In ancient Greece the coming of age process included learning martial arts, hunting and entering the military. Feats I would consider far more demanding than our modern process. Why's it so tough then? Growing up, abandoning your childish ways and finally realizing you're just about ready to become an adult seems so irrelevant at first. Somewhere along the way, however, it becomes one of the most emotionally confusing and strenuous times of your life. Angst is undoubtedly a defining feature of the coming of age process in the western world. Everybody, from childhood through adolescents up to adulthood feels, at some point, angst. Adolescence in particular is an emotional clusterfuck of angst, stress and eventually – potentially – apathy. Bare in mine this is pertaining almost exclusively too the westernized societies. Why is that? It’s because of the process of progressing into adulthood. It is slow and there is no guidelines set in stone telling you kill this, eat that, do this, do that now you’re an adult. I feel that in an attempt to give adolescents freedom and allow them to pave their own paths the feeling of angst was born. Children, too quickly given the right of way to be adults are overwhelmed by what it takes to be one. That toppled with vague ideas of what it means to be successful or what it means to fail simply adds to the confusion. It’s that endless question of “when is it going to end” and the self-reassuring: “I’m going to make it through this” that gives room for angst and these two thoughts at some point flow through the minds of every teen’s head. The National Institute of Mental Health report that half of mental illnesses arise at the age of 14. This time of one’s life is a physical and emotional hell, filled with puberty, hormones and acne. Is it really any wonder that children have trouble coping and angst arises? If it’s not boredom its angst, if it’s not stress its apathy. Emotions run wild when you’re a teen and often you’re unaware of it until you’ve reached that long sought out adulthood. Therefore any child with the feeling of angst should be aware in modern, western society it’s a defining part of the coming of age process and it too shall pass. Shortly after the acne outbreaks decrease and the growth spurts end so will that feeling.