Stress is a reality of life, but remaining anxious and stressed is not. Anxiety and depression in teenagers have been on the rise since 2012.  The American Psychological Association (APA) provides data and polls including a report called Stress in America.  As of 2014, American teen stress rivals that of adults and during the school year they report even higher levels of stress. “It is alarming that the teen stress experience is so similar to that of adults,” says APA CEO Norman B. Anderson, PhD. “It is even more concerning that they seem to underestimate the potential impact that stress has on their physical and mental health.”

In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services reported that about 3 million teenagers, ages 12 to 17, had at least one major depressive occurrence in the past year. In addition, according to data from the National Institute of Mental Health, “More than 2 million report experiencing depression that impairs their daily function and about 30 percent of girls and 20 percent of boys–totaling 6.3 million teens–have had an anxiety disorder.

Anderson states that in order to break this cycle of stress and unhealthy behaviors, “We need to provide teens with better support and health education at school and home, at the community level and in their interactions with health-care professionals.”

A key element in helping teens cope with stress starts with an individual being aware of what causes their stress. Responsibilities, work intensity, broken routines, illness, and emotional and environmental factors can all contribute to a teen’s stress level. Their ability to manage stress is the knowing what causes positive and negative stress and how to handle short- and long-term stress effectively. Teens should be aware of the reasons why managing stress is important for them personally. Successfully managing an individual’s stress levels helps keep situations in proper perspective and is beneficial in maintaining physical and emotional health. In terms of others, managing stress is important because it allows for the demonstration of self-control and the assignment of stressful jobs or tasks.

For teenagers, learning how to manage a source of prolonged or high stress situations is necessary. The warning signs of stress can manifest as physical or emotions symptoms. It’s important for teenagers to be able to recognize the symptoms of too much stress, resist using artificial “pick me ups,” have a plan for reducing stress, or consult a professional when stress becomes unmanageable.

Physical

• Allergies
• Chronic Fatigue
• Racing Heartbeat
• Nightmares
• Sleeping Problems
• Dizziness
• Change in Appetite
• Headaches
• Muscle Tension
• Restlessness
• Stomachaches
• Gastrointestinal Problems

Emotional

• Anger
• Denial of a Problem
• Loneliness
• Feeling Powerless
• Feeling Trapped
• Constant Worry
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Nervousness
• Feeling Rejected
• Difficulty Making Decisions
• Being Easily Upset

Managing the daily stressors of teens requires a routine that allows for the continued recognition and respect of personal limitations, establishing healthy habits, and building up physical reserves for “stressful” times. It is also important to understand that there are positive stress cycles and negative stress cycles. Not all stress is bad. A certain amount of stress is necessary to keep us together. Positive stress can create a sense of anticipation or excitement, increase a person’s productivity, and sharpen awareness and thinking. Negative stress can cause anxiety or frustration, physical pain and sickness, temper flare-ups, and various types of “shut down.”

Facing and working on stress levels can start with something as simple as having open discussions with a teenager about their problems or pressures. Other strategies include: exercising, getting enough sleep, listening to music, writing in a journal, keeping a healthy diet, positive self-talk, seeing a counselor and reminding them of individual accomplishments.

1. Develop a personal plan for managing stress
2. Be aware of your own stress cycle (Positive or Negative)
3. Evaluate and observe ability to cope with stress
4. Make a list of causes of stress, explanations of stress, and strategies for handling stress.
5. Apply the skill of managing stress in a new situation, such as making an effort to increase the number of hours slept.
6. Commit to improving and tracking overall stress management.