major stressor in Teen's life
As a teen we may have feel stressed out but have you ever thought about the possible causes ? let's take a look in the discussion below.
introduction
Nowadays, we know that most teens have at least one or two bad days in the six months or it could be worse. The most common problems come from your family, friends, their study and other things. We have never known what they are going through, they have to live freely. But many teens suffer with significant stress levels that rival that of adults. Consider if these potential triggers of teen stress are affecting your teen. According to American Psychological Association (2019) Prolonged stress can cause high blood pressure, weaken the immune system and contribute to diseases such as obesity and heart disease. It can also lead to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression—disorders that are becoming more common in youth. The American Psychological Association (APA) conducted its 12th annual Stress in AmericaTM survey in August 2018 to understand what causes teen stress in Americans’ lives and their strategies for coping with stress
let's look at the statistics!
Based on 2018 survey results show that high-profile issues, such as sexual harassment and gun violence, are significant stressors for teens. America’s youngest adults are most likely of all generations to report poor mental health, and teens is also significantly more likely to seek professional help for mental health issues. A number of issues dominate the news cycle today, and for many teens youth these issues are causing them stress, often in larger numbers than adults overall. Nearly six in 10 (57 percent) teens say the separation and deportation of immigrant and migrant families is a significant source of stress; less than half of all adults overall (45 percent), on the other hand, consider this a stressor. The difference between teens and adults overall is evident in their stress about widespread sexual harassment and assault reports in the news, with more than half of teens (53 percent) citing these reports as a significant source of stress and fewer than four in 10 of adults overall (39 percent) saying the same.
For young children, tension at home is a common source of stress. Children may be troubled by family discord or divorce, for example. Big life changes, such as a new stepparent or new home, can also be hard on a child. That’s true even when the changes are happy ones, such as the arrival of a new sibling. School is another frequent source of concern for kids. Young children might be stressed about making friends, dealing with bullies or getting along with their teachers. They might also be anxious about tests and grades. (APA, 2019) Signs of stress in youth can show up in a number of ways, they’re irritability and anger. Children don’t always have the words to describe how they are feeling. Stressed-out teens might be more short-tempered or argumentative than normal.
Second, changes in behavior, sudden changes can be a sign that stress levels are high. In addition to, trouble sleeping, a child or teen might complain of feeling tired all the time, sleep more than usual or have trouble falling asleep at night. Then, neglecting responsibilities, if an adolescent suddenly drops the ball on homework, forgets obligations or starts procrastinating more than usual, stress might be a factor.
After that, eating changes, eating too much or too little can both be reactions to stress. And the last one, getting sick more often, stress often shows up as physical symptoms. Children who feel stress often report headaches or stomachaches, and might make frequent trips to the school nurse’s office. (APA, 2019)
Facing stressors is a fact of life, for teens and everyone. These strategies can help keep stress in check such as sleep well. Sleep is essential for physical and emotional well-being. Teens need eight to 10 hours a night. Sleep needs to be a priority to keep stress in check.
Next, exercise, physical activity is an essential stress reliever for people of all ages. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 60 minutes a day of activity for children ages 6 to 17.
Talk it out, talking about stressful situations with a trusted adult can help kids and teens put things in perspective and find solutions.
Make time for fun, just like adults, teens need time to do what brings them joy. After that, get outside, spending time in nature is an effective way to relieve stress and improve overall well-being.
Lastly, write about it, research has found that expressing oneself in writing can help reduce mental distress and improve well-being.
