Being a teen is tough. As they navigate their path to adulthood, everything around them (including themselves!) is changing. As a parent, you want to support your teen as they learn to deal with the stressors life throws at them today and in the future. So what are the biggest stressors in your teen’s life, and how can you help them?

Academic Responsibilities

The demands of school, exams, and homework can create immense stress, leading to anxiety and burnout. They’re still learning the very adult skills of time management and goal setting, so they’re making mistakes along the way. They may feel more pressured by state standardized tests, important assignments, college applications, or scholarship goals. If they play sports, have lots of extracurricular activities, or keep a part-time job, they’ll feel even more pressure inside and outside school. Teens aren’t immune to burnout.

Friends, Social Media, and Peer Pressure

The teen years are already a tough time for friend groups. Your kid wants to fit in, express themselves, and push boundaries. Social dynamics were hard enough to navigate before the rise of social media.

Online spaces have introduced a new dimension of stress for teenagers. Constant exposure to curated images on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat drives feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. They’re also places where bullying is rampant. This is also a time when they’re feeling peer pressure from both friends and strangers, both online and offline. Talk to your kid about their friends and online experiences.

Changing Bodies

Their body is going through huge changes during puberty. Fluctuating hormones, acne, weight and height changes, and the development of secondary sex characteristics make for a very confusing time.

They might one day feel confident in themselves, and the next hate the way they look. Media portrayals of unrealistic beauty standards can contribute to their insecurity and self-doubt. Encourage healthy eating, sleeping, and exercise habits to keep them nourished.

Mental Health Challenges

Teenagers are not immune to mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and other stress-related disorders. In fact, because of their changing brains, they likely feel emotions more strongly and have more trouble regulating them.

While teenage mood swings are normal, some do develop diagnosable mental health conditions. It’s important to recognize your teen’s baseline mood to get them help if they’re distressed.

Family Trouble

If you have a stressful home life, your kid will feel it. Divorce, financial difficulties, or fighting at home can create an environment where they feel unsafe. As a parent, you want your teen to see their home and family as a safe haven. If you’re going through a tough time as a family, have honest discussions with your kids and listen to their worries.

Getting Your Teen Help

Keep lines of communication open.

Make sure you’re the safe adult your teen can come to when they feel upset. Encourage them to be open about what they’re going through and share any concerns or worries they have about school, their friends, or themselves.

Encourage healthy coping mechanisms.

Keep your family engaged and active. Spend weekends at the park. Exercise together. Have a routine of standard mealtimes and bedtimes. Encourage them to work out their stress through creative expression, hobbies, sports, or exercise.

Get them to a therapist.

If you see your teen struggling with their mental health while juggling all their new responsibilities, consider taking them to a therapist. They may be going through anxiety, depression, or another mental health issue, so it’s important to have them seen by a professional.

A therapist can get at the root of their stress, teach them positive coping behaviors, challenge negative thought patterns, and help them deal with life’s tough moments.

To learn more about how therapy can help your teen with stress, please reach out to us.