Everybody is hurting somehow - it's part of the human condition. Some people are just better at hiding it.
​There's a saying, trouble shared is trouble halved. Talking to someone can ease your pain.

It's important for young people to have adults in their lives other than their parents who they can talk to and spend time with.  Maggie Dent refers to these people as lighthouses as they help guide the way.  These people can be grandparents, aunties, teachers, coaches, friend's parents, youth pastors...  If you haven't got someone you would consider a lighthouse, try to find one.  Being a teenager is hard work sometimes and it's good to have someone to talk to.

Research has shown that spending time in wooded areas (the bush, if you're Australian) can relieve psychological and emotional stress.  Walking is also good for your physical health. Perhaps suggest a family outing to your local national park this weekend.  

According to www.dictionary.com a natural high is a euphoric or excited state that is not due to ingestion of drugs or another substance.  Drugs and alcohol can give you a high but they also have some rather unfortunate side effects such as drug induced psychosis and inhibited judgement.  Why not try a natural high - here are some suggestions:
Go for a run
Do some vigorous exercise
Try yoga or Pilates
Eat spicy food - try a vindaloo curry
Listen to music
​Dance
Sing or play an instrument
Give someone a hug
Go bush - go hiking or camping
Have a good laugh
Do something that scares you (within reason - I'm scared of sharks but that doesn't mean I'm going to go swimming with one to get a natural high)
Eat healthy food
Eat chocolate (not too much)
Do something nice for someone
Play frisbee with a friend
Bag a bargain at the shops
Go for a walk on the beach
Go swimming in the ocean (watch out for sharks)
Play with a puppy
Swing on a swing
Watch the sunrise or sunset
​Make something...

One in three women will experience anxiety at some stage in their lifetime.  The good news is that you can get help.  The Bella Rae Blog has some real life stories of teens who have experienced anxiety.  Beyond Blue and Reach Out and Headspace have information on Anxiety.  If you are experiencing anxiety, make sure you talk to someone, and not just your best friend.  Talk to an adult who can help - parent, school counsellor, chaplain or your family doctor.

22 year old Bridie Duggan lives in Katherine in the Northern Territory.  She is a national finalist for the Young Australian of the Year this year for her work in mental health awareness and suicide prevention.  When a friend of hers committed suicide, Bridie travelled around Darwin every day for a month and raised $27000 for the Livin Foundation.  Their motto is It Ain't Weak to Speak and encourages people to talk about mental illness. Bridie is also a qualified life coach and personal trainer who regularly volunteers in her community and runs fitness classes for kids with autism.

Just because you're having a bad day, doesn't mean you have to stay down in the dumps.  It's called being resilient when you can bounce back.  There's a great article on www.tinybuddha.com by Sirena Bernal on 10 Ways to Turn Around a Bad Day in 10 Minutes or less.  The first three are:
1. Sing along to your favourite song
2. Take a shower
3. Watch a funny youTube video.
​If you want to find our more check out the full article here.

Check out this great article by Janine Ripper about ways to look after yourself when life gets hard.  You can find it here. I like number 31.

In his 2011 TED Talk, Ron Gutman referred to recent research about smiling.  Apparently one smile creates the same amount of brain stimulation as eating 2000 chocolate bars!  It is also healthier as it reduces the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and dopamine while increasing the level of mood enhancing hormones like endorphins - basically it makes you feel better. You can view the whole talk here.