In America, there are plenty of wonderful things that are happening with teenagers. They have a bright future ahead of them, plenty of support networks and resources, and technologies and innovations that the generations of the past could only dream about having. However, there are also several common problems that teenagers in America are facing, and without parental support they could go down a path that could ruin all their potential.

Here’s what you as a parent need to know about the common problems that your son or daughter might be facing, as well as how you can help them confront these problems early in life.

Mental Health Issues

From anxiety, depression, stress, burnout, lack of self confidence and more, it seems the list of mental health issues that come with the territory of being a teenager keeps on growing. Add that to all the other physical changes that come with growing up, and it’s no wonder why your teenager might be struggling with these issues.

These issues can cause serious problems for your teenager, from acting out with reckless behavior, to developing physical symptoms, and even increasing the risk of suicide. While it might seem normal for your teenager to feel a little sad, fatigued, or moody every once in a while, if you start to notice the signs of a mental health disorder, don’t wait for it to get worse.

Providing a space for your teen to vent, talk, feel emotions, or just break down is the best way to help. Allow them to fully experience all these feelings, and then work on solving them together.

A Lack Of Community

Many teenagers just want a place to belong and a sense of community and identity, something that often becomes harder and harder to find in today’s polarizing world where everyone seems to have a conflicting opinion. And when teenagers are rejected from a community because they ‘don’t belong’ or hold different values to what is considered ‘cool’, that can lead to several issues… as well as radical changes as they attempt to be accepted.

For parents, making sure that your child knows that their values are special and helping them find a place to belong can be a real solution.

Bullying

Whether it is a physical bully or online harassment, bullying is a fairly common issue despite all of the attempts to stamp it out. Bullying can lead to fear of specific people or situations, a lack of self confidence, as well as an internalization of negative thoughts and beliefs that just aren’t true.

As a parent, you need to show your teen that you are on their side, and provide strategies to stand up to bullies and make sure they stop their behavior. Talk to your kids about how to engage with bullies safely, and let them know of resources they can go to for help.

Pornography and Unsafe Sexual Activity

Whether you think your teen is having sex or not, or viewing porn or not, they are struggles that teenagers face… especially with modern media and the internet. Premarital sex can lead to teen pregnancy and STDs. Additionally, pornography can damage the brain and give your teen an unhealthy or unrealistic view of what sex is and how it works.

Talking about sex isn’t just the ‘birds and bees’ talk, but it’s about diving deep into what safe, consensual, and loving sex is, and how porn can affect and even warp your brain into having ideas about sex that aren’t safe.

Obesity And Body Image

Whether your teen struggles with their weight, how they look compared to the models on social media, or if they feel they aren’t as muscular as they could be, body image can mess with your teen’s head and can lead to all sorts of issues. Mental health, body dysphoria, and other problems can happen when your teen internalizes a toxic narrative of what their body should look like.

For parents, talk with your teen about what they want their body to look like, and quash any unrealistic comparisons. Then help them create a plan so they can get the body they want in a safe and healthy manner.

The Inability To Ask For Help

More and more teens are starting to see their parents as enemies or unwanted presences in their lives. And they also don’t know how to handle making mistakes or what they can do whenever they get in over their head. Make sure that you show your ability as a parent to listen without judging and offer help in a way that makes them feel safe, and they will be more likely to come to you.

The Problems Of Social Media

With how widespread the internet is becoming, no amount of screen time rules and parental monitoring is going to protect your children from the dangers of the internet and social media. From cyberbullying to shaming to unsavory images and people online, the normalization of all the dangers on social media can affect a teen in more ways than you know.

So make sure you teach them how to navigate, use, and discover the benefits of social media and tell them how to minimize the risks.

Peer Pressure With Alcohol And Drugs

Many teens see in movies, songs, and other media that the only way to be cool is to drink and smoke, and even if your teenager doesn’t want to do these things, their friends or other peers might pressure them into it. Teaching your teens to overcome peer pressure, to stick to their guns about who they are, and how they should safely and responsibly consume substances when they are older will help them resist.

Stress From The World

From small problems like getting into a good college or making sure they find love, to the larger problems of economic instability and the climate crisis, the world can be very stressful for a teenager, and every media outlet seems to want to make it much worse.

As a parent, it can be hard to watch your teenager confuse what they can’t control with what they can control, so make sure you provide safe ways for them to deal with stress. A sympathetic ear about their problems can also be helpful.

A Lack Of Direction In Life

Many teens are simply directionless and feel as if they are going through the motions of life, and that can lead to a lack of drive and severe ambition issues as they grow into adults. If you notice your teen is tired and has seemed to stop caring about some of the things they used to care about, then you need to step in and encourage them to find their purpose.

Parents, Don’t Be Afraid To Communicate

As you might have seen, most of the problems on this list can be solved by having regular, earnest, and honest talks with your teens and showing them that they can trust you. Work on your communication skills with your teenager just as they will be working on their skills with you, and you will find that they will come to you with their problems.