The easy life?
True life: Being a young person in today's world isn't easy.
We live in a time of gadgets and modern technology- stuff like Playstation and the Ipod will be associated with my generation. As a young person today I know that I am very fortunate to live in a modern, developed world. My parents constantly remind me how fortunate I am and how lucky I am not to have experienced the childhood that they were forced to endure, how things are so much easier for the kids of today with all the technology.
I’m sorry, but as much as I think that these gadgets have contributed to today’s society I cannot see how they have made life easier. Don’t get me wrong, I realise how fortunate I am, and I’m glad that I was not alive 40 years ago. But I resent people who say that life is easy for a young person today. I find that the people who say this are bald and middle-aged, and the last time that I checked this did not fit the criteria for a young person. How would they like it if I told them to stop moaning about how pitiful their pension is and that they were lucky they weren’t living 200 years ago?
Being a young person in today’s world isn’t easy- no matter what people say. Studies show that in comparison with 1974, today’s 15 year olds are much more than likely to have behavioural problems or suffer emotional troubles such as anxiety and depression. The pressures of today’s society are enormous and depression and anxiety are the result of living in a fast-paced modern world. Young people are using such drastic measures as self-harm as coping-mechanisms for when life is overwhelming.
Adults constantly talking about how easy life is today can be demoralising and even dangerous for a young person who is finding things difficult. It leads them to think that they are inadequate, weak and incapable of coping. They feel alone, isolated and bewildered as to why they are finding everything so tough while everything is supposedly easy.
But don’t panic, adults who talk about the easy life are sending a false message. Don’t let them fool you into thinking that your problems aren’t real. Teenage years are years that are emotionally challenging for everyone and it is inevitable that there are a few bumps along the way.
The vital thing to remember is that you are not the only person who may feel depressed or is finding it difficult to cope with life. It is not a sign of weakness to ask for help- instead it is strength of character to be able to recognise that you can’t do everything alone.
And for those irritating moments when you hear someone droning on about ‘how easy young people have it’ just take one look at them- the shiny bald head, the bushy white beard are all huge clues- how would they know!
See the help section for supportive information and contacts details of support organisations.
By: Marie Duffy
This article is part of the SpunOut.ie true life stories section – a space for young people to share their experiences of tough times and encourage others to seek help. This story is just one person's experience and it may be different for you. Remember that no matter what you are going through, there is help and support available. See the Find help section for more information: http://www.spunout.ie/help/
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