Brooklyn

Teen Stress Exposed: Causes, Effects, and Management

English 8

By: Brooklyn

Have you ever wondered what makes a teen’s perspective the way it is? Stress most likely is influencing their point of view. Stress in teens, which is mainly caused by problems/pressures with school and social life, impacts physical and mental health in a negative way, but stress also can and should be managed.

Stressors in teens vary from person to person, but there are a couple causes that are very common. The first cause is school. Some teens claim that school demands too much and makes them frustrated. They worry about finishing all the assignments that they were given to do in time. They have to worry about tests and studying for them. Teens in school also claim that the importance of getting good grades causes some stress. Another reason school is a stressor is because it gets too busy. Along with extracurricular activities, it can just get to be too much for a teenager. In the Washington Post, it tells about a survey that was taken about stress from school. The survey was of 1,018 teenagers from age 13 to 17. 83 percent of them said that school was “a somewhat or significant source of stress.” It also says, “Just under 60 percent of teens said that having to manage too many activities was a somewhat or very significant stressor.” School is one very common cause of stress in teens today.

Another main cause of stress in teens is social life. In social life, the stressors are family and friends. The National Library of Medicine, an official website of the United States government, talks about what can happen from parents getting divorced or separated. They may bring on an “antisocial behavior, anxiety, and depression.” Stress would also be caused from conflicts and fights or if a family member is ill or dies. The National Library of Medicine also mentions how friends can be a stressor. It talks about stress coming from friends if those friends are toxic/harmful. Those kinds of relationships usually leave them feeling overwhelmed and/or more pressured than before. With family and friends each playing a part, stress can begin to make an appearance.

Stress affects a teen's mental and physical health. Mentally, problems start out in the following ways: trouble with concentrating or memorizing, sadness or crying, getting easily annoyed, and trouble sleeping. If stress is not taken care of, the problems can get worse and more damaging. “The continued stress can lead to depression, anxiety, or burnout,” according to Vanessa Racine from the Canadian Red Cross. Stress can cause physical pain as well. It can include headaches, neck and/or back pain, and higher blood pressure. Vanessa Racine says, “Unhealthy behaviors and addictions can also come from stress.” Most teens with stress problems get addicted to tobacco and drugs. Most also end up indulging in too much alcohol. Stress can lead to many different troubles, whether that influences the mental or physical health of a teen.

Although stress can be tough, it can be managed. It should be managed. First of all, it can be managed by creating healthy habits. Some healthy habits include the following: getting proper nourishment, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly. Mayo Clinic, a health clinic ranked among the best of the U.S. hospitals, tells about how people can better take care of their stress. The Mayo Clinic Staff says, “Aim to find active ways to manage your stress. Idle ways to manage stress that don’t get you moving may seem relaxing, but they may make your stress go up over time.” Mayo Clinic also gives some examples of habits that can make your stress worse in the long-run. Those examples include the following: “Watching television, going on the internet, and playing video games.” Second of all, stressed teens should try and build up their strength emotionally and mentally. According to Mayo Clinic, most teens that manage their stress in this way try different “relaxation techniques.” They usually do deep breathing and reflect through journaling. Some other common ways to manage stress are making time to do what you enjoy and getting support/help when needed. (Mayo Clinic Staff) Stress can be a major problem for teens, but there are also many ways to treat it. 

With the contribution of school and social living, stress can weigh down a teen mentally and physically. It can cause bigger problems in the future. Stress on teens is no small thing and should be managed as soon as possible.