Typical Teenage Problems

Problems with Bullying

• Gone are the days when teens need only worry about the schoolyard bully. Because of the recent popularity of social networking sites on the Internet, teens can be targeted by classmates on the web as well as in person. Kidshealth.org says "verbal bullying can also involve sending cruel instant or email messages or even posting insults about a person on a website --- practices that are known as cyberbullying." In rare cases, this can lead to thoughts of suicide. Teens who exhibit a strong reluctance to attend school may be experiencing a problem with bullying.

Body Image Issues

• Another problem teenagers can encounter is one of body image. Although mainly prevalent in adolescent girls, teens from both sexes can become insecure and overly critical with their looks. Much of this problem is due to media images teens are exposed to in magazines and movies, which make them feel inferior and can result in distorted body image. This can sometimes develop into eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

Problems with Peer Pressure

• Peer pressure can come in many forms for teens. Kidshealth.org says that teens "want to fit in, be like peers they admire, do what others are doing, or have what others have." From underage drinking and drugs to teen sex, teenagers face tough decisions on how to make smart choices that will benefit them in the long run. The teenage years are a time of experimentation and testing boundaries, so it is not uncommon for teens to try various types of risky behavior at the urging of their friends. In many cases, however, this is only a short-lived period that most teenagers grow out of as they mature.