in this area and generation. We had nowhere near the workload and pressure.

[Anonymous]

I grew up here in the 80's and I don't think it is anything new... though I would say that the kids with anxieties were the top students taking too many honors/AP classes and could never satisfy their parents endless need for them to "do better than their parents".

I also went to a reunion and the "top" students are not exactly standouts professionally/personally. So it seems like it was all for naught.

I think it's this area, super competitive... extrinsic validation... pushing your kids to beat the Jones' kids.

I let my kids take life slowly, don't over do their school schedule (freshman year: took Algebra, no APs), let them navigate their sports, etc.... People act like I have 2 heads. OTOH, my brother who lives in Colorado had his son do test prep for the SATs and people looked at him like he had 2 heads.

[Anonymous]

It's always been around but people are more comfortable or open about it now I think