STRESS & YOUR TEEN
Being a teenager in today's world is tough. Navigating big world issues along with the normal teen problems like relationships, dating, sexual identity, school pressures, extracurriculars, social media, and more, can be difficult. The stress can pile up whether it is good stress or bad stress. Good stress helps us meet deadlines, make good choices, and be on a growth path. Bad stress can be debilitating and affect our minds and our bodies.
IS YOUR TEEN STRESSED OUT?
6 SIGNS OF STRESS IN TEENS
Determining the difference between normal and extreme behavior is dependent on your teen’s personality, behaviors, and drive.
Sleep: Not sleeping enough or sleeping too much. Healthy teens should sleep between 8 and 10 hours each night.
Irritability or Anger: Increased agitation or apathetic reactions to previously heated topics.
Eating Habits: Binging, food deprivation, lack of appetite, or other noted changes.
Sudden Behavior Shifts: Spending more time away from home or staying in and not socializing at all.
Motivation: Sudden lack of motivation or increased fervor in academic pursuits.
Increased Physical Ailments or Sickness: Stress is usually fraught with physical symptoms that can often be real and debilitating.
HOW CAN PARENTS HELP?
Parents should investigate when they see a drastic change in behavior. Your teen may need help managing stress but not know how to ask for it.
Listen more, talk less: Talk to your teen about solutions but don’t “fix” their problems
Model healthy coping strategies: Demonstrate how you handle a hard day in positive ways like talking about it, doing something physical, or just resting.
Monitor social media and internet usage and set limits: Have a presence on social media and bravely set limits using settings, timers, and other parent friendly apps available.
Help provide balance between downtime and activities: Help your teen find that sweet spot between being active and engaged with others but also having down time to rest and rejuvenate.
Find opportunities to spend quality time together even if just for a few minutes: Be present with your teen during everyday activities like late night snacks, shared chores, conversations while in the car, or observing or participating in leisure activities.
Encourage (but don’t nag):
Less screen time
Better sleep
Healthy eating
Exercise
Journaling
Balance
Making a to-do list
Spending time outside
Trust your gut. If you think something is going on with your teen, you are probably right.
Determine if your teen needs more help than you can provide. Seeing a mental health professional may be key in helping your child manage life. But, not every teen has a diagnosis and needs mental health treatment. Life coaching can be a stand alone solution or work in conjunction with mental health therapy.
5 BENEFITS OF TEEN LIFE COACHING?
Feeling heard, validated, and encouraged. Building a rapport and establishing trust between the coach and client is crucial. Real growth occurs when there is a connection that is genuine, caring, accepting, and empathic.
Setting and meeting goals. Whether big life goals, everyday goals, or goals within the session, Life Coaching is present-focused and goal-driven.
Strengthening self-understanding and unlocking potential. The teenage years are driven by determining self identity and gaining independence. Unlocking potential and finding focus can get your teen going in the right direction.
Supporting academics. Study skills, time management, determining priorities, finding balance, and accessing resources.
Supporting family and social relationships. Understanding the ins and outs of relationships can be difficult to navigate and often teens need help in the journey.
Life is stressful. Getting help to manage stress can make a huge difference in emotional and physical health, happiness, and adjustment to individual and world changes.
I Can Help
I have been working with teens for the past 25 years and have a Master’s in Counseling and am a certified Life Coach (CLCI). Most importantly, I understand adolescent development and issues and have experienced the powerful changes that can occur when someone feels heard, validated, and encouraged.
Contact me for a free Discovery call at karenpeerycoaching.com.
References:
American Psychological Association 2022. How to Help Children and Teens Manage Their Stress. Accessed 8/14/2023. https://www.apa.org/topics/children/stress
Smith, K. 2022. 6 Common Triggers of Teen Stress. Accessed 8/14/2023. https://www.psycom.net/common-triggers-teen-stress
Teen Focus Inc. 2021. Benefits for Life Skills Coaching for Teenagers. Accessed 8/14/2023. https://www.teenfocus.org/teenfocusblog/benefits-of-life-skills-coaching-for-teenagers