Adolescents struggle
with stress and depression
Americas
youth may look like they are in control
of their lives as they hang together in
groups and swagger down the streets, but
in truth they are under tremendous pressure
today.
Violence by teenage boys in the nations
schools has focused attention on why these
adolescents developed such extreme behavioral
problems. A recent survey points to one
potential reason: a high percentage of boys
have experienced violence themselves.
According to a Commonwealth Fund survey,
13 percent of all high school boys have
been physically or sexually abused, and
22 percent have wanted to leave home at
some time because of violence or the threat
of violence.
Other studies suggest that it is not inherently
true that "normal adolescent boys"
are naturally aggressive and emotionally
unexpressive. More importantly, there needs
to be an increasing awareness that many
parents and schools support these types
of behaviors in the belief that they are
necessary for male success.
These studies also show that these traditionally
"macho" attitudes are linked to
depression. This attitude is usually confined
to such behaviors as competition, repression
of fear and emotions, and strength, both
physically and emotionally.
All the boys surveyed indicated they felt
isolated in terms of support: they were
much less likely than girls to turn to someone
for help when feeling overwhelmed, stressed
or depressed. Many of these young men experience
a chronic inability to talk about their
abuse.
Grant Cardone, a success expert who talks
to thousands of people across America each
year on how to succeed and have a full life
at the same time, says this inability can
ruin a young mans life.
Everyone is striving for some form
of success, says Cardone. Ultimately
your future is in your own hands and as
many people suspect, the key to success
lies in the control of your own mind.
Boys today face unprecedented stresses
from many directions. As these young men
face pressures for more achievement and
more demands to interact on a personal level,
it is likely that they can find themselves
in situations where it is critical to identify
and communicate about their emotions.
The true bedrock for success lies
in learning how emotions affect our behavior
and how past negativity can affect you now
and influence your reactions, says
Cardone. Dianetics: The Modern
Science of Mental Health by L. Ron Hubbard
explains in a practical way how stressful
situations affect our drive towards happiness,
achievement and survival. And how these
stressful mental states can even affect
our physical and mental health.
Brent Wisner is a student at UCLA who felt
his stress levels spiraling out of control.
I remember sitting in a lecture, shivering.
It was like I was possessed, remarks
Wisner. I was nervous about a test
that was going to happen in three weeks!
Everything bothered me: my mom, my friends
and especially my girlfriend. There was
this haze over everythingI couldnt
think straight.
Wisner read Dianetics and after
using the simple procedure, found he was
able to control the cause of his stress.
The stress shredded away, classes
became enjoyable and my girlfriend and I
stopped fighting. Life became fun again.
The ability to communicate feelings is
an increasingly important survival skill.
It is certainly required for stable interpersonal
relationships throughout lifeat school,
at work and in families.
Before stress and confusion leads our young
men into depression, substance abuse and
even suicide, we need to make every effort
to help them overcome anxiety and stress.
When they know how to identify and understand
their feelings, deal with their emotions
and control their own mental processes,
they will find their road to adulthood and
success much easier to travel. Visit www.dianeticsDOTORG
for more information.
Click
to order your copy of The Dianetics Self-Improvement
Package.
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