Nearly everyone wants to be liked and to feel that we belong. This often means wanting to fit in with crowd - having similar clothes, music, doing the same things and going to the same places. There is nothing wrong with this as long as you don't feel under pressure to do something that you cannot afford or feel uncomfortable doing. Doing your own thing and going against the crowd can be very difficult.

Do you ever feel pressured to do something which you are uncomfortable with?

• Smoking or perhaps taking drugs
• Fighting or stealing
• Having a girlfriend or boyfriend and having sex when you don't really want to
• Skipping classes at school or college.

What can I do about it?

• Believe in yourself
• Decide what it is that you don't want to do
• Think of reasons for stopping that you can tell your mates
• Tell one of your closer friends - you never know they may feel the same as you
• Talk about how you feel with someone you trust - a friend, family member, youth worker etc.

For further information and advice:

Youthline
0808 808 8000

ChildLine
Phone 0800 1111 (free) or visit www.childline.org.uk

Rainbow project
Support for gay and bisexual men. Phone 028 9031 9030 or visit www.rainbow-project.org

Carafriend
Gay information and befriending
Phone 028 9027 8636

young people, teenagers and peer pressure in belfast