Facing Adolescence: A Young Woman’s Struggles and Path Forward
Hey hey!! I want to share some thoughts with you, addressing what you've said. I hope it helps you in any way you need!
Adolescence: A Time of Promise
To begin with, I really want to encourage you that at 17 you're still very young and haven't entered full adulthood yet. You haven't failed at life because you've barely started it—you have so much more to live and experience than the 17 years you've lived! You have potential opportunities and an entire lifetime ahead of you! Don't give up because the first two decades have been hard or painful.
Understanding Your Sadness
Now, I don't really know your circumstances or what you've been through in your life. If you'd like more specific advice, I'd need more details. However, I will share some general insights based on my experiences and what I've learned along the way.
First, I'm curious about how 'sad' you are feeling. Is this a depressive type of sadness, or is it simply being sad due to life circumstances? Sometimes, depressive emotions like apathy, anxiety, euphoria, or sadness can be caused physiologically and are pretty much out of your control—brought on by chemical imbalances rather than experiences. This isn't always the case, but it's something to consider. When did you start feeling sad, and do you think it's a 'normal' level of sadness?
Seeking Professional Help
If you really think it's because of your circumstances, I would still recommend getting some guidance from a counselor if the sadness is severe and significantly affects your life. They are highly experienced and professional and can help determine if what you're going through can be attributed to physiological or cognitive malfunctions, sometimes both!
Don't feel bad about seeking help; it's not a sign of weakness. Finding the right professional is important, so find someone you think you'll be comfortable with. Remember, you're just trying to make sure you're not needing medical help. This doesn't have to be a therapy session; think of it as a medical check-up.
Planning for a Better Future
Another thing I was wondering about from what you said: what makes you feel it's too late? If I were to guess, I'd say it's a combination of feeling like you're a failure, that you can't redeem your life, and that your dreams are unattainable or even non-existent. I want to tell you that IT'S NOT TOO LATE!! I'm not a fan of the cliche “it's never too late” because sometimes it can encourage procrastination, but I do agree with the concept because until we die, it's NEVER too late.
Might I give you a personal example? Thinking about my faith in Jesus, it would never have been too late to put my trust in Him until my life ended. That door was always open! In the same way, it will never be too late for you. You're living and breathing, and that means it's not too late!
Practical Steps for Improvement
You also asked specifically what you could do. Here are some practical steps that might help:
Healthy Lifestyle
Firstly, I would always advocate for a healthy lifestyle. These choices can significantly impact your mental health. A healthy lifestyle includes important things like healthy and nutritious eating, regular exercise, alone time, and positive social time. Positive additions to your lifestyle can include music, being in nature, watching a movie with family, writing, singing, or baking. These are up to you and your unique preferences.
A healthy lifestyle also includes healthy friendships. Toxic friendships and relationships can not only affect your mental health today but can also cause lasting emotional scarring. Be careful and wise with who you allow into your heart and make sure you can trust them. Try to remove all negative additives from your lifestyle, such as unhealthy habits, excessive screen time, social media scrolling, and negative friendships. These can significantly impact your mental health.
Talking and Self-Reflection
Something else I would advise you to do is TALK and TALK and TALK. Find someone you can talk to who listens well and whom you can trust. Find a mentor who can be there for support, even if it's just in the background of your life. 'No man is an island,' is true—we were made for companionship and relationship. Remember to stay plugged in socially, even when there are times you may not feel like it.
Lastly, I want to encourage you with one final thought. Every life is beautiful and has meaning. You were created for a purpose. Don't lose heart! Life may be hard, but I believe you can keep walking.
I'm so happy you reached out and shared how you're feeling. I think that's a really helpful start and a great first step in your journey. If anything I've said is helpful to you, I really want to encourage you. Keep going!! And if you can't root for yourself, know that I'm rooting for you!