Although teenagers often feel stress related to academic, family or social pressures, the Kids Health website encourages parents to watch for signs of more serious anxiety problems. Find ways to reduce the factors that are worrying your child and look for symptoms of "stress overload," such as physical ailments, changes in sleeping patterns, panic attacks or depression.
School Pressure
School-age children feel stressed about academic and extracurricular demands, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Students feel pressure to complete daily homework, participate in class, finish projects and study for exams. In addition to the quest for good grades, the children may also participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports, student council, cheerleading and clubs. The added pastimes contribute to teenage anxiety because the activities may be competitive and require scheduling that cuts into study time and relaxing downtime.
Peer Pressure
The American Academy of Pediatrics considers peer pressure a teenage stress factor. Although your child may have a solid group of friends, the children may pressure her to hang out in lieu of studying, break ties with former friends that the core group doesn't consider "cool" or experiment with drugs, alcohol or sexual activity that goes against her morals or family rules. Peer pressure or bullying on campus and after school through phone calls, text messages and email may distract your child from studying, leading her to feel additional guilt and anxiety.
Family Problems
Teenagers can also feel stress at home because of family pressures and problems. Consider the impact on your teen if you've recently gone through a divorce, experienced economic hardship that affected his quality of life or found new living arrangements that reduce his privacy. Arguments with siblings, disagreements with parents over rules and expectations and the need to consistently care of younger siblings may also contribute to teen stress.
Sense of Loss
The University of Minnesota Extension stresses that teenagers feel anxiety when experiencing a sense of loss. In addition to dealing with the health problems or the death of a friend or family member, "loss" can mean the end of a relationship, friendship or cherished extracurricular activity. Breaking up with a boyfriend or best friend, for example, may lead your daughter to doubt her self-worth or feel anxious about attending school or social functions because of her change in social status.
Self-Doubt
As teenagers attempt to navigate through the school social hierarchy, they may feel self-doubt if they don't achieve a certain level of popularity. Although your teen may express a sense of despair about his appearance, clothing, lack of dates or social status, the Help Guide website recommends watching for signs of extreme self-worthlessness that may indicate depression. Seek help from a mental health professional if you notice prolonged sadness, a withdrawal from family, friends and favorite activities, lack of energy and motivation or mentions of suicide or death.
References
- University of Minnesota Extension: Adolescent Stress and Depression
- Kids Health: What Causes Stress Overload
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Helping Teenagers with Stress
- American Academy of Pediatrics: A Preteen's Personalized Guide to Managing Stress
- HelpGuide.org: Teen Depression
