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| Parent U - Stress Relief for Teens |
By Lisa Carpenter
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Lisa Carpenter is a freelance writer who lives and learns in Colorado, in the shadow of Pikes Peak, along with her husband and daughters.
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Unstable family structures. Violence in schools and the media. Pressure to fit in. Pressure to succeed. Teens are bombarded with stress-inducing situations on a daily basis.
Suicide is now the third most common form of death among teens. A teen's inability to cope with stress undoubtedly contributes to that statistic.
So what's a parent to do? Learn to recognize the symptoms of stress in your teen. Help incorporate stress-relief measures into their daily routine. Doing so will not only circumvent the health problems and addictions associated with stress, it can possibly prevent suicidal tendencies. |
| Disturbing Behaviors |
Every teen experiences stress. Any change, positive or negative, is stressful so there's no escaping it during the constantly shifting, growing and changing years of adolescence.
But teens who are overwhelmed by stress will exhibit one or more of the following symptoms and behaviors:- A strong desire to be alone--distancing themselves from family and friends
- Rapidly declining grades at school
- Use of drugs or alcohol
- Increased irritability and arguing
- Crying
- Headaches
- Stomach aches
- Nightmares
- A change in sleep habits--sleeping too often or experiencing insomnia
- Lack of motivation to engage in activities they previously enjoyed
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| Relief Is In Sight |
The first step is teaching teens to identify the primary sources of stress in their lives. Work together to eliminate unnecessary stresses, such as over-scheduling and self-imposed demands. Then offer the following techniques to relieve the unavoidable stress.
Encourage your teen to:- Exercise daily. Run through the neighborhood. Visit the batting cages. Take up judo or punch a pillow. Physical activity is the most effective stress-reliever of all.
- Write it down. Keep a locked journal or write letters that will never be sent to the people who generate anxiety.
- Crank up the tunes. Scream out the anger with Limp Bizkit, mend a broken heart with Celine Dion, or get tough with Save Ferris.
- Learn relaxation-breathing techniques. Breathe deeply, in through the nose, out through the mouth, three times in a row to feel the body's "relaxation response" take over.
- Include downtime in the daily schedule to simply "chill."
- Rent a funny movie or read the comics regularly. Humor really is the best medicine.
- Watch the diet. A menu full of fat and sugar with little fresh fruits and vegetables guarantees stress and irritability.
- Create a support network. At least one good friend or mentor is a must. Let teens see a professional therapist to discuss issues they aren't comfortable sharing with others.
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| Do As I Do |
| Teens are still learning from you. They watch what you do and will model your stress-relief behaviors. So be sure you have developed healthy coping mechanisms. Don't use drugs and alcohol as an escape if you don't want your child to do the same. |
| Deal With It |
Be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to teaching your teen how to handle stress. Consistently encourage the use of coping mechanisms to prevent stress from becoming insurmountable.
Learn together how to cope with the tension and trauma of this erratic yet exciting time in your child's life. It will make the teen years less stressful for everyone involved. |
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Parent U - Communicating With Your Teen
Parent U - Period Parties: Celebrate the Transition
Parent U - Teens & Music: Open Your Ears ...
Parent U - The Real Danger for Teens
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U Care - Advance Medical Directives: Your Choices
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