There is no one who finds their teenage years a stress free or easy time. Adolescent stress is common and can be linked to any number of different factors. There are the hormonal shifts which mark puberty, learning to deal with their developing minds, bodies and emotions and the pressure associated with realizing that they are growing up and starting to make choices about their lives. All of these things can cause an adolescent stress and anxiety.

All of the following situations or events are stressful for adolescents:

- parents separating

- moving

- starting at a new school

- death in the family

- conflicts with their teachers, their parents or their classmates

- starting or ending their early romantic and/or sexual relationships

- having sex for the first time

- family problems, including an illness in the family

- their family experiencing financial problems

- living in a neighborhood which is dangerous

- the physical changes to their bodies which accompany puberty

- being pressured to succeed atcademically (by teachers, parents, peers or themselves)

- low self esteem and a poor self image

Of course, all of these things could cause stress in adults too. Adolescents, however have less control over their lives and tend to cope with stress differently than do adults.

Every teenager experiences stress. They may show this by:

- irritability and mood swings

- anxiety, worrying

- withdrawal, avoiding other people

- drug or alcohol use

- physical illness

There are methods which adolescents can use to control stress. So0me give teens near-immediate relief from stress but others are a long term strategy to achieve stable hormonal levels and emotional balance.

- watching or reading something humorous

- listen to music which relaxes you

- talking with close friends and playing with pets

- get regular exercise

- eat healthily, including a variety of vegetables in your diet

- avoid stimulants and other chemicals (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, sugar, tobacco, alcohol and drugs), especially when experiencing stress

- learning relaxation techniques, including deep breathing

- practice yoga, tai chi or meditation

- learning to communicate with others in a way which is assertive but not threatening. This involves learning to clearly communicate how you feel or what you want

- if you do not know where to start with a task, break it down into smaller parts and do them one by one

- stop negative thinking in its tracks and replace it with positive affirmations

- do not indulge in imagining all the bad things that might happen

If you’re experiencing a lot of stress and you are finding your quality of life or even your physical health negatively affected, you may benefit from stress management training. This training will teach you some of the techniques listed above and help you learn to reduce stress almost as soon as it arises.

Keep in mind that a certain degree of stress is only natural and we all experience it at times. What matters is how you deal with stress ? adolescent stress does not have to overshadow everything else in your life.

Post from: Natural Remedies For Stress

Adolescent Stress: How To Handle It