The transition from childhood to adulthood and the road in between comes with its own set of social, academic, and biological challenges. Does it get overwhelming? How do I know the signs? Keep reading to explore:
- 10 Facts About Teenage Stress
- 5 Ways to Deal with Stress as a Teenager
- And much more!
10 Facts About Teenage Stress
1. Teenage Stress Might Be As Stressful as Adult Stress
Polls conducted by the American Psychological Association show shocking results. Teens show stress in patterns similar to adults. In other words, their experience and exhibition of stress are the same as the kind of stress adults experience.
In many cases, especially during school days, teenagers also reported that their stress is usually higher than adult stress.
2. There are Different Kinds of Teenage Stress
It’s hard to classify all kinds of stress into one type when there are so many different kinds. This can include:
- Everyday Stress– Includes everyday situations that are not inherently harmful but can cause us to react stressfully. This includes a busy and packed schedule, an important event, and/or communicating with others.
- Chronic Stress– The constant state of feeling stressed or overwhelmed because of experiencing something stressful for a long period. The thing that causes that stress (stressor) would have the ability to produce the same stress response every time.
- Traumatic Stress– Stress response to any event that is extremely stressful and/or terrifying. This could include witnessing or experiencing abuse, violence, and/or accidents.
3. Teenage Stress Signs can Include Physical Illness and Headaches
The most common signs of teenage stress include an increased frequency of physical illnesses and headaches. If you are getting more sick and/or experiencing more headaches than usual with no other significant lifestyle changes, it is likely due to teenage stress.
The human body has a way of reacting to stress differently for everyone.
A stressful event causes our body to release stress hormones called cortisol. Cortisol is known to increase headaches and lower our immune system. The decreased immunity can usually result in increased illnesses.
4. Many Teenagers Report Increased Irritability as a Sign of Stress
Teenagers are known for being moodier than most people. However, feeling annoyed at every little thing and getting angrier than usual is not “just a teen thing”.
More often than not, this is a sign of teenage stress and not “acting out”. Irritability might indicate that you feel overwhelmed with what is going on.
5. Prolonged Teenage Stress Can Have Devastating Consequences
Exposure to incredibly stressful situations for an extended period can usually result in chronic stress. Chronic stress can have devastating consequences on your physical health, disrupt your sleep, and even increase your chances of experiencing a mental health disorder.
As reported by an 11th-grade school teacher, teenagers might try to cope with their situations through substance abuse, binge drinking, feeling hopeless, and in extreme cases, even suicide.
6. Increased Digital Communication May Be Linked to Higher Teen Stress
Multiple scientists believe that the more you stay digitally connected, the more likely you negatively impact your well-being.
In other words, high digital communication through apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, Snapchat, etc is linked to a worse physical and mental state of health.
7. The Most Common Cause of Teenage Stress Includes Academic Stress
Teenagers face a lot of different pressures like peer pressure, bullying, and other different kinds of interpersonal stressors. However, they reported academic stress to be the most common cause.
Around 80% of teens reported academic stress as the most common cause of teenage stress. This included the stress of getting into reputable universities (63%), followed by financial concerns in families (65%).
8. Teenage Stress Could Also Impact Academics
Another sign of teenage stress could include difficulty focusing on academics. You might struggle with getting your work done on time or might feel your grades declining.
If you feel like avoiding school work or feel overwhelmed generally, it is most likely due to teenage stress.
9. Teenagers May Find It Hard to “Tell You” That They Are Stressed
It can be difficult for teens to communicate how they are feeling. There is a high likelihood that they are not completely understanding what and how they are feeling.
It is important to stay alert for signs of teen stress. If you find yourself or a teenager:
- Behaving differently than before
- More irritable than before
- Getting/Feeling more sick than usual
- Talking negatively about themselves
- Not sleeping or eating well
- Running into problems at school
- Finding it difficult to focus on school or friends
It is highly recommended to talk to someone you trust, seek professional help, or call a mental health helpline.
10. Teenage Stress is Treatable
Even though teenage stress is pretty prevalent and seems chronic, it is treatable. Every teenager is unique and will benefit from different kinds of treatment options available.
You can help yourself or a friend by talking to a parent, school counselor, or medical professional or talk to some mental health helplines to see what is best for you.
5 Ways to Deal with Stress as a Teenager
1. Eat and Sleep Well
It sounds like pretty normal advice that you have heard a million times. But science backs it up a lot.
A well-balanced diet and around 10 hours of sleep each night are critical for teenagers to function properly. A lack of either could contribute to stressful events and leave you less prepared to deal with them.
2. Regular Exercise
The CDC highly recommends individuals aged 6-17 get at least one hour of physical activity every day.
Apart from the usual health benefits, exercise is known to help you relieve stress and lower your stress hormones.
3. Reframe Your Thoughts
A sign of teenage stress includes overwhelming negative thinking. This could include thoughts like “I can never do it”, “I’m such a failure”, or “There’s no point in trying”. If this is you, try to recognize yourself saying this and challenge your thoughts.
Ask yourself why you are saying that and if there is any evidence to back it up. Talk to someone you trust about these thoughts to get a better idea of why you might be feeling this way.
4. Talk to Someone You Trust
Talking to a parent or someone you trust is one of the many ways you can help reduce your stress. Think about it this way, they were also teens once upon a time, they might also remember how stressful this period can be.
If anything, they can hear you out or guide you to the appropriate people who can help you deal with this professionally.
5. Get Professional Help
If you find stress symptoms persisting or worsening, or you are experiencing depression, anxiety, thoughts of suicide, etc, it is highly recommended to get professional help.
This could be in the form of a medical professional like a doctor and/or a mental health professional such as a therapist.
Conclusion
Teenage stress is prevalent and as intense (if not more) than that of adults. There is more than one kind of stress and the most common stressor is usually academia.
There are various signs signaling teenage stress and the best way to deal with them is through lifestyle modifications or seeking professional help.
