The worst part of teen stress is that most of what causes their stress is something they have no control over. So here are 8 causes of teenage stress and how to deal with it.
Stress is typically how the body responds to pressure or an adverse situation.
The level of stress depends on the source of stress; it can be academic stress, social stress, or other issues.
My 14-year-old has been stressed out about academics to the point of losing her appetite and sleep.
It is your duty as a parent to understand your teenagers and to try to help them when they are stressed.
Signs of teen stress
Stress can manifest in either emotional or physical ways.
Emotional signs include:
- Your teenager lacks excitement, is unhappy, and may be uninvolved
- Emotionally unstable, anxious, irritable, and easily enraged
- Looks helpless and hopeless about a situation
- May snap at you for no apparent reason.
Physical signs include:
- Your teen may experience tiredness, headaches, lack of sleep, loss of appetite, or constipation
- Losing or gaining weight
- Behavioral changes
- Your teenager may display stress in their behaviors, like fidgeting, biting their nails, pacing around, crying, or isolating themselves from friends and family
- Being unconcerned about their appearance and disinterested in their favorite activities
- Your teenager may also seem forgetful, be unfocused, or have poor judgment.
8 causes of teenage stress and how to deal with it
- Academic stress: This is the pressure to perform better academically, complete school work on time, and submit projects and reports. This stress may be positive if it encourages your child to have better results.
- Social stress: The persistent need of teenagers to be accepted in peer groups can be stressful, especially if the group goes against their moral standards. Constant pressure to dress in a certain way or try new things, such as drinking, using drugs, or having sex, can cause your child stress. The pressure to belong may involve bullying.
- Stress due to family problems: It is important to know that anything affecting the family affects teenagers directly. A sick family member, and strained relationships between parents or siblings will cause stress for your child.
- Financial stress: Teenagers worry about scholarships and school fees, especially if they come from low-income families. It’s important for parents to avoid sharing too many details about their finances, especially if they are not doing well, so your teenager will not be stressed.
- Traumatic events: These could be accidents or the death of a loved one and they can impact your teen severely. It is good to look out for your teenager in such situations. Physical or mental abuse can also cause stress.
- Upheaval: A change of school, moving to a new city, or the addition of a new family member - like a step-parent, step-sibling or new baby - can all cause stress for a teenager. It is advisable to talk to your teen prior to making such changes.
- Love lives: A teenager may experience stress if he or she doesn't have a girlfriend or boyfriend.
- Weight issues: Teenagers with weight issues feel stressed and less confident among their peers.
Tips for dealing with stress
It's important to try and be calm when dealing with a stressed teenager; do not stress over the stress your teen is going through.
My main rule for helping my teenager and preteen navigate stress is: "If you can’t change it, don’t worry about it!"
But here are some other tried and tested means for helping your teen deal with stress.
Coping mechanisms
- Sleep: Help your child rest enough, especially when they have a busy schedule
- Physical activities: Help your child release stress by taking a walk in the park or running together
- Healthy diet: Some people will eat junk when stressed. Help your teenager eat healthily during their stressful moments to avoid dealing with other health issues
- Focus on the positive: Help your child focus on positive things and achievements. I have a health rule in my house that helps my teenager and preteen navigate stress. It goes: "If you can’t change it, don’t worry about it!"
- Talk: This is such an important piece of advice. Talk things out with your teenager and let them open up about their fears. Talk is therapeutic, and this involves being a good listener. Make sure they know they can talk to you about anything.
Moody vs stressed
You may need to differentiate a moody teenager and a stressed one.
Stress is inevitable in life and your teenager going through a situation that stresses them will make them strong and able to face even bigger situations in life.
But it's important you are there to support them and teach them the coping mechanisms they need.