PUBERTY

FRIENDS…..those important persons.

Artemis Tsitsika, Vasiliki Dimitrakopoulou

We all need friends. Especially when you’re a teenager, you may feel that your friends are the most important people in your life, because you realize that they understand you even better than your parents do.

To take care of your friendship, keep in mind to:

• Always be truthful.

• Be independent.

• Listen to what your friends have to say/practice on being a good listener

• Don’t “talk behind one’s back” and if you don’t have anything good to say about them, better say nothing.

• Be honest but discreet. You don’t need to be offensive or rude.

• Be appreciative with your friends and encourage them.

• We may all go through “hard times”. When your relationship is in crisis, make sure you clear the air when you’re both calm and stop blaming each other.

• Try to express how you feel.

Making friends is not an easy thing for everyone. Yet, feeling lonely isn’t it an easy thing, either. Take the first step!

• Don’t judge the others hastily, things aren’t always the way they seem.

• Be yourself instead of trying to look like someone else or trying to be perfect.

• Ask them what they’re interest in, such as music or sport.

• Show your admiration when the other person is good in something.

A good friendship suggests that both parts are feeling equal. If at some point you feel peer pressure or you feel like you have to do something you do not like just because all your friends are doing it –to feel like you fit in, talk to a family member on how to stand up for your beliefs. Having faced similar situations, your parents or your elder brothers/sisters can give you advice on broken friendships.

True friends will always appreciate and respect you for what you really are and will be happy to see you happy.

Artemis Tsitsika

Ass. Professor of Pediatrics - Adolescent Medicine

Scientific Coordinator of the Program "PROLEPSIS» ran by the Greek Society of Adolescent Medicine

 

Vassiliki Dimitrakopoulou

Psychologist, Scientific Associate of the Greek Society of Adolescent Medicine