Stress and Coping |
Hi KISH Parents, I am a fourth year nursing student who has been at KISH for the 2011 fall semester as part of my community clinical placement. During my time at KISH, I have worked with the students on a variety of projects and have completed some research on what is affecting the health of Canadian teens. One thing I have noticed is that students are STRESSED! 59% of 15-17 year olds report feeling stressed every day (Council on Drug Abuse, 2011)! Stress might not seem like a serious health risk. However, if left over a long period of time, negative coping skills develop. Teens might turn to drugs and alcohol to help them relax or stimulants to help them stay up late in order to get everything done (Council on Drug Abuse, 2011). Stress also contributes to obesity and eating disorders. A stressed adolescent is likely to snack more, choose fatty foods, and eat less fruits and vegetables (Cartwright et al., 2003). Chronic stress can take a large toll on the body, both physically and mentally by causing sleep problems and contributing to health conditions like depression, anxiety disorders, and eventually heart disease ( Carnegie Mellon University, 2007). Stress can also cause academic decline by making it difficult to concentrate (Council on Drug Abuse, 2011). I want to raise awareness on the issue of stress as a health risk. Below you will find “How to recognize the signs your teenager is stressed” and “What parents can do to help”. I have also compiled some resources that may be useful, including a list of local resources available and websites for further information. If you think your teen may be already suffering from depression or an anxiety disorder, you should contact your family doctor. If your teenager is having thoughts of hurting themselves or others contact your local emergency department immediately. Recognize the Signs Your Teenager is Stressed Stress can have both physical and emotional symptoms. Your teen may be complaining of constantly being tired, not sleeping well, or having nightmares. Stomachaches or headaches are also warning signs of stress and can occur even with just thinking about the underlying stressor (like a big test coming up or a fight with a friend). Watch their behavior as well; stress can cause anger or aggressiveness that is unusual for the adolescent, loneliness, constant worry, and difficulty making decisions. When under stress, a teen will become upset more easily over things that normally may not bother them (Council on Drug Abuse, 2011). Remember that everyone is different and one teen may react differently to stress than another. What You Can Do to Help Your Stressed Teenager -Stay involved Ask your teenager how their day was. Pay attention to how much sleep they are getting, what they are eating, who their friends are, and what their mood is like. This way, you will know if there has been a change. -Help guide them through challenges Try to provide a warm, supportive environment at home and let them know they can talk to you about what they are going through. Discuss some stress reduction strategies, help your teenager figure out what might work well for them and provide encouragement (exercising, writing in a journal, and listening to music are just a few examples). -Be a role model If your teenager sees you coming home and having a beer, cigarette, or some junk food after a stressful day at work they are likely to copy the behavior. Try to find a way to relax that shows your teenager you can manage stress in a positive way (Council on Drug Abuse, 2011). Helpful Resources Groups and services offered on PEI
Websites for more information Teen Health : http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/emotions/stress.html# Learn: What is stress, Good and Bad Stress, What causes stress overload, Signs of stress overload, How to keep stress under control, and How to build your resilience) Kids Help Phone : http://kidshelpphone.ca Under “Info Booth” many topics are addressed that are often the underlying problem of a teen’s stress. Also see the “test stress” section for information on how to deal with anxiety before a test.
References Carnegie Mellon University (2007). Stress Contributes To Range Of Chronic Diseases, Review Shows . ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 13, 2011, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2007/10/071009164122.htm. Cartwright, M., Wardle, J., Steggles, N., Simon, A., Croker, H., & Jarvis, M. (2003). Stress and dietary practices in adolescents. Health Psychology, 22(4), 362-369. Council on Drug Abuse. (2011). Helping your youth deal with stress. Retrieved
November 10, 2011, from http://drugabuse.ca/helping-your-youth-deal-
stress.
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