So how exactly do teenage athletes exactly develop these mental struggles? Well, it usually comes from a variety of sources...

Peer pressure - Peer pressure, which is the pressure exerted on someone by their friends, is a very common problem that leads to athletes developing mental hardships. Amongst high school and most teenage athletes, peer pressure has been a reoccurring problem that causes many to act non-accordingly, being forced to perform something they either do not want to do or are uncomfortable with. For most athletes, peer pressure can come from teammates who are not beneficial for them, usually forcing them to pull a prank on somebody else or acting differently than who they really are. 

Competition; Competitive Stress and Anxiety - Competitive Stress is when a person or people suffer from a large amount of stress, that usually is caused by the fear of failing during of competition. Competitive stress is found mostly among athletes, especially in their high school years during competition as they play with a sense of pride and potential downfall. Similar to competitive stress is anxiety, which can be strongly found while being competitive as most fear of failure. However, competition is not the only thing most athletes worry about...

Time management/Academic Anxiety - Most if not all teenage athletes attend a school for their education. But, tackled with a busy schedule due to their constant practices and workouts, most stress and get anxious over assignments, projects and tests. With the minimum time they have before they go to bed, it can be quite difficult to get their work in on time. Yes, of course they can ask for extensions, however that can lead to an even worse habit of procrastination. 

Status - The stereotype of the "sports kids" being the most popular is not entirely false. Those who have shown themselves to be prideful and hard-working in their sport will be more recognizable for their contributions to their team. However, some use this newfound status to gain a large ego, which shadows themselves from who they truly are.

These problems can eventually carry out to mental struggles mentioned earlier, such as anxiety and depression. But, there are ways to manage and even erase these mental struggles!...