As a teenager, is it 'normal' to NOT like yourself?
550837
It is very normal as a teenager not to like yourself. So many things are changing both within your body and life that it would be strange not to have such feelings.\n\nTake care of yourself and try to accept the things about yourself that you don't like. With me it was being shy and my nose. I am still shy and I have not had a nose job but I finally accepted that these things are only a problem if I let them be.\n\nThings will change again and you will see them differently. Good luck for the future from a very old Teenager!!!!!!
331875
Being a teenager can be the most confusing and awkward time in your life.  You aren't an adult, but you aren't a kid.  Your hormones are raging and you want to be independent but your school and parents wont let you, yet at the same time you're expected to act as an adult.  Many teens are very sensitive and emotional.\n\nDepression isn't something you can just snap out of.  Its a chemical imbalance in your brain where you aren't producing enough seritonin.  This causes depression, but anti-depressants can help to raise the seritonin level and bring you out of the depression. \n\nHowever when you are in that hole of depression there feels like there is no way out.  Your miserable on a daily basis, your relationships start suffering, your grades start suffering causing parents and teachers to become angry at you.  Life just isn't worth living to you and you begin to dream about going to sleep and never waking up.  You feel your more of a drain on those you love and society and while it will make people sad if you died, they would be better off in the long run to not have you bringing them down and you'll be happier to slip off into oblivion anyway.\n\nAll people, regardless of age, get depressed.  However it seems to be more traumatic for teens as its an awkward time of life, your hormones are crazy making you feel off anyway, and your naturally more sensitive.  I think thats why there is a higher population of teen suicide than other age brackets.
218309
Hello! Can understand what you mean. Have not got too much self-esteem neither... but I have come to accept that it is not okay for me to feel that way somehow. I want to change it. Think one really needs to decide deep within to change it. There are many beautiful suggestions here. A counsellour I saw some time ago told me that I should say out loud "I am a wrothwhile person and I deserve to be happy." ... and it worked. Just that I became kind of lazy :o) . What might help you as well is the link below. It might seem childish but it really does help. Enjoy it and good luck to feeling better toward yourself :-) !
1060866
I was the same way as you are: here my story\n\nWhen i was at the age of id say 10-13 was the same way i didnt wanna go and do anything that involved other people. and i had mabe 2 friends. i never hung out with them i just talked to them in school. i was always depressed. i HATED talken to new people or even people i knew. what i did was i suck it up and went into school and started talken to people no matter how much i didnt want to, i changed my appearence (i cut my hair short, started wearing really nice clothes) and just going up to random people and starting a convo wit them will actully help you. i guarentee you will be happier. Im now 16  almost 17 i have TONS OF FRIENDS im really popular, for my sophmore year i got best looking best dressed funniest and best listener. \nbecause you arnt in skool anymore or atleast i hope u arnt this is wat u should do.\n\n~~~heres wat to do~~~\n\n1. STOP BEING SO NEGATIVE\n\n2 Go and hang out wit some family members and go wit them to hang out wit their friends and because of that you will make new friends\n\n3 Dont be afraid to like go up to a random person adn start a convo. (this will make you happier because you will have tons of friends)\n\n4. i dont know how you dress or your personal appearnece but if you wanna try something new. Try changing the way you look, I.E. style of clothing if you dress like a geek then try changing to like mabe a pair of pants that are a little baggie, wear some nice shirts (Ecko Southpole Fubu).\n\n5. Smile, Be Nice\n\n6. if you are invited to something i suggest you go to it, try it, mabe you will realize how much fun you can have. And if you decide you dont like it then figure out why you didnt like it, was it the people? were you bored because you didnt hang out wit anyone? \n\nI Hope This Helps You Out A Little. \n\nif you have anymore questions email me : jslatts@hotmail.com
361654
You're a teenager and these feelings are normal.  I've found that being yourself and letting go of trying to be perfect can help.  Then you start to see the things that really matter to you, and you find friends that genuinely make you happy.  But the first step is going to see someone about it, someone who you can talk to and vent.  Try a school councilor or therapist.
742672
How old are you?  Are you having or did you have a terrible childhood?  Were you berated, put down by your parents or by people around you when you were a child?\n\nMore often than not, how we feel about ourselves is a result on how we were treated by those around us during our developmental years (toddler to the teenage years).  A poor self image of ourselves is learned.  If as a younger person, nobody ever told you that you were beautiful/good looking and always told you that you were stupid, chances are you're going to believe them.  I think that that's where you are now.\n\nGrowing up, my mom hardly had anything nice to say to me... My hair was too long/too short, I was too skinny, I was getting too tanned, etc.  She even embarrassed me once during dinner when my uncle and his family were over... about my pimples!  For a while there, I was always conscience of my skin.  My father passed away when I was just 19.  He was the only one that ever said anything nice to me.  I felt the same way you're feeling about yourself.. ugly, stupid, etc.\n\nSo, think back on how you may have been affected by those around you.  Like I said, chances are is that you weren't brought up in a positive atmosphere.  You have to make yourself KNOW that what was said or was told to you about you were wrong... That you are a beautiful person, both inside and out, as well as intelligent and fun to be around!\n\nBest to you in eventually knowing that you're not ugly, stupid and ubearable.
911330
Normal?  If normal is based upon other people's standards then perhaps it might be considered abnormal, however, if you are worried more about what other people think about you or if you rely upon other people's viewpoints or perceptions of you to determine what you should do in life then will be a follower of confusion.\n\nBF (Boy Friend)?  Having a boy friend is easy by any means, but young lady should never settle for any boy.  Neither should a young lady look for a boy to be considered "Normal" or for security or something else.  A young lady must learn to be secure within and self confident in who they are and develop a meaningful purpose in life.\n\nIn addition, not having a boy friend does not mean you are undesireable.  Now I personally do not like to refer to any person as ugly, but there are certain girls that may have facial features that are considered by many to be ugly facially, however, they still attract many of the opposite sex including attractive ones.\n\nIt is important for a young lady to make themselves "approachable"  I know of many girls that may to others have unattractive faces, but they have beautiful personalities and they are confident regardless.  They accept who they are as individuals and make the best of what they have.\n\nLearning how to become more outgoing and confident with your ownself and having as many conversations with people in general will open many doors to new relationships, but beware of the magicians out there in the marketplace.  They will approach you with attractive measures with a hidden agenda.  The magician never allows you to see what he or she is really doing, otherwise it would give there trick away.\n\nThe same applies to relationships.  Its not being cynical, its discernment.  Is it normal to not have a boy friend at 19 years of age?  It depends upon who is answering the question and there own principles or beliefs.  Personally, I think a young lady or person in general should use this period in your life to establish a future career or business.  Spend more time educating yourself and learning a variety of skills that will help you for a lifetime.\n\nYou will have plenty of time to engage oneself in intimate relationships.  Become more of a student of people or relationships.  Learn how to read people better and deal with them.  All the best!
181819
It is normal to change personality.  While you are growing up, your personality is affected more by outside sources than your own inner sense of self.  This is because you haven't found yourself yet.\n\nYou probably acted like your friend because you were around your friend a lot.  People tend to act like their friends.  When you lost that influence, you became like an asteroid that has broken free from orbit.  Your personality sailed around out of control until something else picks it up.  It's not a bad thing and is completely normal.  It gets better over time.\n\nJust make sure that it's not too extreme.  By this, I mean make sure you don't go from being really hyper one minute to suicidal the next.  This could be a sign of a mental disorder and you should talk with your parents or a counsellor about it.  I'd say, though, that you probably have nothing to worry about.
925468
Yes, adolescents have not yet established thier own identity, values, and self worth.  Many factors contribute to this.  Such as:  home life, the manner in which they were raised, searching for what makes them, "them", relationships, peer pressure, aspirations, as well as attacks on one  another to establish ones own identity because they have not yet learned the proper manners to do so.  (self esteem building, communication, problem solvling ect)\n  The adolescent ego is very fragile as it is not yet fully developed and very impressionable.  Making self esteem issues very common in high school aged children.  \n  Many people struggle with this issue all of thier lives though.  But I think the adolescent portion of their lives is somewhat the most difficult period, in regards to self esteem.
719952
no, its a fairly easy question bu requires a few minutes to search for the answer.\n\nyeah. i love myself. all the good qualities as well as the bad. that is who I'm and its not gonna change very soon\n\nso whats the point of hating oneself? you are stuck with yourself. \n\nso you better start loving yourself coz a bucket full of wishful thinking will not change you.
1043826
well i don't think there's anything wrong with you, sound like you've got a great mum. if you want to rebel keep doing what you are doing now, you are rebelling against what a teenager should be. you can dye your hair if you like but only if you really want to. making the most of those years is doing whatever makes you happy.
95393
Basically, I like myself.  Thee is no perfect person.  I can't think of anything I would like to change, at my age change is a little ridiculous.
651369
I was shy when I was young hid behind my mommys leg if anyone looked at me. When I hit 7th grade it was like overnight I wasn't shy no more and wasn't embarrassed to do things. I am not sure why. They way I see it enjoy life and if someone don't like the way you are and what you say that is their problem as long as you are being nice and kind. Try humor... Just don't worry about what other people thinks.
864118
Well, I wouldn't call it normal, but it isn't all that bad a thing either. I have a friend who is in your exact situation, but he's very proud of it. You should be too. And you never know, the rest of your body might just "grow" into it in a couple of years.
580308
i don't think so,to some degree i am the same way.it's not being anti-social for me it's just not wanting to have to deal with all the extra stuff that comes along with some people.i've learned that in todays society it's just not the teenagers that's keeping up a bunch of mess. but alot of adults so i just choose not to involve myself at all.
173784
Try to rethink the way you are....if you find nothing wrong with the way you are, then it's the others who are wrong.\nI say screw them, and don't worry. Eventually, you'll always find someone who's more similar to you and who likes you for who you really are, and not for who you pretend to be or for what you have.\nThe important thing is to remain true to yourself, follow a path in life you consider ethical and acting in a way you consider proper.\nWe are living in a very shallow society nowadays. Just because you don't seem to "fit in" with certain group of people, it doesn't mean that there's necesarily something wrong with you.\n\nIn any case, if you are still a teenager, I wouldn't worry much. Eventually you'll grow up and realize that if this people weren't good enough to accept you, it was their problem, not yours.
625053
i do. im not happy with how i act, who i am, what i look like, or what i do. i know i could be a lot better than what i am, and i always disappoint myself. i hate letting myself and others down, and i feel like its all i do.