Being a teenager is difficult because sometimes you feel like a fully grown adult and sometimes you wish you could just go back to being a kid for the day and be looked after by everyone else.

A big problem as a teenager can be knowing what you can and cannot do legally. Maybe there are things you’d like to do but aren’t sure if you can. Maybe some things you want to do are illegal until you get older.

Having an ABI can cause other problems. It can sometimes feel like a time bubble where all of a sudden you seemed to stop growing. All of the normal teenage stuff seemed to not matter anymore because you and your family had to focus on getting you home and out of hospital.

As time goes on, you want to start being a teenager again and this can sometimes be hard for your family. They find it hard when you want your independence back.

A big problem can be when your legal age means you can do certain things and you’re family don’t want you to do them. Maybe you feel that your parents are treating you like a baby and this makes you feel frustrated.

Here are some things to consider:

• Just because the law says you are old enough to do it, doesn’t mean that you should.
• An ABI can sometimes make you act younger than you are. Maybe you need some more time before you start doing those adult things.
• As you grow older, you find there are other responsibilities that come along with it.
• Being an a adult can be very stressful, maybe you aren’t ready for those stresses yet.

Mike has a list of things you can do when you get to a certain age. He can also tell you about how an ABI might affect you and how an ABI might stop you from doing these things.

Try to remember, adults don’t say ‘no’ just to annoy you. Sometimes ‘no’ is a good thing because it can stop you getting into all sorts of upsetting situations that you would rather not be in. If your parents say ‘no’, ask them why. It will be because they are genuinely concerned for you health and well being, not just because they want to make your life miserable.