How many times have you heard the phrase ''It's just a phase, you'll grow out of it'' ? Probably more than once if you are alternative.
The truth is that many people do really ''grow up'' and leave behind their darkliness but some of us keep it in our outer appearance or just in our hearths for the rest of our lives.

When do you know it's not just a phase?

Simple: when it has always been there.
I know from my experience that I have been drawn to the dark side of things ever since I was a kid, I loved old horror movies, dark literature and different music. It was not planned and never in my life said something like '' Oh, hey, I think I want to be goth now'' because if you are true to yourself and like the things that you like without doing it so just because other people are doing it, well, that's all that matters.
If you always liked something chances are that you are always going to like it. And this doesn't mean you won't experiment with different styles and music, not at all, but you will generally go back to similar interests.
Just be yourself, this might be a cliche but it's true.

Growing up.

Once we are true to ourselves and know what we like and who we are, growing old is not an issue. There are many alternative people over 30 and up to their 80s. You might evolve, change a bit or just... adjust to your current life but that's it. You don't have to turn ''normal'' just because you have a certain age.
And even if you decide to go normal and grow up, that's absolutely nothing wrong with that, just do it because you feel so not because of the pressure from society.
Maybe you think I'm too young to give my view on this but I'm no teenager, I'm 27 and I have goth and metal friends over 40. I also know people with families and all that and they still enjoy pretty much the same things.
From my experience I just get crazier every year and there's absolutely no sign of ''growing up''. Life is too short to wear boring clothes hahaha.
Also I'm trying to get rid of this idea of negativity regarding ageing. I'm so sick and tired of the media saying that only young people are beautiful, only young people can be models and all that crap but that's for a different blog post