Fears of the Future (Teenage Anxiety)

Written By Madeline Kasmier

The clocks are ticking and a teenage girl is stressing over the work ahead of her

The future is uncertain. We have no idea what's gonna happen and that's a really scary thought. Especially for teenagers. When you are a teenager life starts getting real. You are leaving your childhood behind and getting ready for adulthood. It's hard for us to wrap our heads around the idea of leaving the young and innocent person we once were. We get the anxieties of who we are to become as adults and how exactly we get there. 

There is a lot of pressure on us to succeed in school. We need to do well so we can get into good colleges. Colleges are very competitive so you need to work hard if you want to get into the one of your dreams. And your peers don’t make it any better. They have expectations for you too and it can make you stress if you aren’t meeting up with their goals. This stress can cause a great sum of problems like staying up too late working, overthinking, poor quality, procrastination, poor health, etc. 

Another part of this stress is our social dynamics. Our teenage years are spent on us trying to figure out our true identities. Not being accepted or not having many friends is a big fear. Bullying is another one. Now that we have our new technologies and social media. We have the chance to connect more. But not everyone wants to connect, others want to hurt. People have their own opinions and can get very judgmental/ harsh. Cyberbullying is an issue we have today and it can really affect teens. It can lead to teenagers feeling lonely and inadequate. 

Finances are also a huge concern for our futures. We see how the economy has affected those close to use. For example our parents, we see the work they have to put in to give us a steady life and soon when we are adults that will be our responsibility. We will then have to worry about our own finances, jobs, and means to be independent. 

It is important that if we are having these fears that we should seek help.  Whether that be from our guardians, teachers, or someone who specializes in mental health. Don’t feel embarrassed if you are stressed out about these fears. Most teenagers go through the same thing.  Feel free to open up to those around you. 

However if you truly don’t think you can speak to someone and the anxiety is getting to you, this article can help give you some coping mechanisms.

In it, it says, “Once students determine which techniques work for them, you can assemble a list with descriptions for the student to discreetly tuck into a notebook as a quick reference. Or, the student can keep their journal, list of affirmations or picture of their peaceful place where they can access it without classroom disruption. Having this survival kit available can bring a feeling of control over their anxiety.”

I think that this is a great tactic, you get to find ways to help yourself and then you can put a list together to keep on you at all times. 

Personally when I feel the weight and pressure of school.  I like to cope by either, playing my show tunes music, watching ASMR, junk journaling, and taking a long bath. These could be ideas for you too. 

In conclusion, fearing the future is a typical experience for most teenagers. If you accept that you have these fears, find the support you need. Get rid of those anxieties and face those challenges with a positive attitude. We’ll be adults soon so we need to make sure that we are prepared. The future is uncertain but it’ll go better if we think of the good things and not the bad.