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Peer Pressure

Picture of Stonewater Recovery By   ·  2 minute read
According to most experts, peer pressure can have negative and positive influences on an adolescent. However, most parents are concerned when their kids are unable to deal with negative pressure from friends, such as substance abuse. When your friends are pressuring you to do things you are uncomfortable with, you need to have appropriate ways of responding. As a result, adults may give you the appropriate advice so that you can avoid engaging in situations you may regret later. You need to learn how to deal with peer pressure to gain control of your life. To learn more about how to avoid the negative effects of peer pressure, contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center today at 662.373.2828.

Consider the Types of Friends

The choice of friends determines whether you will have negative or positive peer pressure in your future relationships. Make sure that you understand that choosing friends who will not pressure you to do harmful things is a sound investment for your future interactions. A good friend should not focus on changing you, especially for the worst, but rather accept you for who you are. If you hang out with people who make the right choices, the chances are that you will make them too.

Learn to Say No to Peer Pressure

It's vital to learn how to say no to things when you are uncomfortable with a situation and stand up to pressure from your friends. Remind yourself that spoken language is a small fraction of human communication. Body language plays a significant role, so facial and emotional expressions are crucial in social contexts. For example, saying no while hesitating or smiling could send mixed signals. When you say no in a firm tone, it sends a clear message and shows that you are not ready to compromise. Do not rescind your decision.

Think Before Taking Action

At times, giving yourself a few seconds to think through issues can help you make the right decision. Otherwise, you may end up creating a mess. For example, if a friend or classmate asks you to join in a lousy activity (such as drinking alcohol, smoking a drug, or engaging in unprotected sex), do not immediately respond to the request. Giving your brain time to think can be all you need to make the right decision.

Practice Persistently

You should also understand that you might find it hard to withstand peer pressure at first. However, practicing will enable you to master all the essential skills they require. Your parents ought to help you practice answers to questions concerning sex, parties, and substance abuse. You can also use parents, teachers, older siblings, and other responsible society members in role-play to prepare their responses in advance. When the circumstances arise, the chances are that your responses will be automatic.

Learn How to Deal With Peer Pressure at Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center

Unfortunately, pressure from friends often leads to many forms of mental health disorders, including social media addiction. If you are unable to resist peer pressure and are now abusing drugs or alcohol, help is available. At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, we have various treatment programs for teens that can help them overcome pressure from friends. Some of the useful therapies include: Adolescents require learning relevant techniques to handle challenging social circumstances when expressing their values. At Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center, we understand that the process starts with empowering teens with the right skills to deal with peer pressure. Contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center today at 662.373.2828 to learn more.