|
| Managing Teen Stress |  Teens are more susceptible to stress, due to the fact that they are going through a period where everyone and everything they meet is a new thing. Naturally, a manageable amount of these encounters can cause just enough stress, which is a good thing – it allows the teen learn to cope with the different problems that life prepares for them.
Nevertheless, a little too much of it and the teen suffers from stress overload. This perhaps is an event that should be avoided, as it can lead to various negative effects on the teen's physical, psychological, and mental development.
School probably is the most common factor that can cause stress in the teen. For instance, engaging in more activities than the teen can handle can also be too stressful.
The teen's peers may also cause stress overload. Many teenagers feel the crush of peer pressure at some point in their development, and may cause them to come into conflict with some of their friends.
Friction within the family is another reason for teen stress overload. When the teen's parents have matrimonial problems, it could give the teen a message that he or she comes from a broken household, and this can be very depressing. Many parents don’t know that even financial problems within the family can send the wrong signal to the teen.
Stress overload can cause a great number of negative consequences on the teen. The teen may suffer from chronic physical discomforts like headaches, digestive problems, and fatigue and might often complain of being "stressed-out". The teen may also suffer from loss of appetite, decreased levels of attention, or trouble going to sleep.
Behavior changes are more serious symptoms of stress overload. The teen may be aggressive and develop a bad temper, or be the exact opposite and slip into a deep depression. The teen may choose to withdraw from social contact and prefer to spend time on his or her own. If these psychological symptoms are allowed to worsen, the teen may resort to hanging out with bad kids and using alcohol or drugs to cope.
There is good news – many of the stress management skills practiced by adults can also work effectively with teens. Except of this, parents can help their troubled teen by being watchful of the teen's actions and words. Parents should listen carefully to what the teen is telling them, and recognize whether these are symptoms of stress overload.
Parents can also play an active role in helping their teen avoid stress overload. They should encourage them to join pro-social activities, like sports, workshops, and field trips, can break down shyness barriers. This can discover hidden talents of teens and boost their confidence in dealing with other people.
Moreover, the teen can also take practical steps to take care of their health. They should eat healthfully and regularly, exercise, and get enough sleep. To that end, they should avoid too much junk food and caffeine, since these can cause stressful hyperactivity.
Teenagers are often as helpless as little children when left to face the world alone. They need a strong support group to cope with the stress that comes their way, and the family is always in a perfect position to offer this support. Building strong relationships within the family can be the best thing you can do for your teen, as it teaches them to manage stress successfully - as well as a host of other challenges that will come their way.
|
|
