Fear of the Future During Adolescence

If you notice that your teen is very pensive or anxious, he or she may be worried about the future. In this article, discover how to help adolescents overcome their fear of the future so it doesn't negatively affect them.

Adolescence is a very important stage that young people go through. During this stage, they become aware of their responsibilities as individuals, which can cause them to have concern and fear of the feature.

From the age of 15 or even younger, young people start hearing in school or at home that their actions have consequences, sometimes permanent ones. Thus, they start thinking about good grades and the possibility of going to college, sex education and unwanted pregnancy, and maybe even about appropriate social behavior and the ability to make friends.

Since they’re so young and may lack maturity and proper guidance, fear of the future can overwhelm teens. No wonder the World Health Organization (WHO) classified suicide as the second leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.

Fear of the future during adolescence

Excessive concern for the future during adolescence can undoubtedly trigger extreme anxiety in young people. Many young people experience adolescence normally, as their home conditions are optimal and they get good grades and socialize or fit in with their peers.

In other cases, the situation is different. Many young people must make an extra effort to achieve the common goals of this stage, which is why fear, anxiety, and confusion may manifest. Let’s review the specific needs that are on teens’ minds regarding their future.

Source of concern for teens

The current problems that overwhelm teens are:

1. Not getting good grades to graduate high school or get into college

Teens’ school lives are extremely important. No matter how much they study, it’s been shown that we’re all innately prone to understanding some things more easily than others (such as math or literature, for example).

Many teenagers who suffer from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder haven’t been diagnosed with the condition. This will make them fear the future if they don’t get good grades in the most complex subjects; this may happen even if they study really hard.

2. Not being able to make friends or not having an optimal social life

The need to fit in and be accepted is also one of teens’ key concerns. They may feel overshadowed as individuals if they’re victims of school bullying or if they fail to make and keep friends. This will affect their self-confidence and self-esteem.

3. Not finding a partner or having a hard time accepting their sexuality

During adolescence, teens’ hormones start acting up, leading to infatuation, sexual awakening, and first love. This adds more pressure to teens’ already complicated lives.

There are also special cases to consider, such as young people who openly express their homosexuality or who fail to feel identified with their gender.

4. Disorientation because they don’t know what they’ll do for a living as adults

Not liking any profession in particular or not knowing if they should keep studying or start working can also lead to anxiety in teens. Many don’t even have the resources to pay for college, which leads them to work extra hard to qualify for scholarships.

Vocational crises in teenage students are pretty common and can make teens feel lost and disoriented.

5. Wanting to become independent from their parents or being unwilling to follow their rules

After their school years, many young people decide to become independent from their parents because they’re anxious to experience adult life. Some even decide not to continue their studies to start working to be able to afford their lives.

However, others have to continue living with their parents but are unwilling to follow their rules. This leads to tense and stressful home situations.

Finally, i t’s important to note that stress, anxiety, and excessive concerns in teens should be dealt with. In extreme cases, young people can radically change their behavior. If this happens, you should guide them or take them to a psychologist.