Teen Stress and Anxiety Wayne Hills Counseling Dept. June, 2017
True or False? 1. Even something positive, such as being selected for an award, can be stressful 2. The amount of stress you feel depends on how you perceive (view and interpret) a situation, not just on the situation itself 3. Stress hormones that circulate in your bloodstream over an extended period of time can damage the body 4. Getting plenty of sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising regularly can help you manage stress 5. Teenagers have great lives and should not be experiencing anxiety
Example 1 Seventeen-year-old Marissa is juggling many roles. She has a demanding part-time job, plays two varsity sports, is studying for the SATs, and is trying to decide where to go to college and how to pay for it. She also has a term paper and an Internet project due this week, needs to find a date and a dress for the prom, is worried that she has gained five pounds, and is afraid that her best friend is mad at her. While Marissa used to feel confident and excited by life's challenges, she has recently been feeling overwhelmed, out of control and "stressed out."
Example 2 Dave, a college student, has been feeling extremely tense. In addition to taking a full course load at school, he is also working 30 hours a week at a grocery store. He often feels rushed and irritable his girlfriend has noticed his short fuse. Sometimes he feels unable to meet the demands of his daily activities. Even though he is exhausted at the end of every day, he has trouble falling asleep. His appetite has decreased, and sometimes he even feels paranoid. He is tired of feeling like he is being pulled in several directions at once.
What is stress? Stress is defined as the way our bodies and minds react to life changes. Since adolescence is a period of significant change, including physical, emotional, social, and academic changes, many teens are under more stress than at any other time of life. https://youtu.be/27z-mfzgsya
Stress levels for teens are high "At the time of writing this, my weekend assignments include two papers, a PowerPoint to go with a 10minute presentation, studying for a test and two quizzes, and an entire chapter (approximately 40 pages) of notes in a college textbook," "It's a problem that's basically brushed off by most people. There's this mentality of, 'You're doing well, so why are you complaining?' " "Parents are the worst about all of this, All I hear is, 'Work harder, you're a smart kid, I know you have it in you, and if you want to go to college you need to work harder.' It's a pain."
Stress happens for different reasons for different people
Stress can be useful
Anxiety v Stress Stress is caused by an existing stress-causing factor or stressor. Anxiety is stress that continues after that stressor is gone.
Anxiety is a general feeling of apprehension or worry and is a normal reaction to stressful situations Red flags should go up when the feelings become excessive, thoughts become irrational and everyday functioning is debilitated Anxiety disorders are characterized by excessive feelings of panic, fear, or irrational discomfort in everyday situations
Types of anxiety disorders Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) GAD results in students experiencing six months or more of persistent, irrational and extreme worry, causing insomnia, headaches, and irritability. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) PTSD can follow an exposure to a traumatic event such as natural disasters, sexual or physical assaults, or the death of a loved one. Three main symptoms: reliving of the traumatic event, avoidance behaviors and emotional numbing, and physiological arousal such as difficulty sleeping, irritability or poor concentration. Panic Disorders Characterized by unpredictable panic attacks, which are episodes of intense fear, physiological arousal, and escape behaviors. Common symptoms: heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness and anxiety and these symptoms are often confused with those of a heart attack. Specific Phobias Intense fear reaction to a specific object or situation (such as spiders, dogs, or heights) which often leads to avoidance behavior. The level of fear is usually inappropriate to the situation and is recognized by the sufferer as being irrational Social Phobia Extreme anxiety about being judged by others or behaving in a way that might cause embarrassment or ridicule and may lead to avoidance behavior. Separation Anxiety Disorder Intense anxiety associated with being away from caregivers, results in youths clinging to parents or refusing to do daily activities such as going to school. bsessive-compulsive Disorder (CD) Students may be plagued by persistent, recurring thoughts (obsessions) and engage in compulsive ritualistic behaviors in order to reduce the anxiety associated with these obsessions (e.g. constant hand washing).
Effects and signs of anxiety School failure Absenteeism Classroom disruption Inability to complete basic tasks Family stress Impaired social relationships Anxiety or panic attacks Feeling down, on edge, guilty or tired Feeling of being constantly pressured Anger, irritable lashing out at others Feeling resentful of others Not enjoying activities you used to enjoy Feeling you have too many things you have to do Shutting down" and withdrawal from people and activities Difficulty sleeping and eating Difficulty concentrating Physical symptoms Drinking too much, smoking or doing drugs
Effective ways to treat anxiety Time Management skills Humor and Laughter Relaxation techniques Deep Breathing Visualization and / or Guided Visualization Meditation and / or Mindfulness Progressive Relaxation Cognitive-behavioral treatment( young people learn to deal with fears by modifying the ways they think and behave) Family therapy Medication
Strategies for Dealing with Anxious Teens Because transitions and separation are frequently difficult for children with anxiety disorders, remember to provide extra time for changing activities and locations. Recognize that often it is a teen s anxiety that causes him or her to disregard directions, rather than an intentional desire to be oppositional. Develop a safe place where your child can go to relieve anxiety during stressful times or provide calming activities.
Encourage the development of relaxation techniques that can work. ften these can be adapted for school as well. Work with your child and your child s teacher s regarding class participation and answering questions on the board, understanding that many anxious teenagers fear answering incorrectly. Encourage peer relationships.
Reward their efforts. Provide an organized, calming, and supportive environment. Foster feedback from your child about the effectiveness of the interventions you use. It is important for behaviors to be reinforced so involve the school in your plan. Remember that the goal is teaching your child to manage anxiety not protecting them from it.
Encourage your anxious teenager to: Eat healthy foods Exercise regularly Sleep enough (8-10hrs/night) Have at least one person to confide in Learn relaxation techniques (breathing, meditation) Volunteer Avoid excess caffeine intake Avoid illegal drugs, stimulants Avoid alcohol and tobacco Be realistic Avoid perfectionistic thinking Ask for help when needed Cut back on activities Practice mindfulness Make time for doing nothing Stress management skills work best when used regularly
Check your own anxiety Anxious parents = anxious kids
ur main job is not to try to prevent anxiety, but rather, to promote our children s competence in handling it.