💔❤️ Embracing Teenage Years and Mental Health ❤️💔

Teenage crushes are like a whirlwind of emotions, excitement, and sometimes a touch of awkwardness. A teenage crush is that special feeling you get when you're drawn to someone, and your heart skips a beat when you see them. It's a time of daydreams, secret glances, and the thrill of getting to know someone new.

At 14, I fell head over heels for a guy. He was older, could sing like an angel, and I thought he was the coolest person alive. He made me feel good, and that was something I desperately needed. You see, my childhood was far from perfect. I lost my mum when I was just six, and there were other painful experiences that I won't delve into right now. But when I was around him, for a brief moment, I felt good, whole, and alive.

Then came the day I gathered the courage to express my feelings to him. He listened, but his response shattered my teenage heart. He said, "You'll look good in a year or two." On the surface, those words may have been well-intentioned, but they cut deep and left a lasting mark.

This experience was really painful there and then and it took time to heal. However, thinking about it now made me realize something important - if words like these could affect me so profoundly, imagine how much teenagers today are going through? They are growing up in a world where they are constantly connected, perpetually compared to others, and sometimes even bullied in the very place they should feel safe—their homes through social media. The world seems to be turning upside down, the climate is in crisis, and it's no wonder that mental health challenges are on the rise.

Today, I'm a mom to teenage kids, and let me tell you, it's simultaneously the most challenging and the most wonderful thing I've ever done. My heart does somersaults when I see them happy, but it shatters when they experience heartbreak. I wish I could protect them from everything, but I know I have to let them live their lives and experience the world.

Teenage years can be tough, and the emotional rollercoaster is real. But it's also a time of growth, self-discovery, and resilience. If you're a teenager or a parent, remember that it's okay not to have all the answers. Seek support, communicate openly, and let time be your ally in healing. ❤️🌟

// Lina Edenfelt Holst Evolution & Wellbeing Coach

#TeenageJourney #MentalHealthMatters #ParentingTeens