Teenage Stress

Teenage stress is unfortunately becoming an increasing problem. Recent studies have shown that more and more teenagers are reporting feeling "stressed out" and struggling to cope with the pressures they face.

Causes of Teen Stress

The teenage years are a period of major change in the teenagers physical, emotional, social and academic life. With so many changes taking place during the teenage years, perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that teenagers can suffer from high stress levels. A number of factors can be involved in causing teenage stress:

• School demands and the pressure of making the right career decisions
• Changes in their bodies
• Pressure to conform to their peers clothing or lifestyles
• Pressure to experiment with drugs, alcohol or sex
• Moving or changing schools
• Separation or divorce of parents
• Problems with friends and/or peers at school
• Having too high expectations
• Problems of family finance

Dealing with Teen Stress

If these issues are not dealt with effectively it can lead to the teenager suffering from a number of stress related problems which can include physical illness or psychological problems such as anxiety or depression.

Parents need to be aware of the following:

• Listen carefully to their teens and watch for any signs of them becoming over stressed
• Teach their teenagers stress management techniques
• Encourage them to become involved in sports and other social activities

Teenagers can also help themselves reduce their stress levels by using some of the following techniques:

• Taking plenty of exercise and eating a good well balanced diet
• Reducing their caffeine intake, as too much caffeine can increase feelings of anxiety
• Avoiding illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco
• Learning relaxation exercises such as deep breathing, yoga, or meditation
• Developing assertiveness training skills. This can greatly help in dealing with peer pressure by learning to say no politely but firmly
• Setting realistic goals and breaking tasks into smaller manageable chunks that are achievable 
• Rehearsing and practicing how to deal with situations that can cause stress.
• Avoiding talking themselves down. Teenagers can be prone to self doubt and it's important that they try to maintain positive thoughts about themselves or situations they find themselves
• Not demanding perfection from themselves and others  
• Taking up activities like listening to music, talking to friends and family, drawing, writing, or spending time with a pet, which can all help to reduce stress
• Building a network of friends who can help them to cope with problems in a positive way

By using these and other techniques, teenagers can begin to manage stress for themselves. If a teen talks about or shows signs of being overly stressed, it may be helpful to speak to your doctor about how to best deal with the situation.