When a teenager is going through a moment of depression or anxiety, we often feel like they are just, ‘being a teen’. However, teenagers often go through emotional highs and lows due to stress. Stress management techniques for teens is a good way to teach teenagers how to manage the symptoms of stress, anxiety, or depression.
Many of the stress management techniques for teens are easy to learn and can be applied in real-world situations. If your teenager gets stressed out, they can restore balance or peace by learning these simple stress-reducing strategies.
Learn more about teen mental health treatment. Call us today at 866.300.5275.
Exercise and Eat Regularly
Teenagers spend more time indoors than ever before. As such, they do not receive enough exercise. When it comes to physical activity there are endless possibilities for teenagers. Find a physical activity that your teen likes and encourage them to participate daily.
Teenagers also need a steady routine diet that provides plenty of nutrients and energy each day. While three square meals a day is recommended, the most important thing is that teenagers eat meals that are healthy and well-balanced. Healthy meals promote strong function which can reduce anxiety and depression from stress.
Relaxation and Stress Management Techniques For Teens
Your child can learn some easy relaxation techniques that help them navigate almost any stressful situation. Some techniques include:
- Deep, slow breathing in the nose and out the mouth
- Calisthenics or stretching exercises
- Repeating a mantra, such as, “This too shall pass”
- Finding an object in the room and focusing on it
- Withdrawing from the situation, ‘resetting’, and returning to it
Sleep and Stress Management Techniques For Teens
On average teenagers get six to seven hours of sleep. However, their bodies require nine to ten hours of sleep each night. The demands of jobs, homework, technology, and social life can drastically reduce how much sleep a teenager gets each week. Furthermore, teens may go several consecutive days without getting a good night’s rest.
Lack of sleep can reduce a teenager’s mental and emotional stability. They cannot handle daily stress simply because they are too tired to ‘deal with it’. Teens require regular rest so that they can develop mentally and emotionally into adulthood.
Avoid Mind-Altering Substances
Caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, prescription medications, and illicit drugs can all take their toll on a teenager’s mental health. Even if a teenager isn’t on hard drugs or drinking heavy amounts of alcohol, nicotine and caffeine can create stress and anxiety, causing teenagers to cave in under stress. The teen are already challenging enough without substance use. Factor in drugs or alcohol (or both) and any existing problems with stress will only get worse.
For this reason, you should monitor how much caffeine your teenager drinks. In addition, talk to them about substance abuse and smoking cigarettes. The less your child absorbs substances into their bodies, the more equipped they will be to handle daily stress. Make sure your teenager knows that substance abuse is not a viable form of stress relief and that there are healthier alternatives. Teaching them how to recognize when they’re feeling stressed and anxious, and find healthy coping mechanisms such as exercise or talking to a friend will help them in the long run.
Talk About It
Discussing the dangers of substance use and abuse can also help instill a sense of responsibility in your teen. Provide them with the necessary resources to make informed decisions about their health, safety, and well-being.
Encourage a healthy lifestyle for your teenager by teaching them ways to cope with stress without relying on substances. This will not only keep their mental health in check but also equip them with the skills to handle stress in the future. Help them make informed decisions and inspire a healthy lifestyle that is free of mind-altering substances. Taking active steps to ensure your teenager’s mental health will help them develop into an emotionally intelligent adult.
Learn More About Stress Management Techniques for Teens
If you would like to learn more about stress management techniques for teens, then contact Foothills at Red Oak. We offer comprehensive treatment for both addiction and mental disorders. We can help your teenager end their addiction to drugs or alcohol. Call 866.300.5275 to find out more about your treatment options.
