Five ideas to help young adults with uncertainty

It can seem that young people are full of confidence as they say they will handle their own life or are busy chatting on their phones; that’s not always the case. Many do feel trapped and don’t look forward to the future. They have grown up hearing about their parents worrying over bills, having to cut back on what use to be their norm like family holidays and studies that feel like they are only for the rich. Unemployment and Brexit have been on the news daily and the message from those is that no one can seem to explain them. If they do realize their stresses have risen getting mental health support feels impossible.

Life is free for the taking or at least that’s what the positive based Instagram’s say however it doesn’t seem very free when you need an expensive education to get basic job, the same jobs school kids would take after school to earn pocket money or to get clothes back in the 1980s. Our teens and young adults are trying really hard despite what they have been handed in todays generation. So, what can you adults do?

1. Plan steps needed to reach certain goal, so what would you hope to achieve? Asking for advice is recommended because insight from others is helpful.
2. If you are stressed, anxious, depressed or dealing with other potential mental health issues then ask for help and keep asking until help is found. Look online for what maybe available and what you can do in case of a crisis e.g. call Samaritans 116 123 (UK) [email protected] (UK), go to GP or hospital. If you’re not in the UK then check the number for your country’s crisis helpline.
3. Put a note on your phone or write in pen on the palm of your hand ‘What I’m feeling now is not permanent. I can prove this now – look at a picture in a magazine or a scene in front of you; now look at the favourite picture you have in your phone or wallet, if might be a person, pet or place. Do you see how your emotions and thinking changed?
4. Get out a notepad and write all the things you like to achieve by age 50. This can weed out some of the things that are presently not helpful and helps you look ahead. If you’re not working yet then look for jobs where there is availability like medicine, teaching etc. Are you really good at something that could be turned into a business? What can you do today to start that change?
5. Some young people find tolerating uncertainty really difficult and may cause themselves a lot of stress trying to avoid them. These can also be seen as challenges rather than uncertainties which can give it a different emotional reaction. Take steps because what might seem minor to other people is a challenge to you. Go slowly if you need to and the challenge will turn into an accomplishment.

You are young and life can be tricky at times. As someone in their forties, I can now look back and realize that there has been a mixture of good and bad times. I now look at this as a balanced life, because I got through the tough times I got to experience the good times as well.