Being a teen is not always easy. Teens are often faced with very important and difficult decisions. One such decision is whether or not to have sex. Safer sex, teens and HIV, and abstinence are all things that weigh heavily on the mind of a teenager. While many teens want to say "no" to sex, peer pressure, a desire to look "cool" or a lack of assertiveness prevents them from doing so. For those wanting to say "no" but are having problems doing so, there are ways for teens to say "no" to sex.
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- Say no and keep saying no as many times as it takes to get the point across.
- Before the occasion arises, practice what you would say if someone pressured you to have sex.
- Get out of a troublesome situation by walking away and staying away.
- Use body language that helps make your point. Stand tall, speak clearly and confidently, and look the person straight in the eye when saying no.
- Beware of "pressure lines" and respond accordingly. For instance if someone says
- "Everybody's doing it."
Your response could something to the effect of
- "I'm not everybody. I don't have to do it because anyone else is."
Being true to yourself means being assertive when the time comes. Saying "no" won't always be easy but saying the right things at the right time will get your point across.
