Teenage Stress

Teenage stress is an important topic for parents perhaps more than it could be for children. There is a uprising disconnect between what teens encounter and what parents know. For example, a credible study showed that as many as 3 in every 10 kids in the survey expressed worry about their family's financial situation. Only 18% of parents felt that family finances were a cause of stress in their children.

It is apparent that in many ways what we parents consider less important or a non-event let alone a cause of anxiety can be in actual fact a terrible stressor for our kids. This makes the subject of teenage stress extremely important as it touches a variety of areas in the lives of our children. Left alone it can evenbadly affect their future.

Teen Stressors

In considering teen stress I have noticed that it takes much more than an ordinary approach for us parents to appreciate what stresses our children. The first important step is to familiarize ourselves with what sociologists, psychologists, pediatricians, doctors and counselors have long considered to be teen stressors.

Stress on its own in not bad. In fact is is a useful biological tool that gives us what we need for fight and flight. Stressors as we will consider them here are those things that happens in teenage life that result in a constant emotional drain on the life of a young person. Teens should be assisted to better manage these stressors so they are not so easily and constantly stressed. Stressors are similar to causes of stress.

Arrival Of Adolescence

In as much as we parents can expect it to be a somewhat exciting time of discovery, becoming an adolescent can in reality be a source of teenage stress. There is a possibility of feelings of loosing control as their bodies change, facing the fun from friends and peers based on how they are developing. For example, not having your beard growing as fast as the rest of the peers can easily become a source of stressfor a teenage boy.

School Related Stress

School pressure can also be a serious stressor for teen children. It is not only college students that suffer from stress according to these stress statistics and stress facts. School children can equally feel the pressure of school both from an academic point of view as well from a social point of view. The thought of getting up to go to school might trigger serious stress that can break down a young person. This is why is it important to keep an eye on your child's school grades as well as participating in their school related activities.

Teenage Dating

This is a realistic stressor for most teens. Initially they may suffer from peer pressure to start dating even if they are not ready for it. The stress will be worsened by their constant efforts to maintain the relationship through cosmetic impressions. Keeping up appearances in a teen relationship can cause considerable teenage stress as this often requires money and is therefore costly to maintain. The sense of responsibility that comes with it also adds to the anxiety and pressure which all adds up into prolonged stress.

Parental Conflict

This can range from verbal abuse to even occasional physical or near physical abuse in the presence of the children. Teens might feel vulnerable and with no headship, to see their only parents in constant negative verbal exchange can be very stressful. Teenage stress in this regard may arise due to fears of what the future holds under these circumstances over and above living in fear of fights at home between parents. This makes it very important for us parents to realize the extent of the damage caused to kids by such abusive or non-cordial parental relationships.

These explained above are some of the teenage stress causes to consider. The following are further stressors that parents should be aware of when dealing with teens;

• Bereavement
• Parental Divorce
• Crime
• Exam Failure
• Financial Problems (personal or family)
• Employment
• Heavy Workload (home and school)
• Owning A Vehicle
• Relocation (personal or family)
• Competition (sport or school)
• Substance Abuse (Drug, Alcohol, Tobacco)
• Adrenal Fatigue (few people know about this - a silent stressor)

Managing Teenage Stress

The most effective way of managing teenage stress is to first create a platform upon which teenagers are able to communicate what they are feeling. This includes their fears and concerns. They also need to be equipped with the knowledge of communicating and naming names of what they are feeling. The greatest barrier which is detrimental to effective help is feeling something but failing to explaining it or give it a name. That alsone is stressful!

Stress management in teen children should involve a full appreciation of the stressors explained and listed above. In a family set-up it is much easier to keep and eye on the stressors and help children avoid falling into emotional stress for lack of help and timely intervention. Some of the symptoms of teenage stress will include substance abuse, withdrawal from social activity and interaction, falling school grades, a disregard of personal hygiene and general up keep, agitation, and suicidal thought and actions among others.

Should stress signs continue despite your immediate intervention as a parent the next and obvious step is to escalate the matter with a professional. This might involve the child's counselor at school or a doctor. All in all professional help will be required.