Being a teen is tough. From academic pressure and social expectations to changes in personal identity and relationships, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Teens today face an increasing amount of stress, whether it’s due to school demands, family expectations, or the pressures of social media. The constant need to perform and fit in can take a toll on their mental well-being, leading to feelings of anxiety, low self-esteem, and even depression.
Going through this challenging phase can be tough for many and overwhelm them quickly and lead to poor mental health and behavioural changes. This is where therapy can make a significant difference.
Teen therapy provides a safe and supportive space to express thoughts and emotions without fear. A professional therapist can help teens develop healthy coping strategies, improve their self-confidence, and learn how to manage stress effectively. It’s very easy to find qualified therapists online, whether you’re looking for teen therapy in Hastings, Chichester, Guildford or wherever you’re located. If your teen needs help, don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional.
In this article, we’ll explore how therapy can help teens deal with stress.
Do Teens Need Therapy?
Stress in young children and teens is a growing concern. In smaller doses, stress can help motivate young adults to do better, like studying for their tests instead of scrolling through their smartphones. However, mounting stress as a result of academic pressure, bullying or family issues needs to be addressed.
Here are some potential signs that signal teenage stress:
Behavioural Changes
If your teen suddenly stops participating in activities they enjoy and becomes hesitant to attend social events, school, or work, this is a behavioural red flag. It’s also a concern when an outspoken teen stops speaking up, and a once attentive and sincere student starts behaving in an undisciplined manner. These sudden behavioural changes may point to there being a problem.
Sleep Issues
Like all other adults, teenagers also need restful sleep, close to 8 hours a day. However, if your teen sleeps too much or too little, this can be a concern. It’s time to probe if your teen constantly complains of feeling lethargic all the time, sleeps more than usual, or can’t sleep a wink all night.
Changes in Eating Habits
For many, stress can have a significant effect on eating habits. Stress can change your teen’s eating patterns. They may overeat or undereat, leading to sudden weight gain or loss, which can be due to chronic stress.
Anger and Irritability
It’s normal for teenagers to be opinionated and rebellious at times. However, stress may cause them to become easily irritable, upset or have difficulty managing their emotions.
Perfectionism
It can also be a sign of stress if your adolescent starts becoming overly focused on being perfect and sets unrealistic targets for themselves. While perfectionism isn’t always an indicator of high stress, it is still best to address this problem.
Neglecting Responsibilities
While some behavioural changes are a natural part of growing up, if your teen begins to neglect schoolwork, forget responsibilities, or start delaying tasks more than usual, it is a clear sign that they may be experiencing stress.
Falling Sick More Often
Stress can also manifest itself in our body through physical symptoms. Adolescents who are constantly stressed out often complain of headaches and stomachaches.
It may not be ideal to brush off these signs as just “teen hormones in action”. The best course of action is to actively identify these symptoms and determine the precise cause.
How Teen Therapy Helps in Mitigating Stress
Parents and guardians can offer invaluable support to their teens to help them deal with challenges. But the best way to support your teen is by helping them get the right help at the right time.
A teenager may find it intimidating to seek therapy, but a trusted therapist can bring out the multiple therapeutic benefits and model change for the better.
Here are 7 ways teen therapy sessions help teenagers deal with stress:
- Help Recognise Triggers: Working with a teen therapist can pinpoint the exact triggers causing stress in your teen’s life.
- Offer a Safe Space: During sessions, a therapist can help teens feel safe and comfortable to be able to express their feelings. Teen therapy can provide a private and non-judgemental space for teens to discuss any issue they’re going through.
- Develop Coping Mechanisms: A teenage therapist actively works with teenagers and teaches them practical coping mechanisms to deal with stressful situations. It can include practicing meditation, positive affirmations, and mindfulness.
- Cognitive Restructuring: Stress can result from negative thought patterns your teen may be experiencing. Cognitive restructuring techniques are used in therapy for teens to recognise and remodel the thoughts and emotions that contribute to stress.
- Offer Support: Working with a teen therapist is a way to offer emotional support and validation to your teen and remind them they are not alone in their struggles.
- Collaborate with Parents: Parents can team up with a therapist to chalk out a plan to offer constant support and ensure they’re receiving the care they need.
- Track Progress: Sessions with a teen therapist can help monitor and track your teen’s progress, tweak treatment options and work towards the best outcomes.
Summing Up
Therapy is not just for adults experiencing severe mental health conditions. Counselling and therapy can help teens with the stress they’re facing and teach them how to manage stressful situations in life.
Teen therapy with an experienced therapist can lay the foundation for developing stress management skills and successfully overcoming the infinite challenges that they may encounter as full-grown adults.
