How much is the pressure on??

Very much I know right!

All teens experience some amount of stress, but many teens suffer with significant stress levels that rival that of adults. Consider if these potential triggers of teen stress are affecting your teen

Teens growing up today encounter many common sources of stress, including social, psychological, and societal pressures. As they transition from childhood to adulthood, face increasing responsibilities and decisions that can both be empowering, but also provoke much anxiety.

Depending on their circumstances, some teens may be better equipped to deal with these stresses than others. That’s why both positive peer support and adult role models are very important around this age.

• For teens, the most commonly reported sources of stress are school (83 percent), getting into a good college or deciding what to do after high school (69 percent), and financial concerns for their family (65 percent).
• Many teens report lying awake at night (35 percent), overeating or eating unhealthy foods (26 percent), and skipping meals (23 percent) due to stress in the past month.
• More than one-quarter of teens (26 percent) say they snapped at or were short with classmates or teammates when stressed in the last month. Fifty-one percent of teens say someone tells them they seem stressed at least once a month.
• Teens report that during the school year they have an average stress level of 5.8 on a 10-point scale, compared with a level of 4.6 during the summer.

Signs of stress

• Emotional changes: Your teen might appear agitated, anxious, and/or depressed. Pay attention to changes in behaviour.
• Physical changes: Teens under stress are likely to get sick more often and complain of headaches, stomach-aches, and other aches and pains.
• Behavioural changes: Look for changes in eating or sleeping habits, and avoidance of normal daily activities.
• Cognitive changes: You might notice decreased concentration, forgetfulness, and/or the appearance of carelessness.

Ways of helping to curb the anxiety and worry

Move your body. 

Physical activity is one of the most effective stress busters. That doesn’t mean you have to go for a jog if you hate running. Find activities you enjoy and build them into your routine such as yoga, hiking, biking, skateboarding or walking. The best types of physical activities are those that have a social component. Whether you’re into team sports, or prefer kayaking or rollerblading with a friend or two, you’re more likely to have fun — and keep at it — if you’re being active with friends.

Get enough shut-eye. 

Between homework, activities and hanging with friends, it can be hard to get enough sleep, especially during the school week. Ideally, adolescents should get nine hours a night. Most teens, though, are getting less. According to APA’s Stress in America Survey, teens say they sleep an average of just 7.4 hours on a school night. That’s unfortunate, since sleep is key for both physical and emotional well-being. 

Strike a balance.

School is important, but it’s not everything. When you plan your week, schedule time to get schoolwork done, but also schedule time to have fun. When it’s time to enjoy yourself, try not to worry about school or homework. Focus on having fun.

Talk through it. 

It’s so much easier to manage stress when you let others lend a hand. Talk to a parent, teacher or other trusted adult. They may be able to help you find new ways to manage stress. Or they may help put you in touch with a psychologist who is trained in helping people make healthy choices and manage stress.