Creating a safe space is very essential in this scenario. Nowadays we all come up to various news on abuse and rapes. It is a serious concern and must be dealt wisely to keep ourselves safe and strong. Communicating assertively can pave a smooth way for this. I think, there is nothing to explain about how communication will be useful. As it is very clear that if there is any problem that you as a teenager are facing, you can get it solved easily by sharing it with parents or anyone you trust. So when we speak about creating a safe space, communication plays a key role.

You have to openly speak to your parents about how you feel about everything! Yes, about everything. Usually it is awkward to discuss teenage feelings with parents, mostly because of fear. Say for example if someone seems weird to you, without hesitating you must speak about it to elders. They can give you advice and i am sure will listen to you. If this is not happening, do speak with counsellors. On Teentalkindia website also you can talk to our experts, click on https://www.teentalkindia.com/ 

Sometimes discussing about your problems in front of everyone is difficult. So in order to avoid hesitation, prefer a place where you feel comfortable. It is completely upon you actually. As when you will be mentally satisfied that no one is around who can over hear, you will pour out all your emotions. Pre plan whatever you think you should discuss. Be it about academics, relationships, anyone’s errei behaviour, abuse or anything which amuses you.

And in the end of the discussion, try to analyse how worthy discussion was. You can deny with some things spoken about, it is very normal. But at the end most of it must be fruitful. It is definitely not easy to open up. Take your time and try to mention what all things trouble you. Communication is a two way process: always keep this in mind. 

Criticism is a common—but painful—experience. Being criticized may produce fear, shame or anger, and feed into your insecurities. Obviously, not all critics produce these negative experiences, there is a positive criticism that makes you think and helps you grow. To discover it is important to understand what provokes people to criticize, if their reasons are valid or, on the contrary, are only a strategy to reassert their power, complain or humiliate.

 People criticize you because:

• They feel endangered by some of your qualities and use criticism as a defense to try to balance the game. In practice, these people feel inferior, then attack your flaws trying to take you down to their level.

• They like to feel accountable for the situation in every moment and get scared when they feel that are losing control. In such cases, criticizing you return to them, at least in part, the feeling of control, because they believe to tear you down this way and take the control.

• They want to gain something: They criticize you in front of someone else; to make sure they look better, both at work and with friends. In this case they do it because consider you a rival or a competitor.

• They try to draw your attention and approval, but since they’re short of social and emotional skills, fail to do it in an assertive way, so they end up, complaining or whining. In fact, when people think they are skilled in every field, often criticize others to demonstrate what they know and reaffirm their position, looking for admiration.

• They’re project their fears and insecurities: In fact, when people do not admit some of their features and recognize them in the others, they generate in them a deep denial and open the way to criticism.

• They feel frustrated as they have tried to express their needs and opinions in a more assertive way, but you haven’t been paying attention and, then, they discharge all that anger in the criticism.

• They need to feel powerful, even if it means over powering you and to achieve this, they use criticism as a stick with which they hit you.

The way to respond to criticism depends largely on the situation and the reasons that cause it. In fact, there are circumstances where is better not to do it, because reacting to criticism would only serve to further develop the other person and satisfy his/her desire for leadership and control. In these cases it is best to pay no attention to them, because trying to defend ourselves would only lead to a dead end. Hence, if you can, pretend that nothing has happened. When the person who criticizes you is significant for you, it is necessary that you pay attention and let him/her know that you love and esteem him/her, even if you do not agree with that opinion. You can also point out to that person that you respect his/her ideas and efforts, but always asserting your freedom and the right to make your own decisions. Nobody enjoys to be criticized, but it is part of the human experience. Try to find the middle ground between taking too much accountability for other people’s issues and being too defensive.