Help managing stress in a stressful world

American teens report stress levels higher than what they believe is healthy and school was rated the most common source of stress for American teens. Eight-three percent reported school as a significant source of stress.

Stress affects teens' health and well-being whether or not they know it. It also greatly affects their mental health.These are some symptoms that may appear in a teens life: irritability or anger, feeling nervous or anxious, feeling like crying, and being depressed or sad.

According to the American Psychology Association, forty-two percent of teens indicated not doing anything to cope with their stress or not knowing what to do to manage it. This is a big concern due to the fact that teens can resort to negative coping skills like smoking, drinking, drugs, self injury, aggressive behaviors or eating disorders.

So what can we do to help manage stressful feelings in a positive way? Here are five suggestions for coping with stress provided from the APA (2014)

Move your body.

Physical activity is one of the most effective stress busters. That doesn’t mean you have to go for a jog if you hate running. Find activities you enjoy and build them into your routine such as yoga, hiking, biking, skateboarding or walking. The best types of physical activities are those that have a social component. Whether you’re into team sports, or prefer kayaking or rollerblading with a friend or two, you’re more likely to have fun — and keep at it — if you’re being active with friends.

Get enough shut-eye.

Between homework, activities and hanging with friends, it can be hard to get enough sleep, especially during the school week. Ideally, adolescents should get nine hours a night. Most teens, though, are getting less. According to APA’s Stress in America Survey, teens say they sleep an average of just 7.4 hours on a school night. That’s unfortunate, since sleep is key for both physical and emotional well-being. To maximize your chance of sleeping soundly, cut back on watching TV or engaging in a lot of screen time in the late evening hours. Don’t drink caffeine late in the day and try not to do stimulating activities too close to bedtime.

Strike a balance.

School is important, but it’s not everything. When you plan your week, schedule time to get schoolwork done, but also schedule time to have fun. When it’s time to enjoy yourself, try not to worry about school or homework. Focus on having fun.

Enjoy yourself.

Besides physical activities, find other hobbies or activities that bring you joy. That might be listening to music, going to the movies or drawing. Make a point to keep doing these things even when you’re stressed and busy.

Let yourself shine.

Spend some time really thinking about the things you’re good at, and find ways to do more of those things. If you’re a math ace, you might tutor a younger neighbor who’s having trouble with the subject. If you are a spiritual person, you might volunteer at your church. If you’re artistic, take a photography class. Focusing on your strengths will help you keep your stresses in perspective.

Talk through it.

It’s so much easier to manage stress when you let others lend a hand. Talk to a parent, teacher or other trusted adult. They may be able to help you find new ways to manage stress. Or they may help put you in touch with a psychologist who is trained in helping people make healthy choices and manage stress.