Teen Stress
Raising teens is often a stormy and tumultuous time for families. Much of this is because of their growing need for independence and autonomy, which is frequently expressed in butting heads with anyone who disagrees or attempts to curb their ideas. Add teen stress, of any kind and of any source, to the mix, and you have a perfect storm.
More Stressed than Adults
Even though your teen may not show it, they may very well be experiencing stress. Annual reports from the American Psychological Association show that teens actually experience more stress than adults (reporting 5.8 out of a 10 point scale, compared to adults who report 5.1)! This report further goes on to show that 30% of teens reported feeling sad or depressed because of stress. 31% reported feeling overwhelmed because of stress. 35% say stress keeps them awake at night resulting in them getting far less sleep than they need. It becomes a vicious cycle because the less sleep you have, the more stressed you feel. The more stressed you are, the more sleep feels elusive.
Where does all this stress come from?
Stress comes from both internal and external pressures. Externally, it may be incomplete school work, needing to do chores, taking care of themselves or others, traveling or social events, illness, emails, phone calls, social media, as well as financial worries. Additionally, the beginning of a school year often feels very stressful to teens as they contemplate beginning a new grade, friendships, extra curriculars, academic pressures, as well as what lies beyond graduation.
Currently, an added and major stressor impacting teens is navigating a pandemic world. This adds a layer of stress onto these existing pressures. Teens are being asked to adapt to online schooling, limited social interactions and work through their own concerns about COVID-19.
Internally, stress also shows up in the form of negative, judgmental thoughts about oneself, about others, or about the world. It may develop into low self-esteem and low self-compassion. Perfectionism and comparisons to others further damage a teens growing sense of self and adds to feelings of stress.
Of course, not all stress is bad. A little bit of stress can help motivate us to get things done. It can make us more efficient. What distinguishes helpful stress from unhelpful stress is how we perceive the problem. If a teen perceives the stressor to be within their scope of abilities, they can manage it. But, if it feels unmanageable, then it manifests as stress, which can feel incapacitating. It shows up as irritability and frustration, they may perform more poorly (academically or in physical activities), and they have trouble planning and problem solving.
What can you do?
As their parent, you are in a strong position to recognize when your teen is struggling, and offer guidance and support when they feel overwhelmed with the pressures they are facing. Download our free Parent Action Guide to help your teen manage stress (scroll to the bottom of the page.)
If more support is needed, Headway Therapy Group offers both individual and/or group counseling for teens. The focus of which is to help your teen develop effective and appropriate ways to manage their stress.
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