Stress

What is Stress?

Stress is a normal biological reaction to a potentially dangerous situation. When you encounter sudden stress, your brain floods your body with chemicals and hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol.

(healthline.com)

Videos

Signs of Stress

All teens experience some amount of stress, and some stress can even be healthy. Many teens, however, struggle with significant stress levels that interfere with learning, relationships, and other areas of functioning. Stress can manifest in different ways, and some symptoms of stress mimic normal teen behavior. To that end, stress can sneak up on teens. It’s important to know what to look for when it comes to teen stress:

• Emotional changes: Feeling agitated, angry, anxious, hopeless and/or depressed. Pay attention to changes in behavior, like crying more often than usual.

• Physical changes: Teens under stress are likely to get sick more often and complain of headaches, stomachaches, and other aches and pains.

• Behavioral changes: Look for changes in eating or sleeping habits, and avoidance of normal daily activities, withdrawal from others.

• Cognitive changes: You might notice decreased concentration, forgetfulness, and/or the appearance of carelessness. (psycom.net)

Common Triggers of Stress

Academic Stress

From grades to test scores to applying to college, teens experience high levels of school-related stress. Many teens worry about meeting academic demands, pleasing teachers and parents, and keeping up with their classmates. Poor time management skills or feeling overwhelmed by the amount of work can play into academic stress as well.

Social Stress

Teens place a high value on their social lives. They spend the majority of their waking hours among their peers, and finding and keeping their tribes can include stress at times. Bullying and subtle instances of relational aggression are clear sources of stress on teens, but learning to manage healthy conflict and work through romantic relationships are no easy tasks for the developing teen. Peer pressure is an additional stress during the teen years. In an effort to establish and maintain friendships, teens can engage in behavior outside of their comfort zones to appease their peers.

Family Discord

Stress trickles down, and anything that impacts the family can affect the teen. Unrealistic expectations, marital problems, strained sibling relationships (including sibling bullying), illness in the family, and financial stress on the family can all trigger a spike in teen stress.

World Events

School shootings, acts of terrorism, and natural disasters worry parents, but they also trigger stress for teens. Teens are often privy to the 24-hour news cycle, and hearing bits and pieces of scary news, both domestic and abroad, can leave teens wondering about their safety and the safety of their loved ones.

Traumatic Events

Death of a family member or friend, accidents, sickness, or enduring emotional or physical abuse can have a lasting impact on teen stress levels. It’s also important to note that teen dating violence affects approximately 10% of teens.

Significant Life Changes

Like adults, teens experience stress due to significant life changes. Moving, starting a new school, and changes in the makeup of the family (including divorce and blended families) can trigger stress for teens. Not knowing how to cope with big changes is overwhelming and can be confusing for the developing teen. (psycom.net)

Video on Stress Management

Stress Management Techniques

• Talk about problems with others.

• Take deep breaths, accompanied by thinking or saying aloud, “I can handle this.”

• Set small goals and break tasks into smaller, manageable chunks.

• Exercise and eat regular meals.

• Get proper sleep.

• Practice consistent, positive self-discipline.

• Visualize and practice uncomfortable situations, like speeches in front of others.

• Focus on what you can control (your reactions, your actions) and let go of what you cannot (other people’s opinions and expectations).

• Work through worst-case scenarios until they seem amusing or absurd.

• Lower unrealistic expectations.

• Schedule breaks and enjoyable activities.

• Accept yourself as you are; identify your unique strengths and build on them.

• Give up on the idea of perfection, both in yourself and in others. Give yourself permission and cultivate the ability to learn from mistakes. (bradleyhospital.com)

Read Aloud Books for Stress Reduction

Resources

Brain Pop - Stress

Change to Chill

Kids Health: Stress