Today's Teen Problems

         It has always been difficult being a teenager, but it seems like today’s teens face much more challenges than ever before. Teen pregnancy and STD’s are at a rise with more teens being sexually active at a younger age. I started talking to my daughter about sex and all that goes with it at age ten, and is an on going subject we talk about. Even though I feel she is too young, I feel the need to educate her due to all these teens being sexually active as early as twelve. I remember still playing dolls at age twelve. It seems like these day kids are in a rush to grow up.
        Cyber bullying is another concern teens face today that they did not did ten years ago. With more teens having cell phones and access to computers, bullying has taken a whole new meaning. Back when I was growing up fights usually were one on one and they were fist fights. Now these kids are caring guns and fights involve group of kids. Fights and bullying are being recorded by teens as entertainment among themselves and are being posted on sites like You-Tube.
        All this adds to an increase of Teen Mental Health Issues like anxiety and depression. Teen suicide is rising at an alarming rate. All the social pressures of fitting in and not being single out for being different, along with bullying have put teens to choose suicide then to continue physical and emotional abuse.
        The best tool as parents that we have is communication. We need to talk and educate our kids about all these issues and what they can do if face with a situation that is having a negative affect on their lives. We also as parents need to keep educating ourselves on these issues and be aware of any new trends that can have a negative affect on our kids.

Anxiety Effect In The Body

Anxiety not only affects the mind and your emotional well being but it also takes a toll on your body. Some suffers could experience some or all symptoms on this diagram.

Caridad Culajay

COMMUNICATION

   No matter what kind of relationship you are in, it can be Parent and Child, Husband and Wife, etcetera, if there is no communication there is no relationship.
 

  Having a good relationship with my teen daughter is a lot of work. I am pretty sure parents of teens can agree. We have had our share of arguments & disagreement, but I think that communicating our feelings have help us maintain a good relationship. She knows that she can come to me with her problems, concerns or questions she might have. I listen and tell her about my experiences or opinion on the matter. Sometimes we do not agree but is ok to disagree while she respect my decision as her parent.
  These times that our kids are growing in are a bit different with those of my times due to Technology and what is accepted in Society now. What does not change are the arguments among friends, the broken hearts, the bullying in schools, etc. All these things are the same as when I was growing up. There is more awareness of some of these situations because teens with cell phones recording bullying. Gossiping are done through texting and broken hearts through emails.
  If you have an open relationship with your teen the problems wont be less but at least they will be less of a headache. You as a parent can voice your opinion or advise these cans make the teen years more bearable.

By Caridad Culajay

Panic Attack

In May 2008, my life changed completely. I woke up one morning and didn’t know that my life was never going to be the same again.
It was the last day of finals, I felt confident that I was going to pass and I did. I was under a lot of stress that week. I had to study for finals, finish my papers; internship work was coming to an end. Not to mention helping my daughter with her homework, attending to her needs as well as my husbands.

All I wanted was to finally finish and graduate. So I went to school that day finish my finals and I remember leaving the school and feeling a relief. As I walked, I sighed thinking I’m done and finally graduating. I decided to go shopping at one of my favorite stores near the school. As I was looking around the store I started to feel funny inside. I felt off balance as I walked. With each step I took I thought I was going to fall. I started to feel scared, my heart was pounding. I felt like I couldn’t breathe and was going to pass out. I thought I was having a stroke. I finally told a store employee how I was feeling; she sat me down and gave me water. I called my husband but he couldn’t leave work because there was no one to cover him. So I sat there just waiting for the strength to get up and go home. I never felt so scared and alone. The train ride on my way home was torture. It was rush hour so the train was packed. I started to feel sick to my stomach; I thought I was going to pass out.

Finally, I made it home but found no relief to my symptoms. I continued feeling this way for a couple of days on and off. It wasn’t until I arrived at the emergency room because I felt I couldn’t breathe. At the hospital I told the doctor all my symptoms and he said I had suffered a Panic Attack brought by severe Anxiety. I needed medications. I did not want to leave the house afraid of having another Panic Attack outside. I had to seek therapy to overcome the fear of leaving the house. As far as medication, I have been on them since…I got better as far as the symptoms were, but I am not the same. Every day is a struggle. My mood has changed. Some days I feel depressed and others happy. It’s an everyday struggle to find that balance....

Caridad Culajay