Peer Pressure

Adolescence is just another developmental stage to get through in life and friends can help you bridge
the gap between dependence on family and becoming independent and making your own choices. As
you begin to move away from reliance on your parents and widen your social circle, you become more open
to influence outside of the family that you have grown up with. Generally it's a healthy process with few
problems, but sometimes your friends' values will be different from yours and this can really test your sense
of who you are.

Listen to yourself – if you feel uncomfortable doing what others are doing, that could be an indication that
you're not being true to yourself. It's a kind of built-in safety thing – this is your conscience.
It's an old-fashioned idea, but it's how we were designed and it's there to keep us safe. Check your decisions
and choices against your personal values. Personal values are simply the things that you value the most,
for example – being a good friend, being honest, truthful and kind, doing your best, loyalty and family
relationships. Can you think of others?

When you are under pressure from others, remember that it's not a sign of weakness to seek some sound
advice from parents or other trusted adults in your life. It's easy to get sucked in and feel trapped, but it's
never too late. You might need to talk to someone outside your family, that's OK – but do it, don't try to
sort things out yourself if you feel it’s all too much.