ASK US

ASK US
Is it bad to be a loner?
TEENGROWTH.COM
Q. I've always been kind of a loner -- not really anti-social, just interested in doing my own thing. I have one "friend" I hang out with occasionally but really, most of the time I'd rather be by myself. Is something wrong with me?
A. Probably not. It sounds like your own personality is more introverted that extroverted. Introverts often prefer being by themselves, and they need lots of "private time" to recharge their batteries. If you like to relax by reading, watching TV or surfing the Net, if you daydream a lot and think through things carefully in your mind before talking about them with others, then you're most like an introvert (and 20 percent of people are).
Extroverts, on the other hand, love to be around other people and get energized by lots of socializing. They are likely to pick up a phone immediately to talk with a friend when something's on their mind. Our personalities tend to stay the same all our lives, which may explain why you feel you've "always been kind of a loner."
The ability to have friends is also very important, especially for teens. The fact that you do have a friend is reassuring. As you may know, there are anxiety disorders known as social phobias. When should you worry? If you find yourself actually frightened by the thought of being with people or feel so shy that you avoid normal activities like going to school, then you might want to consider getting help.
XTo have TeenGrowth's board of physicians answer your health question, visit the Web site (http://www.teengrowth.com) or e-mail feedback@teengrowth.com.
TRAUMARAMA
Humiliating moments
SEVENTEEN MAGAZINE
Surprise ending
Having a huge New Year's Eve party is a tradition with my friends. Last year I was single, so I found the cutest guy at the party and started talking to him. The couples at the party always make out when the clock strikes midnight. I figured this year I'd have my chance with him. Someone turned out the lights right before the countdown, and I could barely see. Then everyone shouted, & quot;Five, four, three, two, one! & quot; and I went in for my kiss. But it didn't exactly go as planned. When the lights came back on, I realized I was kissing a girl.
Kiss and run
When my boyfriend brought me home on New Year's Eve, we made out in his car for a while. He hadn't put the car in park, however, and while we were kissing his foot slipped off the brake. We rolled straight into my garage door! Not only did it put a huge dent in the door (we had to get a new one), we had to explain to my parents what had happened so they could tell the insurance company!
HOTLINK
Street Cents
By ERIC GOODWIN
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
Adolescence is when many people make their first foray into the world of consumerism. And like all new experiences, it helps to have a guide. Street Cents (http://cbc.ca/streetcents/index.html), a companion Web site to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. television series of the same name, gives teens the pointers they need to help them make wise decisions about their money.
Many of the products Street Cents investigate spring from letters sent in by teen viewers. For example, the site's report on teeth whitening came from an Ontario teen who was upset with the results of an over-the-counter product she purchased. Street Cents talked to dental professionals to get the scoop on how home teeth-whitening kits affect teen teeth. In all of its reviews, the site seeks to separate hype from reality, relying on field tests and expert feedback before drawing conclusions. The reports are brief, but they effectively summarize important points.
Street Cents also explores news topics of interest to teens. The site features video editorials of teens speaking their minds on issues ranging from pressure to win in team sports to the respect teen drivers get from adults. Street Cents' "Me Inc." feature spotlights teens who have started their own businesses. Although the site is based in Canada, teens in the United States will find they have much in common with their northern neighbors.
Part Consumer Reports, part newsmagazine, Street Cents successfully combines product reviews with issues of interest to teens.
XEric Goodwin writes Hotlink for Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service. You can send e-mail to egoodwin@krtinfo.com.