Sometimes it’s hard to imagine but it’s true. Children do experience stress; especially teenagers.

Teenage stress can come from almost anywhere. Maybe it’s because they broke up with their girlfriend or boyfriend or they have had their face break out with acne, teenage years can have real stress. These can sound like little things to an adult, but to a teenager they can seem like the end of the world.

A teenager is just as prone to stress as any adult. It’s just that stress can be caused by different factors. In the adult, it could be the loss of a job or the big promotion that they just received. Just because teenagers won’t have these types of experiences for a few more years does not mean that they are invincible to stress.

It could be that that big fight they had with their best friend or even the development of acne could cause the level of stress that an adult would have when they experience a loss of a child. In comparison, these things would normally not be related, but the priorities of a teenager are nothing like the priorities of the adult. So something than seems small to the adult, like getting rid of acne can be a huge issue for the teenager.

Additionally, teenagers tend to be hard on themselves; perhaps looking for perfection in their grades or at sport and this can produce enormous stress in itself. The negative talk or the negative way that they portray themselves is not good for the stress levels either.

Just as for adults, teenagers too need to learn stress management. Being able to control one’s stress level can improve one’s health and prevent health related problems, such as heart disease, later in their life.

What can teenagers do to reduce their stress level?

Find an enjoyable pastime. When you enjoy what you are doing, you stress levels reduce. So, involvement in sports and hobbies can make a huge difference in a teenager’s stress levels. Some other things that teenagers can be encouraged to do to lower their levels of stress are to get some exercise and maintain a healthy diet. They also need to learn how to relax.

Teenagers can have very busy lives. They may play sports, have part-time jobs or be caught up in a variety of things. Learning to relax can be of great benefit to them. On occasion like adults, teenagers also may need to “take a break from the world”. Developing a regularly scheduled “me” time would help tremendously.

Although they are not yet adults, it is important to remember that teens do have stress. Teenage stress levels can be reduced in many ways with the help of a parent. These could include

  1. Be sure to really listen to your teenager. They may not realize it but they are giving you signs. If you observe things becoming too much regardless of whether it is sports or social activities try to gently step in before it gets out of control.
  2. Be supportive of your teenager. Help them to foster interest in a wide range of activities like social groups or sports.
  3. Lead by example. If you exercise stress management yourself, you are setting a good example for your teenager. They will take note, even if you think that they aren’t.

At the end of the day, give your child support helping them however you can. As adults, we tend to handle stress better. Teenagers may sometimes feel that stress is too overwhelming to deal with leading to deeper problems.

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