There are many stressors for teenagers who are figuring out relationships, changes with their bodies, and responsibilities. Going through high school is rough, and teens are often faced with difficult problems you’ll need to help them work through.
When your teen is troubled or has behavioral problems, those stressors grow. Not only do they have to worry about being a typical teen, but they also have their troubles weighing heavily on them.
Stress in teenagers is not uncommon. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), the average stress level for teens is 5.8 on a 10-point scale. Since the acceptable healthy stress level is 3.9, this high level of stress should be concerning to parents and struggling teens.
Most teenagers don’t realize that they’re dealing with stress, and as a parent, it’s often easier for you to identify these problems first. You might notice irritability or anger, feelings or nervousness or anxiety, crying or feeling like crying, and increased sadness and depression.
These are all symptoms of stress, and teens exposed to this anxiety should receive proper care and attention. As a parent, you can help to ease teen’s apparent stress by applying any of these four solutions.
1. Increase Stress Education
Start with education. You can learn a lot of from professional parenting courses centered on your teenager’s struggles and strategies for coping. Oftentimes, there’s psychology and other hormonal factors that go into your teen’s physical and mental health that you may not be aware of. Learning more through parenting courses can help you develop an actionable strategy for coping with stress.
2. Encourage Physical Activity and Health
Teens should begin with enough sleep, which is often difficult on a busy social and school schedule. The APA shows that teens only sleep about seven hours per night, but they need at least nine or 10 to be mentally healthy and happy.
Teens who are physically active also tend to face less stress, anxiety, and depression than those who face physical health challenges. Encourage your teen to participate in some kind of vigorous sport.
Healthy meals at dinner and for lunch are encouraged as well. You can help your teen make better choices by educating them on health and providing nutritious food options.
3. Be Someone They Can Talk To
Create a judgment-free zone when your teens talk to you. Oftentimes, they just need to vent without someone telling them what to do or giving advice. You can offer advice later on, but when teens are stressed and overwhelmed, be a peaceful sounding board for them.
4. Limit Your Own Stress
Your teen’s emotions are more closely connected to your own than you might think. When you’re stressed, it’s hard for your kids to avoid those same feelings. Evaluate your own situation and consider ways you can cut down stress and raise morale around the home.
Interested in more ways that you can reduce stress? Visit our website to learn more.
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