Parents’ Guide to Chronic Stress in Teens
Stress in manageable amounts is normal – and a part of life. However, when stress becomes unmanageable and begins to take over – it can cause a lot of mental and physical issues such as, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, weakened immune system, etc. Unfortunately, teenagers are experiencing stress at higher-than-average rates due to school pressure and social issues seen in the news such as, gun violence, school shootings, climate change, increasing suicide rates, treatment of immigrants and sexual harassment (APA, 2019). In fact, a 2013 study done by the American Psychological Association found that stress was extremely common among teenagers (APA, 2019). And while social interaction with peers can be a great buffer for stress – it is important to recognize that it can also be a contributor as well. Due to this increase in stress, and the negative effects it can have on an individual – it is important for parents of teenagers to understand not only what causes stress most commonly in teens, but also what to look out for, and how to help their teen manage the stress! Below are the most common signs of stress in teens, and how you (as the parent) can help!
Sign of Stress in Teens: Irritability and Anger…
Teens don’t always have the words to describe how they are feeling, and even if they do know how they are feeling – sometimes it feels so overwhelming that they don’t know how to ask for help. One of the ways that feelings of stress and overwhelm can manifest, particularly in teens, is through irritability or anger. What this means is that if you typically have an even-tempered teen and lately, they have been more argumentative, or short-tempered, they may be going through something or experiencing higher than usual levels of stress and likely need some help. What you can do as the parent is encourage them to sit down and discuss what’s going on in their life with you. Instead of arguing back with your teen, try putting yourself in their position and sit down with them calmly and talk to them about their stress and anxiety so that you can better understand and provide support to them. If your teen is feeling incredibly overwhelmed and they are struggling with a lot of pressures that you don’t necessarily know how to fix or how to talk through it with them – seeking therapy for teens in Miami may be a great option!
Signs of Stress in Teens: Changes in Behavior and Trouble Sleeping…
Sudden changes in your teens typical behavior can oftentimes be the initial indicator that your teen is experiencing overwhelming amounts of stress. If your teen was once very active and extroverted, and now self-isolates or no longer participates in activities that they used to – they may be experiencing a lot of stress that is causing some depressive symptoms. Or perhaps your teen used to hang out with a lot of friends, and now doesn’t want to leave the house – you may want to sit down with your teen and check in with them. Another indicator of unhealthy amounts of stress in your teen’s life is changes in sleep. If your teen is sleeping more than usual, telling you that they are having a hard time falling asleep/staying asleep, or complaining that they are tired all the time – again, this would be a good time to check in with your teen and see if there is something going on. They may be open to talking to you about it – or they may not because they don’t really understand or have the words to describe how they are feeling. If that is the case, seeking counseling for teens in Miami would be a great place to start!
Sign of Stress in Teens: Neglecting responsibilities, eating changes, or getting sick more often…
If your teen is typically a good student and is suddenly falling behind on their schoolwork or forgetting to do assignments, this may be a sign that they are overwhelmed either with school or social aspects of their life and need some help getting back on track. Eating changes and getting sick more often are also signs of unhealthy stress – your teen may eat more or less than usual, and may complain of headaches, stomachaches, or may spend more time than usual in the nurse’s office. It is important to remember that if you notice any of these changes, the first thing you want to do is check in with your teen and offer support in any way that you can. From there, finding a great teen therapist to continue to help both you and your teen through this journey will be incredibly helpful!
How We Can Help your Teen with Stress or your Teen with Anxiety
It was mentioned several times that checking in with your teen if you notice these signs is the first step – the second step is likely going to be finding a therapist for your teen to continue the healing journey. or a source of support for your teen during stress. This is where we come in! We have an excellent team of Miami teen therapists that not only love what they do but are excellent at what they do! We have an entire team of therapists that provide counseling for teens in Miami and not only can help your teen through their difficult experience but can help provide guidance to you as a parent. We offer comprehensive services – so if you, as the parent are looking for counseling in Miami to learn how to best help your teen, or if you are looking only for counseling for teenagers in Miami, we can help! Inquire today and we would be more than happy to answer any of your questions!
Reference material obtained from: American Psychological Association. (2019). How to help children and teens manage their stress. https://www.apa.org/topics/child-development/stress.