Prom season, graduation time, the hustle and bustle of spring - you may find that your teen seems more stressed than normal. Stress can be dangerous to a teen’s physical and emotional health whether they are tossing and turning at night or unable to cope with certain situations. It’s important to learn how to help your teen tame that unwanted stress in order to live a happier and more peaceful life.
There are several misconceptions about stress, so let’s debunk the myths.
Misconceptions of Stress
- Myth One – Everyone experiences stress the same
o Stress is not the same for everyone. A situation one person considers stressful, such as juggling multiple projects, to another person means being productive. Not only do people consider different situations stressful, but each person responds to stress in their own way and on their own time.
- Myth Two – Stress only affects us mentally
o Stress can affect both a person’s emotional and physical wellbeing. Whether stress leads to insomnia or weight gain, it’s important to notice changes in a body or lifestyle during these situations.
- Myth Three – Only troubling experiences can cause stress
o Any type of event or situation that changes the pattern of someone’s life, whether it’s in a positive or negative way can lead to stress. Pay particular attention to what’s happening around you, since the impact of stress can be very subtle.
There are several coping methods you can offer your teen during their stressful situations:
- Exhibit a healthy lifestyle – If a regular sleep routine is disrupted by stress, make sure they exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet in order to get their sleep schedule back on track. Exercising helps release any pent-up stress and tension. When clean eating becomes part of a daily diet, it better prepares a body to cope well with stress.
- Deep breath in, deep breath out – As simple as it may seem, advise your teen to take slow, deep breaths during a stressful situation because it can help clear the mind and prevent them from internalizing the stress.
- Manage stressors – Guide your teen to manage stress properly by taking a step back from the situation, but make sure they don’t let things pile up leading to more stress - it’s a balance they should try to achieve. Suggest that they take a break in order to let their mind rest and gain a fresh perspective. Once some time has passed, have them get back to it and help them create a balanced schedule.
- Assess the situation – It’s not always possible to completely remove a stressful situation from entering your teen’s life. Discuss with them how it could improve, and explain how they can change the way they communicate with others to be more assertive. Assess the situation and guide them in ways to gain control over what is causing stress.
Whether spending time with others helps your teen cope with stress or taking time to volunteer for a cause that makes them happy, whatever positively changes your teen’s attitude will reflect in their everyday life.
