Helping Teens Handle Stress

Like adults, teens can get stressed out without knowing it’s happening. One minute all is well, and then things start to back up. They get behind in homework, projects are due all at once, a team goes to nationals, the family faces a crisis or a romantic partner breaks up with them—there’s no end to what can go wrong.

However, unlike adults, teens may not have experienced this new level of stress. Many teens may not realize how much these events affect their behavior. Below are some tips to help you and your teen identify signs of—and cope with—stress in everyday life.

Tips for Preventing Stress in Teens

• Be a role model. Try to remain calm when dealing with stressful situations. Demonstrate coping strategies, including getting enough rest, eating well and seeking support.
• If you know a particularly stressful event is coming up, talk with your teen about how to prepare and avoid getting stressed out.
• Focus on the process instead of the outcome. How hard your child tries is more important than the grade they receive.
• Help teens monitor their activities to prevent overscheduling. Work together to balance extracurricular activities, sports and schoolwork with time for friends, family and relaxation.

Tips for Addressing Stress in Teens

• Help teens identify signs of stress, such as a fast heartbeat, butterflies in the stomach, chest tightness, obsessive thoughts about being ready for things and an inability to enjoy restful activities.
• Teach teens ways to relax and cope with stress. Some methods include taking a bath, exercising, yoga or deep breathing and meditation, and listening to or making music.
• Remind teens that they are in control of some things in their lives. Encourage them to make decisions and prioritize activities when possible.
• Encourage teens to talk about what causes stress in their lives and identify healthy ways of dealing with it.
• Identify unhealthy ways of coping with stress, such as using alcohol or drugs, ignoring a problem, watching too much TV, playing too many video games, and getting irritable and cranky.

Reviewed by: Melissa Ruby, MPH

Last reviewed: October 2019