Stressoffnow.com

Whoever was responsible for the adage that the high school years are the best of a person’s life probably never went to high school; for anyone who has had the experience of living through the teenage years, teen stress is probably not fondly remembered as one of life’s high points. A high school Latin teacher once summed up the teenage experience with the quote, “I’m angry at everyone, I hate everything, and I don’t know why!” – a phenomenon he referred to as “sophomoritis.” While this is an exaggeration, the truth is that being a teenager is extraordinarily difficult, and dealing with a teen can be a real challenge. Teens are facing stress from every angle; they lash out at parents in their struggle to become independent, while at the same time they try to fit into a peer group where they feel like they can belong.

Parental authority is resented, but teens often lack the judgment they need to make sound decisions. Teenagers are expected to do well in school, excel in sports or other extracurricular activities, and become socially popular. At the same time, they may be holding down a job in order to help out the family and pay for their extra expenses. In the middle of all this, their hormones are raging as they continue to approach adulthood, turning their emotional lives into a gigantic roller coaster. It is no wonder that the stress teens face is one of their most difficult challenges.

How can I help my son or daughter manage teenage stress? In the middle of your teenager’s busy life, encourage him or her to take time out to simply relax and unwind. Listen when your child wants to talk, and take her feelings seriously. While you may recognize what she is going through, remember that she is experiencing it for the first time.

How does teenagers stress affect their health? Stress can have a negative effect physically and emotionally. Because ongoing stress can impair immune system function, it can contribute to frequent illness. Stress also depletes the chemical messengers in our brains that control how we think and feel; a teen under a great deal of stress may begin to show signs of anxiety or depression.

How does diet and exercise affect teenager stress? We all know it is important to maintain a healthy diet and get plenty of exercise. When your teenager is fit and able to maintain an appropriate body weight, she will be better equipped to deal with stress.

Can I help my teenager eliminate some of her stress? Help your teen by discouraging activity overload. If your teen is shuttling from school to sports practice to an after-school job to homework every day, cutting down on some of the activities can help to alleviate teen stress.