When I was a teenager, I used to get fascinated by movies and lifestyle shown therein; quite
attracted by the way the protagonist used to do everything. I had a few friends of my type, who
used to show-off and smoke and drink and talk of girls, thinking themselves as heroes similar to
that of movies. I, being attracted by them, joined them once to try a cigarette just out of curiosity.
I even joined them in other stuffs. It was quite late when I realized that I had developed a habit
of smoking and all that they were involved in. These habits were accompanied by huge
distractions towards fantasies and opposite gender. I ruined my half decade that way; my
studies, personal and social life and everything else was hampered badly.
No wonder, like me, many of you (Adolescents), must have been through or must be going
through such days/years or conditions. This, infact, is a mental health and psychosocial problem
that nobody talks about. Also, most of us donot even know or consider this as a problem.
According to WHO, 20% of the world's children and adolescents have mental health problems.
And these problems ruin there life to a great extent.
Health is the state of physical, mental, emotional and social well-being of an individual. On this
account, we take care of our physical health to the utmost extent as we are being taught to take
care of our physical health, but nobody taught us how to look after our mental health and how to
be mentally fit and healthy. As adolescents or teenagers, we don't even speak of our problems
to our parents, relatives and closed ones because most often we are shy or afraid to share or
because we don't consider our mental illness as a real trouble.
If you are a teenager, the first and foremost thing you need to know and understand is that it's
completely okay to have mental problems and distractions and it's equally okay to talk about it. If
you don't talk, how will the problem be solved? You can't ruin your life this way. Let not your
mental problems destroy your future. Remember, no problems are too tough to be solved. Go,
seek help, talk to people, share your stories and find yourself a counselor. Good luck!