Helping Teens Cope with Stress

<div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0q9MG94WbXJZSCSVJ47YxxUD5dt-3Lx96CU6iwzdd2FuM2DwnOJ5BDqj20XeIo1RTUcxjDQIEiwwFgijPcg0BHnYbcxHVV5l91ybrvuAr0M62XN5eZNkf7lqhqAjPBrSepjTo4juMUtb/s1600/ts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0q9MG94WbXJZSCSVJ47YxxUD5dt-3Lx96CU6iwzdd2FuM2DwnOJ5BDqj20XeIo1RTUcxjDQIEiwwFgijPcg0BHnYbcxHVV5l91ybrvuAr0M62XN5eZNkf7lqhqAjPBrSepjTo4juMUtb/s200/ts.jpg" width="159" /></a>Sixteen-year-old Juliana is juggling many roles. She has a demanding part-time job, plays two varsity sports, is studying for the SATs, and is trying to decide where to go to college and how to pay for it. She also has a term paper and an Internet project due this week, needs to find a date and a dress for the Homecoming, is worried that she has gained a few pounds, and is afraid one of her friends is mad at her. While Juliana used to feel confident and excited by life's challenges, she has recently been feeling overwhelmed, out of control and "stressed out."</div></div><br /><div></div>Juliana's story is typical of the daily pressures teens face.<br /><br /><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"Stress" is defined as the way our bodies and minds react to life changes. Since adolescence is a period of significant change, including physical, emotional, social, and academic changes, many teens are under more stress than at any other time of life. </div><br /><div></div>Teenage Stress Factors<br /><ul><li>academic pressure and career decisions </li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Pessure to wear certain types of clothing or hairstyles</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Pressure to try drugs, alcohol or sex</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">pressure to fit in with peer groups and measure up to others</li><li>adaptation to bodily changes </li><li>family and peer conflicts</li><li>taking on too many activities at one time</li></ul><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It is very important for teens to learn to handle stress, as long-term build-up of stress that is not handled effectively may lead to problems, including physical illness, anxiety or depression, which call for professional help. </div><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Teenage "Stress Overload" Signs: </div><br /><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">increased physical illness (headaches, stomachaches, muscle pains, chronic fatigue)</li><li>"shutting down" and withdrawal from people and activities</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">increased anger or irritable lashing out at others</li><li>increased tearfulness and feelings of hopelessness</li><li>chronic feelings of worry and nervousness</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">difficulty sleeping and eating</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">difficulty concentrating</li></ul><br /><div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our body's natural reaction to life events that we perceive as overwhelming is the "fight or flight" response, which may produce a faster heart rate, increased blood flow, shallow breathing, a sense of dread and a desire to escape. However, teens can teach themselves to perceive life challenges as being within their control and can even change their body's reactions to such events, promoting a lower heart rate, deeper breathing, clearer thinking and feelings of calmness and control. There are many stress management skills that promote the relaxation response. </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">  </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Stress Management Skills for Teens </div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><ul><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Taking deep breaths accompanied by thoughts of being in control ("I can handle this")</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Progressive muscle relaxation, (repeatedly tensing and relaxing large muscles of the body)</li><li>Setting small goals and breaking tasks into smaller manageable chunks</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Exercising and eating regular meals, and avoiding excessive caffeine</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Focusing on things you can control and letting go of things you cannot control</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Rehearsing and practicing feared situations (e.g., practicing public speaking or asking someone out on a date)</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Talking about problems with others, including parents, older adults and friends</li><li>Lowering unrealistic expectations</li><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Scheduling breaks and enjoyable activities, such as music, art, sports, socializing </li><li>Accepting yourself as you are and identifying unique strengths and building on them, but realizing no one is perfect!</li></ul><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>Source: This article was originally published in Rhode Island Family Guide.<br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div>

Helping Teens Cope with Stress

  Sixteen-year-old Juliana is juggling many roles. She has a demanding part-time job, plays two varsity sports, is studying for the SATs, an...

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