3 min read

Stress Management for Teens

Picture of Clint Johnson Clint Johnson July 1, 2021

Stress Management

It’s widely known that the teenage years can be some of the most stressful. According to the American Psychological Association, 37% of teens say stress makes them feel overwhelmed.

Because of their high-stress levels and feeling overwhelmed, 40% of teens have admitted neglecting their responsibilities at home, and 21% have said the same for school and work responsibilities.

What can we do to help teens manage their stress better? Ahead, we explore this question and offer some useful tips for calming stress and anxiety in teenagers.

How Does Stress Affect a Teenager?

young man laying in a hammock performing stress management for teens

Stress isn’t good for anyone, but it can be especially detrimental for teenagers.

Possible Negative Consequences of Chronic Stress in Teens

Mental Health Problems, Such As Depression

Chronic stress can wear teens down. Over time, this can cause a breakdown of relationships, bad moods that last for days, poor productivity, and other negative outcomes. All of these factors can be contributors to depression and related mental health issues.

Poor Self-Esteem

Experts say the teen years are critical in terms of vulnerability to substance abuse and addiction later in life. Such addictions can be linked to the stress of poor self-esteem, often experienced by teens.

Negative Physical Symptoms

Stress can cause physical consequences as well. Chronic headaches and stomach and digestive problems are just a few.

Trouble in School

Early research suggests that "stress exposure influences basic neural circuits involved in reward processing and learning." When teens feel overwhelmed from stress, they may begin giving up on the most difficult responsibilities they face. This is often schoolwork and related activities.

Stress Management Tips for Teens

1. Teach them meditation and mindfulness

Meditation and mindfulness will be key to helping your teen with relaxation and stress reduction. They don’t even have to meditate for very long.

Just 25 minutes of mindfulness and meditation with one of our outstanding instructors can turn your teen’s whole week around.

2. Practice yoga together as a family

The practice of yoga has been known to have amazingly positive effects on those who struggle with stress. Help your teen reap the benefits of yoga by practicing with them.

3. Stock better foods in the fridge

A healthy body means a healthy mind. Feed your teens nutritious foods, and it will help their stress levels.

4. Enforce less screen time

Technology is useful for so many things. But when teens spend too much time in front of screens, it can drain their time and harm their focus. Both of these things are certainly not helpful for reducing stress. Instead, try and find other stress management activities for your teens.

5. Implement a schedule

Even though teens are well on their way to adulthood, they’re still young enough to follow the rules you set. In your home, try to help your teens manage their stress by implementing a schedule. Set times for:

Waking up
Going to sleep
Eating dinner
Doing homework
Being with family
Meditating
Exercising
Getting outdoors
Resting and relaxing

6. Set a good example

Finally, sometimes the best thing you can do to help others succeed is to practice what you preach. Use stress-reduction techniques. Meditate and practice mindfulness. Partake in an Unwind Your Mind session. It will rub off on your teen eventually.

Stress Management For Teens: Frequently Asked Questions

How do high school students manage stress?

Managing stress in high school is no easy task. Moreover, every teen will inevitably have a different experience and require different stress management solutions. Therefore, the best tools a teen can use to manage stress are things that calm and center the mind, no matter the situation. Meditation, mindfulness, and yoga practices are excellent places to start.

What causes teenage anxiety?

A range of challenges causes teenage anxiety. The APA reports that 59% of teens are stressed as a result of balancing their many activities — from school and sports to social relationships and family life. Much teen anxiety is linked with rapid physical, mental, and emotional changes that occur during this pivotal period of life.

Why do I get anxious when I try to relax?

One possible explanation is that those with anxiety fear what will happen later if, after they relax, they end up getting anxious again. They fear the sharp rise in anxiety that could suddenly occur. Instead of having to deal with those potentially drastic ups and downs, therefore, they prefer to maintain a low level of anxiety all the time. This phenomenon is called the contrast avoidance model. Another possible reason for fear of relaxation could be apprehensiveness about the relaxation process itself.