Am I Supposed to Feel This Way All the Time? Living with a Constant Fire Inside as a Teen

Dear Lyfteenites,

I get it. That constant knot in your stomach, the one that twists tighter every time you breathe. That burning heat inside that no one else can see, but you can’t escape. You wake up with it. You go to sleep with it. It’s shame, embarrassment, anxiety, depression, anger… all tangled together until you can’t even tell them apart.

Some days, it’s not even about something specific. It’s just there. The memory of saying something “stupid” months ago. The way your body feels awkward no matter what you wear. The panic when your phone buzzes because you don’t know if it’s good news or bad news. The random wave of sadness that hits when you should be fine.

Being a teenager can feel like living in a furnace that never cools down. You’re changing so fast that even you can’t keep up with yourself, and everyone around you seems to have an opinion. The noise in your head is so loud that sometimes you can’t hear anything else. You start to wonder; is this just how life is going to feel forever?

Here’s the truth I wish someone had told me: what you’re feeling is real, but it’s not the whole story. You’re not “too sensitive” or “too dramatic.” You’re carrying more than most people see, in a world that doesn’t always make space for it. And God? He sees it all. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” He’s not standing far away watching you burn. He’s right here in the heat with you.

That fire inside? It’s not here to destroy you, even if it feels like it. Over time, it can be shaped, directed, and used for good. But you can’t do it all alone. Let someone else see your flames. Some people won’t understand, but the right ones will stand close enough to keep you company without getting burned. Talk to a friend. Find a mentor. Pray, even if all you can say is, “God, help me.”

And remember, Daniel walked into a literal fire with his friends, and God didn’t just protect them… He stood inside the flames with them (Daniel 3:25). You may feel like you’re burning now, but you won’t always feel this way. The heat will change. Some days it will be a spark you can carry instead of a blaze you can’t control. And one day, you’ll realize, you survived, not in spite of the fire, but because God taught you how to live with it.

With you in prayers,

Lyfteen Hub

P.S. If you’ve been carrying this heat for a long time, you don’t have to keep it hidden. Tell someone what it feels like. Write us. Your story matters here.