I qualified at Edinburgh University Medical School in 1962, and for over 35 years until my recent retirement I worked as a psychiatrist.
 
During my work in psychotherapy, the patients who came to see me had often had experiences in their childhood or teenage years which were causing great problems in their adult lives. Some of these experiences had been deliberate, some misguided and some accidental and unfortunate. In other words traumas were experienced that could, in many cases, have been avoided with different care or circumstances.

I see many of you behaving in ways that will, without a doubt, cause problems when you reach your adult lives if these behaviours continue. I'm afraid that I cannot help but see beyond the present - a legacy of my long years of work and I only write because I am concerned.

Everyone can have traumas in daily life and have to learn to overcome difficulties eg. illhealth or disappointments. But there are increasingly more opportunities in our present culture for you teenagers to create bodily and mental damage in the present and so build up problems for the future. I speak, of course, of the increasing use of excessive alcohol, drugs, and permissiveness in general.

So, I wondered how I could share what I have learned over many years. I love writing verses, so I have written and produced this book - 'Choice for teenagers' . These are specifically secondary school poems for any of you over about 14yrs of age. They are not poems for younger people - those are in my other book 'Growing up'.

I have not tried to cover all aspects of life - this is not a text book, but a collection of poems which I hope you will enjoy reading, sometimes find amusing, but above all, interesting and thought provoking.

I say to all of you - take care of yourself in these years. They are very important. You will need a healthy body and mind to enjoy your adult years. Teenage years are a time of fun, learning, and of challenges. Please understand that they are a one-off opportunity.

If you will accept any advice, take plenty time to be a teenager before rushing into adult behaviours or responsibilities. These are neither necessary nor your best option.

Best wishes for your future
  and for happy and fulfilled adult lives.

  
  Audrey Coatesworth