Scribd
Upload
81 views3 pages

TEENS and STRESS

Stress is a normal part of teenage life that can be caused by school demands, relationships, health issues, and life changes. When stress becomes overwhelming, it can negatively impact teens' physical and mental health. Signs of high stress include sleep problems, fatigue, irritability, and avoidance of activities. To manage stress, teens can practice relaxation techniques, exercise, get sufficient sleep, and build a supportive social network. Seeking help from others is also important if stress persists or significantly impacts well-being over a long period of time.

Uploaded by

Emie Bajamundi Maclang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
81 views3 pages

TEENS and STRESS

Stress is a normal part of teenage life that can be caused by school demands, relationships, health issues, and life changes. When stress becomes overwhelming, it can negatively impact teens' physical and mental health. Signs of high stress include sleep problems, fatigue, irritability, and avoidance of activities. To manage stress, teens can practice relaxation techniques, exercise, get sufficient sleep, and build a supportive social network. Seeking help from others is also important if stress persists or significantly impacts well-being over a long period of time.

Uploaded by

Emie Bajamundi Maclang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

TEENS and STRESS

Stress is a normal part of life for teenagers and can be caused by many different things.
Teenagers, like adults, may experience stress every day and can benefit from learning stress
management skills. Most teens experience more stress when they perceive a situation as
dangerous, difficult, or painful and they do not have the resources to cope.

Some sources of stress for teens include:

 COVID 19 pandemic
 School demands and frustrations
 Negative thoughts or feelings about themselves
 Changes in their bodies
 Problems with friends and/or peers at school
 Unsafe living environment/neighborhood
 Separation of parents
 Chronic illness or severe problems in the family
 Death of a loved one
 Moving or changing schools
 Taking on too many activities or having too high expectations
 Family financial problems

Some teens become overloaded with stress. When this happens, it can lead to anxiety,
withdrawal, aggression, physical illness, or poor coping skills such as drug and/or alcohol use.

When we perceive a situation as difficult or painful, changes occur in our minds and bodies to
prepare us to respond to danger. This “fight, flight, or freeze” response includes faster heart
and breathing rate, increased blood to muscles of arms and legs, cold or clammy hands and
feet, upset stomach and/or a sense of dread.

The same mechanism that turns on the stress response can turn it off. As soon as we decide
that a situation is no longer dangerous, changes can occur in our minds and bodies to help us
relax and calm down. This “relaxation response” includes decreased heart and breathing rate
and a sense of well-being. Teens that develop a “relaxation response” and other stress
management skills feel less helpless and have more choices when responding to stress.

Signs of stress

 can’t sleep or are getting to bed later than usual


 seem fatigued, disengaged, panicky or down
 are saying they’re tired all the time, have headaches or stomach aches
 are feeling irritable about themselves or others around them
 are having trouble concentrating
 are avoiding school
 aren’t being themselves
 aren’t eating very well
 are staying in their room a lot on the weekends when they usually would be out with
friends.

Teens can decrease stress with the following behaviors and techniques:

 Exercise and eat regularly.


 Get enough sleep and have a good sleep routine.
 Avoid excess caffeine which can increase feelings of anxiety and agitation.
 Avoid illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
 Learn relaxation exercises (abdominal breathing and muscle relaxation techniques).
 Develop assertiveness training skills. For example, state feelings in polite, firm, and not
overly aggressive or passive ways: ("I feel angry when you yell at me.” "Please stop
yelling.”)
 Rehearse and practice situations which cause stress. One example is taking a speech
class if talking in front of a class makes you anxious.
 Learn practical coping skills. For example, break a large task into smaller, more
attainable tasks.
 Decrease negative self-talk: challenge negative thoughts - with alternative, neutral, or
positive thoughts. "My life will never get better” can be transformed into "I may feel
hopeless now, but my life will probably get better if I work at it and get some help.”
 Learn to feel good about doing a competent or "good enough” job rather than
demanding perfection from yourself and others.
 Take a break from stressful situations. Activities like listening to music, talking to a
friend, drawing, writing, or spending time with a pet can reduce stress.
 Build a network of friends who help you cope in a positive way.

Seek support if necessary

Stress on teenagers can be harmful to your health and wellbeing if it seems as though you have
been enduring it for a long time. If you have been showing signs of stress, try our suggested
strategies regularly. However, if you have been stressed for a long period of time, or if nothing
seems to be helping, it’s a good idea to seek some outside help. Have a chat to your family,
your teacher or to our school guidance officer, school nurse and school mental health
coordinator.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy