Situations:

We all receive messages about a given situation – both messages from others and
messages we send ourselves. The more clearly we can label these messages, the
less likely they are to drive the cycle in an unhealthy direction.
Thoughts:
We can retrain our brains to identify automatic thoughts which can be negative or
unhelpful, interrupt them and replace them with more constructive coping thoughts.
Feelings:
Learning to name and rate our moods and cultivating mindfulness can help us to
connect to our emotions, rather than being dictated to by them. Relaxation
techniques can help ease the feelings of stress and anxiety that can keep us stuck
in unhealthy behaviors.
Behaviors:
When we are down, we tend to be less active; the less we do, the less we want to
do, and the more we continue to feel down.
Simply put, a situation arises, and we have thoughts about the facts of that situation;
those trigger feelings, and based on those feelings we engage in behaviors which in
turn impact the situation (either positively or negatively), and the cycle continues.

Difference between Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviors

Thoughts: Your internal summary or prediction about a situation or event.
Examples:
“This is going to be a disaster”.
“This is going to be great”.
“Everyone’s going to laugh at me”.
Feelings: One word summaries of internal emotional states.
Examples:
Nervous
Scared
Excited

Behaviors: Can be both inward (invisible) and outward (observable).

Examples:
Tensing muscles
Skipping class
Turning down an invitation to a party
Jumping off a diving board
Eight (8) simple rules which could help you, teenagers, to become a responsible
adolescent who is prepared for adult life:
1. Focus on your studies and do well in all of your endeavors. There is time for
everything.
2. Take care of your health and hygiene. Healthy body and mind are important
as you journey through adolescence.
3. Establish good communication and relation with your parents or guardian.
Listen to them. This may be easier said than done at this stage, but creating
good relationship with them will do you good as they are the ones you can
lean on especially in times of trouble.
4. Think a lot before doing something. Evaluate probable consequences before
acting. Practice self-control and self-discipline.
5. Choose to do the right thing. There are plenty of situations in which it is better
to use your mind rather than your heart.
6. Do your best to resist temptations, bad acts, and earthly pleasures and
commit to being a responsible adolescent.
7. Respect yourself. You are an adult in the making. Do not let your teenage
hormones get into you. If you respect yourself, others will respect you too.
8. Be prepared to be answerable or accountable for your actions and behavior.
It is a part of growing up and becoming an adult.

Physical Development
 Most girls have completed the physical changes related to puberty by age 15.
 Boys are still maturing and gaining strength, muscle mass, and height and
are completing the development of sexual traits.
Emotional Development
 May stress over school and test scores.
 Is self- involved (may have high expectations and low self-concept).
 Seek privacy and time alone.
 Is concerned about physical and sexual attractiveness.
 May complain of parents preventing him or her from doing things
independently.
 Starts to want both physical and emotional intimacy in relationships.
 Try the experience of intimate partnerships.
Social Development
 Shifts in relationship with parents from dependency and subordination to one
that reflects the adolescent’s increasing maturity and responsibilities in the
family and community,
 Is more and more aware of social behaviors of friends.
 Seek friends that share the same beliefs, values and interests.
 Friends become more important.
 Starts to have more intellectual interest.
 Explores romantic and sexual behaviors with others.
 May be influenced by peers to try risky behaviors (alcohol, tobacco, sex)

Mental Development
 Becomes better able to set goals and think in terms of the future.
 Has a better understanding of complex problems and issues.
 Start to develop moral ideals and to select role models.