5 Things You Need to Know About Teen Stress

1. Transitional Stress

Stress isn't limited to just adults. Children and teenagers have stress, too. The stress that teens deal with is quite different from adult-life stress. Although the symptoms may be the same, the causes are not. The transition from childhood to adulthood can be tumultuous and adolescent stress shouldn't be treated the same as adults or children. Helping your teen cope with his adolescent stress may help him deal better with the stresses he will have as an adult.

2. Changes in the Mind, Body and Soul

There are a lot of changes that the body goes through during the transitional period during the teenage years. In addition to the physical changes, the changes in a teen's mind are significant. Along with the attraction to the opposite sex, the urge to become independent kicks in full gear. This may bring out aggressive behavior in your teen. At this pivotal point in a person's life, the tendency to try new things, such as drugs, alcohol and sex creates a false sense of independence.

3. Teen Stress and Its Causes

Studies show the largest stress-causing issues are school, parents, siblings and friends. Adolescent girls are affected by stress more than boys and girls usually ask for help from others during a stressful time. Adolescent boys respond differently than girls by focusing their attention elsewhere and not dealing with the stressful situations. Although, family and friends are big support systems, they can also become a source of teenage stress. Teens need to learn healthy ways to cope with their stress. Some signs your teen may be having stress overload include anxiety attacks. moodiness, substance use, sleep problems, depression or physical ailments.

4. Help Your Teen Cope

Many times parents don't think there is a reason for their teenagers to feel stress. This misguided notion should be set aside in order to help your teen cope with stress. If your child shows signs of stress, try to help him identify the sources of his stress and allow him to talk about it freely and without judgment. If your teen's stress stems from a traumatic experience, it may be helpful to consult a professional. Don't allow your teen to over extend himself by creating an extremely busy schedule or expecting perfection. Look inward and examine how you handle your stress. Your reactions could also affect your teen's stress level.

5. Healthful Ways to Deal

Some healthful ways for your teen to relieve or prevent his stress, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, include eating healthful foods, getting regular exercise, asking him to discuss his feelings and helping him find a hobby to focus his attention. Caring for pets is also a good way for a teen to relieve stress. Parents should set boundaries and say no to certain things. This helps the teenager sort out what is important in his life and what is right and wrong. He should avoid drugs, alcohol, caffeine and tobacco products