I think the most difficult age are the teen years. Perhaps more so for boys than for girls. I am not sure about that but males seem to talk or write about more than girls.

Is it the hormone change? They seem to be constantly falling into hopeless love. In much of what they write there seems to be a tragic theme, a feeling of appearing one way but feeling a different way.

When I read what they have written or hear what they have to say I feel sorry for them but there seems little I can say to comfort or guide them. The years pass slowly for them. Telling them that this will pass, that they will grow up and enter the adult world of marriage, children, mortgages and bills doesn't help. It is a life time away for them.

I can't prove it but I do think that boys who are involved in sports seem happier, more content.

I think you are right, Nakia. But, I will add that boys who get heavily involved in band, theater arts, or even the chess club do rather well also. Partly, it is due to being able to focus on something else than just their hormones.

Girls may not show as much trouble (but then our hormones kick in on overtime at a much later age), but girls have the ability to read romance novels to excess without fear of someone making fun of them.

Nowena, You are correct that it is the involvement in activities that are important to survive the teen or in-between years.

Nature has designed different biological roles for males and females so the problem is different.

The Cherokee Indians solved the problem in having older men responsible for teaching younger women and older women women teaching younger men. Also adult responsibilities came at a much younger age. Modern times keep our children children for a much longer period.

Me not sad! ...well don't think anything could be worse compared to what my years during 07-09 were like. Tragedies like that really make you appreciate life more.

Being a teenager with parents looking after me was a breeze.
Being squeezed in the middle taking care of children and an elderly parent was a bit of a stretch.

Yes, I think each age has it's own triumphs and tragedies. Some, when they hit can be quite momentous and overshadow everything we went through before. Unfortunately, the truly great impacts of life don't seem aimed at the same age for everyone.

According to a study of teenagers with depression I am wrong about girls and boys.

It studied teenagers from 13 to 17. 200 hundred teenagers were included in the study. All had chronic depression. They were treated in four different ways. Group A received Prozac (sp?) only. Group B got Prozac and counseling Group B got counseling Group D got a placebo and light counseling. This was for twelve weeks. At the end Group D was given the choice of receiving Prozac or counseling.

They were then followed for five years. It seems girls are more prone to depression. 550% of the girls had recurring depression and only 30% of the boys. They didn't say if the study was equally divided between boys and girls but said that girls seem to be more prone to depression.

This was on a talk show and I didn't get the name of the study or who did it. Don't know how valid it is.