Struggles faced by teenagers and young adults are still struggles; they are not phases or trends. Sweeping emotions and experiences under a rug of nonchalance further ostracizes young people and it is unhealthy to do this. All emotions and experiences are valid. A person's age should not influence whether or not we take what it is someone is going through seriously. We project this lie as a society: that if someone is truly struggling there would be major signs highlighting the fact that they are close to breakdown; but how would you know the signs if you don't listen? How could you be able to identify the signs if you don't pay attention? It's not going to be written on someone's forehead that they are experiencing negative emotions, and they won't yell it at you over the noise of your ignorance. It's time that we, as a society, stop belittling and invalidating other's experiences as a way to keep ourselves comfortable. It's time we look each other in the eye and say that we are not alone. You are not alone.
