Peer Pressure as a Natural Part of Life
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At
Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, we can help you deal with peer pressure and show you how it is a natural part of life. While not all peer pressure is bad, unfortunately, it often leads to many mental health disorders. To handle challenging social circumstances, you need to be able to learn techniques to hold your ground so you don't succumb to pressures and start abusing drugs or alcohol. Help is available at Stonewater. Our caring and talented treatment specialists are standing by to answer your questions. Contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center at
662.373.2828 today to learn more.
Finding Good Peer Influences
When you were little, your parents probably chose your friends. They signed you up for certain activities, made playdates with people they knew, and organized your birthday party invite list. However, now that you're older, you get to decide who your friends are and what groups you spend time with each day. Your friends (a.k.a peers) are most likely people who have experiences and interests similar to yours. You make decisions every day, and you influence each other's choices and behaviors. In most cases, this is positive because it's human nature to listen to and learn from other people your age. As you become more independent, your peers may play a more significant role in your life. As school and other activities take you away from home, you will spend more time with peers than you do with your parents and siblings. You'll develop close friendships with some of your peers, and you may feel so connected to them that they are like an extended family. Besides close friends, your peers include other kids you know who are the same age, such as people in your grade, church, sports team, or community. These peers can influence how you dress and act, what you're involved in, and your attitude. You tend to be influenced by your peers because you may want to fit in, be like peers you admire, do what others are doing, or have what others have.Why Peer Pressure is Natural
You already know that the teen years can be tough. You're figuring out who you are, what you believe, what you're good at, what your responsibilities are, and what your place in the world is going to be. It makes it easier when you can face those challenges with friends. But parents and other adults continually warn you about the perils of peer pressure rather than the benefits of belonging to a peer group. Here are a few ways that peers have a profoundly positive influence on each other and play essential roles in each other's lives:- Friends accept you and share experiences that can build lasting bonds
- Peers set good examples for each other
- Your friends listen and give you constructive feedback
- Peers give you opportunities to try out new social skills
- They encourage you
- You have people to share new experiences with
Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center Can Help
Dealing with peer pressure isn't easy, even if it's positive. Finding positive peer influences is essential, as is learning how to deal with peer pressures that can drive you to abuse alcohol or drugs. At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, we have various treatment programs for teens to overcome unwelcome peer pressure. Therapies include:- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Experiential therapy program
- Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
- Yoga therapy
- Art therapy
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