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If you talk to just about any middle school or high school teacher, they'll tell you-kids are struggling right now. Schools are sounding the alarm on the growing mental health crisis for America's kids, and according to a national poll conducted by Effective School Solutions, the country's school administrators, parents, and students continue to battle a significant youth mental health crisis. Results show "Nearly 90% of administrators and almost 60% of parents reported that the crisis is growing. Roughly 60% of administrators say young people's mental health remains the same or has worsened compared to a year ago." Obviously, it's never been more important to focus on supporting students' mental health. That's why we collected 22 mental health activities for teens to help you support their well-being in the classroom.

1. Create a positive vibe

Set your classroom up for student success by creating a supportive, safe environment in your classroom. Place a high value on relationships. Offer choices. Celebrate mistakes. Model compassion. Let your students know that their mental health is at the top of your priority list and include mental health activities in your curriculum.

Learn more: Easy Ways To Build a Mentally Healthy Classroom

2. Give students time to talk

From helping students process what they're learning and encouraging them to successfully work with one another to build connections, making space for talk time in your classroom is critical.

Learn more: Why Kids Need More Talk Time in the Classroom

3. Leave space for quiet

Much of the typical school day involves busy, noisy interaction. Preserve time in your schedule for snippets of peace and quiet to give students time to settle down and focus. Run relaxing videos in the background or put on soft, soothing music during quiet work time. Or dim the lights and light a few (battery-powered) candles for a few minutes of silence.

Learn more: How To Use Transition Times for Mental and Emotional Health Check-Ins

4. Go outside

The benefits (for both physical and mental health) of spending time outdoors have been well documented. Allowing students to step outside for just a few minutes helps counteract the overstimulation of the classroom. A breath of fresh air and a moment to look up at trees or stare up at the sky does wonders for recharging their batteries. If you don't have direct access to the outdoors, even five minutes at an open window can do the trick. Hold class outside as often as you can.

Learn more: Healthline/Health Benefits of Spending Time Outdoors

5. Incorporate calming mind-body exercise

The benefits of mind-body exercises for students include increased self-control, anxiety management, concentration, and mental focus. Teach focused breathing techniques. Experiment with relaxation exercises and guided visualizations.

Learn more: Calming Mind-Body Exercises To Try With Your Students

6. Get up and move

Movement breaks are great mental health activities for teens because they help help students reenergize and refresh. Incorporate short bursts of exercise like the one above into your agenda. Practice a few simple yoga poses or shake out pent-up energy. Or put on some tunes and have a five-minute dance party.

Learn more: Responsive Classroom/Movement Breaks to the Rescue

7. Introduce specific mental health tools

There are many resources available to help your students stay on top of their mental health. Tools like thought record worksheets, feeling wheels, daily mood trackers, and self-care assessments take very little time, but they can have a big impact.

Learn more: Positive Psychology

8. Allow fidgets

Fidget toys are a great tool for students to calm their nerves, relieve stress, and serve as a distraction in an overstimulating environment.

Learn more: Classroom-Friendly Fidget Toys and Devices To Help Students Focus

9. Tap into art therapy exercises

The healing power of art is especially beneficial for the mental health of teens. After all, art serves as a safe and effective way of expressing thoughts and feelings. Incorporate short art sessions into your week. Try one of these Spontaneous Art Therapy Activities.

Learn more: The Studio Director/Healing Art Therapy Activities

10. Create a quiet space

A calm-down corner, also known as a peace corner, gives students a place to take a breath and re-center so they can join the learning again. Fill the space with various mental health activities for teens, such as fidgets and poetry books.

Learn more: How To Create and Use a Calm-Down Corner in Any Learning Environment

11. Facilitate community with team-building activities

All work and no play doesn't work for anyone's mental health, regardless of their age. Build team-building activities into your curriculum throughout the year to encourage community and help strengthen relationships among your students.

Learn more: Icebreaker Activities for Middle and High School Students

12. Cultivate a class garden

Nothing is more grounding than digging in the dirt and watching something grow. And though tending to a garden-from seed to harvest-is a slow process, the rewards are immeasurable.

Learn more: Growing Minds: Farm to School

13. Set up a tea station

Another great way to calm your nerves-a good cup of tea. Set up a tea station in your classroom, complete with electric tea kettle and mugs. Ask families to donate boxes of tea, sugar packets, bottles of honey, etc., then invite students to visit your tea station when they need to take a break.

14. Adopt a classroom pet

Studies show interaction with animals can help decrease stress, improve physical and mental health, and even help kids with their emotional and social skills. Consider adopting a classroom pet. Or if classroom pets are not allowed at your school, look into finding registered Pet Partners volunteers who can bring a therapy animal into your classroom.

Learn more: Dogs in the Classroom Improve SEL, Cognitive, and Even Reading Skills

15. Have a supply of adult coloring books on hand

From reducing stress and sparking creativity to utilizing their brains, taking a few minutes to zone out and just color helps students hit the reset button and get back to learning.

Learn more: Project Helping/Benefits of Adult Coloring

16. Let the music flow

From stress relief and self-soothing to emotion regulation and physiological benefits, music plays a powerful role in mental health and well-being for many people. For teens, music often takes on an even greater significance-it can contribute to the process of identity formation. Whenever possible, allow your students to tune in to music.

Learn more: Princeton Health/Music Fosters Healing for Teens

17. Practice mindfulness

It's hard for students to focus when they're experiencing stress and anxiety. Mindfulness is an excellent tool to help reduce tension and recharge students' attention spans. Try these Mindfulness Practices for High Schoolers.

Learn more: Ways To Bring More Mindfulness and Self-Care Into Your Classroom

18. Write it out

Writing activities are a powerful tool to help teenagers convey their feelings. Writing allows the expression of sensitive emotions that might be difficult to state verbally. These mental health activities can help teens gain a better perspective on their emotions while also building confidence and self-esteem.

Learn more: Mom Junction/Therapeutic Activities for Teens

19. Reinforce the importance of diet and sleep at home

For the most part, teachers don't really have a lot of control over what students eat and how much they sleep, but these things do matter when it comes to managing anxiety. Not surprisingly, a healthy diet and plenty of sleep make a difference in how well a student is able to handle situations that could be overwhelming.

Learn more: Ways To Help Students Who Struggle With Anxiety

20. Allow snacks in your classroom

Along those lines, trust students to know when they need to feed their bodies. Yes, snacks can create messes in the classroom, but the benefits of preventing low blood sugar, hunger headaches, etc., are worth a little mess. Simply have a chat with your students and lay out your expectations for responsible snacking in your classroom.

Learn more: Real Mom Nutrition/Healthy Snacks for Teens

21. Try aromatherapy

Aromatherapy is thought to help activate certain receptors in the brain, potentially easing anxiety. Whether in the form of essential oil, incense, or a candle, natural scents like lavender, chamomile, and sandalwood can be very soothing. Check for sensitivities among your students before introducing a scent to the whole class. An alternative could be an unlit candle, dried herbs, or a sachet treated with essential oil kept in the classroom safe space for students to use individually.

Learn more: Ways To Help Students With Anxiety

22. Brain breaks are for big kids too

Sometimes we forget that our seemingly grown-up kids still like to have a little fun in the classroom. Brain breaks are a great way to take five, move around, and even giggle together. You can adapt these ideas to fit your particular crew.

Learn more: Educational Brain Breaks Your Students Will Love

If you liked these mental health activities for teens and want more articles like this, be sure to subscribe to our newsletters!

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22 Empowering Mental Health Activities for Teens

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Looking for ways to support your teenage students' social-emotional well-being? Try these mental health activities for teens .

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Breathing Techniques for Stress and Anxiety

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Breathing Techniques for Stress and Anxiety

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Breathing exercises help reduce stress and anxiety, promote mindfulness and balance yourself. What makes breathing meditation accessible is the simplicity and that it can be done anywhere. We will delve into 2 such breathing techniques that can help you reduce your stress and anxiety anytime, anywhere.
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The 4-7-8 is one of the breathing techniques that is a powerful way to restore balance and harmony in your mind and body, particularly during times of stress and anxiety or when you're struggling to sleep. Get into a comfortable position and then follow these steps:
Inhale for 4 seconds
Hold your breath for 7 seconds and
Exhale for 8 seconds
Repeat this for at least a minute to experience the effect
The technique is simple and involves exhaling more air than you inhale. This temporarily slows down the amount of oxygen going to your brain and other parts of your body and au-tomatically slows down your heart rate and thinking. Since 4-7-8 breathing is also different from your natural breathing rhythm, it helps you to focus completely on your breath. As a result, this helps you be mindful and stay fully focused on the present. So, if you are hav-ing trouble sleeping, feel stressed or anxious, , or just want some peace of mind, give this breathing meditation a try.
A note - It is recommended that you do only 4 cycles of the breathing technique when starting out and slowly increase it to 8 times. Since this exercise provides quick relief and is not similar to normal breathing, you shouldn't do it for too long.

Box breathing is a simple breathing technique involving slow and regulated breaths.
It is also known as four-square breathing.
All you have to do is get into a quiet and comfortable place and follow these steps:
Inhale for 4 counts
Hold your breath for 4 counts
Exhale for 4 counts
Before you inhale again, count to 4 and repeat the cycle
You can repeat this exercise for 2-3 minutes or until you feel better. You could even re-duce or increase the count from 4 depending on your comfort level. The count doesn't matter as much as having a balanced breath cycle.
Very often, when we're faced with stressful situations, we lose our natural rhythm and balance in our bodies and our thoughts. We stop thinking clearly, our heart rate be-comes irregular, etc. Box breathing allows you to balance your breath, which brings bal-ance to your mind and body.
Note for beginners:
When you start these breathing techniques for the first time, it is normal to not be able to focus or follow it properly, or losing your flow. You may even feel a bit light headed or dizzy while trying them out.
Remember, it's perfectly normal to and all you need to do is take a sip of water, stay seated for a minute and resume when ready. The more you practice, the easier the breathing meditation will get.

The EQ Wellbeing Centre is a boutique Health and De-Stress facility offering various health and wellness therapies. Ideally located in the leafy tranquil suburb of Saxonwold, Johannesburg South Africa.

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Breathing Techniques for Stress and Anxiety

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Breathing exercises help reduce stress and anxiety, promote mindfulness and balance yourself. What makes breathing meditation accessible is the simplicity and that it can be done anywhere. We will delve into 2 such breathing techniques that can help you reduce your stress and anxiety anytime, anywhere...

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It is normal to have strong emotional or physical reactions following a distressing event. However, teenagers who experience a distressing or frightening event are often concerned by these strong emotions.

Despite the fact that on most occasions these reactions subside as a part of the body's natural healing and recovery process, it is important for parents or carers to understand the ways in which a teenager manages distress and trauma. The ways you help them to handle a distressing event will influence their behaviour in future crises.

Experiencing a traumatic event

A traumatic experience is any event in life that causes a threat to our safety and potentially places our own life or the lives of others at risk. As a result, a person experiences high levels of emotional, psychological and physical distress that temporarily disrupts their ability to function normally in day-to-day life.

Examples of potentially traumatic experiences include natural disasters such as a bushfire or flood, experiencing violence in the community, having a serious car accident, sudden illness or death in the family, or being assaulted.

Teenagers can also be deeply upset by local, national or international tragedies, or trauma that affects their friends. Your teenager will handle trauma differently to younger children or adults. A younger child depends directly on their family, whereas many teenagers look to their peer group for support. In order to help them, parents need to understand the ways in which teenagers manage distress.

Maintain open communication with your teenager

You can be sure that the event, particularly if it has been in the media, is a hot topic at school and on social networking sites. It is important to create an atmosphere that lets your teenager know it is okay to talk about the experience they have had.

Leading by example is one way to do this, but other suggestions include:

It's natural to want to protect your child from harsh realities, but avoiding talking about the event will only increase your teenager's anxiety. When it seems appropriate, 'check in' with your teenager and ask them how they are going. Parents can set a good example by talking about aspects of their own experience with one another in front of children. That is, talk about the event as a family. Share thoughts and feelings.

Remember feelings of distress, anger or grief are a natural part of healing and expressing them usually leads to feeling better.

Tell them about distress and grief reactions. They need reassurance that what they're feeling is normal.

Don't expect or demand that your teenager will feel a certain way about the event. Respect their emotions and beliefs, even if you don't necessarily agree or understand them.

If the event directly affected your family, your teenager may not talk to you for fear of upsetting you. Let them know that sharing thoughts and feelings together as a family is helpful to every family member, even if the conversations are painful.

Help your teenager to gain perspective

A distressing or frightening event shakes a person's belief in the security and predictability of their world. Teenagers can feel particularly overwhelmed and anxious.

Some of the ways in which you can help them gain perspective in order to regain a sense of control include:

Help your teenager to find out as much as they can about what happened and why. Cause and effect is very important. However, make sure that you obtain information from reputable and reliable sources such as government internet sites.

While honest facts are essential, don't dwell on gruesome details or give additional unnecessary information that may simply add to their distress. It is about finding the balance between too little and too much information. A teenager may feel the world is threatening and dangerous, particularly in the case of well-publicised human tragedies such as natural disasters or acts of terrorism. Help them to appreciate that for every terrible act, there are many more people in the world trying to make things right. Sometimes, it is a good idea to identify concrete examples before having this conversation with your teenager.

Consideration should also be given to the potential benefit of limiting their exposure to mainstream media.

Understand and be patient with your teenager

Your teenager will experience strong and sometimes difficult emotions such as moodiness and sensitivity, while they recover.

Suggestions to help them during this period of time include:

Expect that your teenager will be emotional for a time and cut them some slack.

Your teenager may become rebellious. This reflects their need to assert control over their lives. It may help if you sit down together and negotiate ways in which your child can safely 'lead their own life' while still obeying house rules.

Your teenager may be angry with the family or with the people they blame for the event or even with the world in general. Try not to get into arguments about their point of view. Their feelings are part of their distress reaction and they have the right to express themselves.

Your teenager may seem to not want your support. They may turn to friends instead, at least in the short term. Keep the lines of communication open. Let your teenager know you are always ready and available to talk.

Your teenager may become clingy. Give them plenty of love and reassurance.

Remember, your teenager is the same person they were before the event, even if they seem different.

If asked, gently let the young person know that they are having a 'normal' reaction to a frightening experience and that in time these very strong reactions will subside.

Trauma can change your teenager's friendships

Trauma can change a teenager's relationships with their friends.

Some tips if you notice this happening with your teenager include:

Explain to them that friends, teachers and other people in their lives who were not directly affected by the traumatic event will forget about it quickly. This means that it will be very difficult for these people to actually understand the experience they are having.

Tell them that their friends may not have the experience or emotional maturity to support them in the ways they might expect. This sometimes comes as a surprise.

Explain that friends may drop contact because they don't know what to say, not because they don't care.

Your teenager may withdraw from their friends if they feel misunderstood. Don't push this. Suggest to them that their experience has matured them and that it is normal to find activities with friends a little empty or meaningless for a time.

Try to encourage your teenager to make time for fun and to continue to 'hang out' with friends just for the pleasure of it.

If your teenager is a little resistant to spending time with their friends, you can always suggest that the friend(s) comes to visit or alternatively a joint family outing could be arranged.

School performance following trauma

It is not unusual for a teenager's school performance to suffer in the short term following a distressing event.

To help them, you can:

Make sure that school staff, including teachers and the principal, are aware of what has happened.

Ask teachers to let you know how your teenager is going and how they are managing schoolwork and other responsibilities. For example, arranging regular times to obtain feedback from the school can be beneficial. (Keeping an eye on their progress outside the home will give you warning of problems that need attention.)

Make sure you tell your teenager about your conversations with teachers and your reasons. To go behind their back is to invade their privacy. Remember, the most important thing here is to keep the lines of communication open as this will create an atmosphere of positive support.

Encourage your teenager to take action

Teenagers can be deeply disturbed by local, national and international tragedies. Taking action is a powerful remedy for the helplessness they feel. Encourage your teenager to make a difference.

Depending on the circumstance, the ways in which your teenager could help include:

helping to raise funds for relief agencies

sending sympathy messages to affected people

donating blood

getting involved in certain recovery-related activities

volunteering at school or university to participate in certain projects.

Practical suggestions to support your teenager

There are a number of strategies that can be put in place to help a teenager resolve traumatic reactions. Some common examples include:

Maintain your regular household routine, whenever possible.

Try to make sure your teenager eats well, gets enough sleep and keeps up regular exercise.

Help them to deal with distress in healthy, positive ways. For example, exercise, relaxation exercises and meditation are helpful.

Make time for fun family activities.

Show them that you really care for them and are genuinely interested and enjoy being with them.

Negotiate changes in roles and responsibility during their recovery. Be flexible. Don't try to stick rigidly to the way things were before the event.

When to seek professional help for a teenager after trauma

Traumatic stress can cause very strong reactions in some teenagers and may become chronic (ongoing).

Signs that you should seek professional help include if:

Their behaviour is dangerous, reckless or harmful.

They seem persistently depressed or anxious.

They start abusing substances, such as cigarettes or alcohol, or their use increases dramatically.

They won't communicate about where they're going, what they're doing or how they're feeling.

They don't seem to be showing any signs of recovery.

Your teenager's behaviour does not make sense to you and seem completely out of character.

You are worried about them for any reason at all.

If at any time you are worried about your mental health or the mental health of a loved one, call Lifeline 13 11 14.
Where to get help

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Teenagers may turn to friends rather than parents for support in times of trauma and distress.

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A trauma is any event that’s deeply upsetting, scary, or harmful. It can cause you to fear for your life or safety. Here’s how to help handle the stress, get support, and find ways to cope.

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Building Resilience

Our parental instincts drive us to protect our children. Given a choice we'd bubble wrap them. But we can't. We can, however, prepare them to navigate the world. We can support them to develop the character strengths and human connections that allow them to thrive in good times and rebound (maybe even grow) in challenging times. In other words, we can build their resilience.

No Bubble Wrap Needed

Resilience is better than bubble wrap because it is about developing internal strength rather than relying on an external shield. Think of resilience as a process of bouncing back - of rising above adversity. And to do so ideally, with lessons that enable you to better handle the next bump in the road.

It is a mistake, however, to only think of resilience as something that enables us to respond to adversity. The very same characteristics that allow someone to rebound from difficult times will position them to get the most out of life. We want our children to become their best selves, to experience healthy relationships, to make their unique contributions to our communities - to succeed.

Think of resilience as a process of bouncing back -- of rising above adversity. And to do so ideally, with lessons that enable you to better handle the next bump in the road.

Ordinary Magic

Some people are more likely to be resilient in the face of adversity. But resilience is not something you are born with. Instead, it is something that can be built and nurtured as a part of development. Dr. Ann Masten, one of the nation's leading thinkers on resilience, describes it as " ordinary magic." She underscores resilience is not about extraordinary events or heroic measures. Rather, resilience is built when we're offered meaningful support and love from others.

Why Love Matters

Love is seeing someone as they deserve to be seen, as they really are, not based on a behavior they might be displaying or what they might be producing. When you express love, you are helping your children understand that they are worthy of being loved and that has lifelong implications.

Decades of research point to factors that build resilient children and adolescents, and the results are empowering to parents! Young people grow to be resilient when there's at least one adult (more is better!) loving them unconditionally and supporting them to be their best selves by holding them to high expectations.

What does it mean to love without condition? It means that your presence has to be unwavering and reliable. It does not mean approving of every decision or saying, "Good job for trying those drugs!" Instead, when you communicate with your consistent presence, "I'm not going anywhere," that assurance allows your children to take needed (safe!) leaps of development. They leap because they know they have somebody who will have their back.

The fact that our loving presence itself is so vitally important should help parents draw a deep breath. We worry so much about finding the perfect words (and words can matter). But what we say is less important than how we listen, or that our kids know we stand by their sides no matter what. We communicate with our presence a solid commitment to making sure they'll get through challenges.

Have High Expectations

What does it mean to support our children to be their best selves by holding them to high expectations? It does not mean demanding high grades, scores, or trophies, though we certainly can expect effort. The roots of our high expectations stem from knowing our children's character. You know best those strengths they have shown from a young age. Honesty, commitment to fairness, sense of humor. Strength and stick-to-it-ive-ness.

These traits you have noticed from the time your child was small develop further during adolescence. When you celebrate their strengths and see them for who they are, they will have a highly protective grounding. If they stray, hold them accountable and they will return to their better selves.

We're not saying, "Expect an A, they'll get an A," or "Demand a goal, they'll score one." Those kinds of expectations backfire by making young people feel like they're never good enough even though these measures are often out of our their control. Your support, however, can help your children reach their unique potential.

Resilience Doesn't Mean Invulnerability

As we build resilient children, we mustn't believe resilience means invulnerability. Everyone has limits. And we actually don't want to build invulnerable beings. Why? Because we want our youth to be passionate and compassionate. We want them to experience joy. To be committed to lifting others up and building a better world. To do so, they must have emotions - even though feelings set them up to experience pain.

Our goal is not to suppress or deny emotions. Rather it's to help them learn to benefit from emotions, while knowing which ones may undermine their well-being. With that said, we must fully protect our children from " toxic" stressors, those challenges that can be threatening to developing brains and bodies, such as drugs, abuse, neglect, and violence.

Resilience is Uneven

We want our children to be able to bounce back in every setting, but realistically, they'll be able to handle different settings with varied levels of resilience. That's because resilience is uneven. In fact, it might be that precisely because they are showing extraordinary resilience in one setting, that they will "let go" in another. For example, school may present so many challenges that it takes all your children's energy to keep it together there. That may make things more fragile or explosive at home. In this case, take it as a sign of security and trust in the reliability of your love and support that home is where they can display vulnerabilities.

Teach and Nurture Resilience

We can nurture and teach resilience in a variety of ways, including when we demonstrate positive coping strategies to manage stress. Or when we teach skills that help our children navigate their world. We model resilience when we choose healthy coping strategies. Or when we keep things in perspective, and grow from life's challenges.

But some elements of resilience can best be learned through experience. Resilience is solidified when people learn for themselves how to rebound from a bump in the road and how to grow stronger and wiser by drawing lessons from overcoming challenges. We support resilience when we allow for mistakes and recovery within safe boundaries. And when we act as a non-judgmental sounding board as our children learn through experiences.

The Seven C's Model of Resilience

The seven C's model of resilience was first published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2006. It draws from a framework originally presented by some of the great leaders of the positive youth development movement. It adds to their model by emphasizing "coping" which prepares one to recover, and "control" which gives one the sense that choices make a real difference.

Each "C" is a critical element that parents, schools, communities, youth programs, and professionals can support in youth. The C's are all interrelated - forming almost a net of resilience-building strategies. To learn more about each "C", follow the links provided.

Confidence

Young people with confidence will have the belief in themselves that they will ultimately succeed. They'll be more likely to take the chances needed to learn about themselves. They may be willing to try harder and have less fear of failure. More importantly, they'll rebound from failure, seeing it as an opportunity for growth rather than a catastrophe. Confidence is not gained from an abundance of unearned praise. Rather, it comes from adults authentically noticing effort and nurturing and supporting skills (or competence).

Competence

Youth need to possess real skill sets to be able to navigate the world. Those include communication skills, self-advocacy skills, peer negotiation skills, and academic skills to name a few. Young people also need to be able to make wise decisions if they are going to make the kind of choices that will contribute to, versus undermine, their health and well-being.

Adults can teach and model effective competencies. We can listen to them as they work through solutions to problems. Support their ability to manage school and peers. Talk with them instead of at them. On the other hand, we undermine competence by telling our children what to do, or by talking to them in a way that shuts down their ability to come up with their own solutions. In other words, lectures backfire! Similarly, saying "Let me do that for you," says, "I don't think you are capable of doing it yourself."

Connection

Human connection allows us to more fully celebrate during joyous times and to recover during challenging times. It is the connection with your children - based on knowing who they really are - that is the most protective force in their lives. Hopefully, your adolescent will develop amongst many other protective connections as well. The more, the better.

Character

Young people with strong core values make the strongest contributions, have the best sense of self, and have the most secure and healthy relationships. Think of character strengths as those things that ensure we do the right thing - even if nobody is watching. We need people who know how to do the right thing!

Adults must notice and nurture children's inherent character strengths and teach and reinforce others. We also must never forget that our actions speak so loudly that sometimes our kids can't hear a word that we are saying. In other words, they are watching what we do. We must uphold those character traits that we hope to see in them.

Contribution

Young people want to matter. Ultimately, they want to have a sense of meaning and purpose in their lives. When children and adolescents are given an opportunity to make a difference they also gain strong protections for themselves. They learn firsthand of the joy of giving. This means that ultimately when they need to receive from others they can do so without shame. Why? Because they'll understand that the person supporting them does so out of pleasure not pity. When they contribute to other lives they gain appreciation. Youth surrounded by gratitude rather than condemnation thrive. Plus, they earn an extra set of protective eyes to watch over them.

Coping

Life is about making choices. Stress is a part of life - an uncomfortable reality. We do what we can to minimize discomfort. The choices we make to cope with our discomfort can be negative or positive. Negative ones can work in the short run, but bring great harm to us and our communities in the long run. So many of the quick-fix behaviors we hope our children never choose are negative coping strategies. Telling our children what not to do barely makes an impact and sometimes backfires. Instead, when we raise them with a range of healthy coping strategies (and model them as well), they make wiser, healthier choices during challenging times.

Control

Core to resilience is knowing that your actions matter. Without a sense of control we cannot possess hope. And without hope, we crumble in challenging times. How we parent makes a large difference in our children's sense of control. Young people who know that their parents are pro-development - supporting all stages of their growth - understand privileges are earned with demonstrated responsibility. Young people raised being told, "You'll do what I say, because I said so!" do not learn how to make their own choices. We must let tweens and teens understand that they have control over their lives.

The protective forces that allow us to recover after difficult times are the same ones that prepare us to flourish in the best of times. They challenge us and enable us, to get the most out of every opportunity.

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Our parental instincts drive us to protect our children. Given a choice we'd bubble wrap them. But we can't. We can, however, prepare them to navigate the world. We can support them to develop the character strengths and human connections that allow them to thrive in good times and rebound (maybe even grow) in challenging times.

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The ability to adapt well in the face of hard times is a valuable skill for young adults. The good news is that resilience is something that can be learned.

Cite this

American Psychological Association. (2020, June 1). Resilience for teens: 10 tips to build skills on bouncing back from rough times. https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience/bounce-teens

The ads make it look so easy to be a teen-everyone seems to be laughing, hanging out with friends, wearing exactly the right clothes. But if you're a young adult, you know that life can be pretty tough sometimes. You may face problems ranging from being bullied to the death of a friend or parent. Why is it that sometimes people can go through really rough times and still bounce back? The difference is that those who bounce back are using the skills of resilience.

The good news is that resilience isn't something you're born with or not-the skills of resilience can be learned. Resilience-the ability to adapt well in the face of hard times; disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes, or fires; tragedy; threats; or even high stress-is what makes some people seem like they've "got bounce" while others don't.

10 tips to build resilience

What are some tips that can help you learn to be resilient? As you use these tips, keep in mind that each person's journey along the road to resilience will be different-what works for you may not work for your friends.

1. Get together. Talk with your friends and, yes, even with your parents. Understand that your parents may have more life experience than you do, even if it seems they never were your age. They may be afraid for you if you're going through really tough times and it may be harder for them to talk about it than it is for you! Don't be afraid to express your opinion, even if your parent or friend takes the opposite view. Ask questions and listen to the answers. Get connected to your community, whether it's as part of a religious group, sports, club, or high school group.

2. Cut yourself some slack. When something bad happens in your life, the stresses of whatever you're going through may heighten daily stresses. Your emotions might already be all over the map because of hormones and physical changes; the uncertainty during a tragedy or trauma can make these shifts seem more extreme. Be prepared for this and go a little easy on yourself, and on your friends.

3. Create a hassle-free zone. Make your room or apartment a "hassle-free zone"-not that you keep everyone out, but home should be a haven free from stress and anxieties. But understand that your parents and siblings may have their own stresses if something serious has just happened in your life and may want to spend a little more time than usual with you.

4. Stick to the program. Spending time in high school or on a college campus means more choices, so let home be your constant. During a time of major stress, map out a routine and stick to it. You may be doing all kinds of new things, but don't forget the routines that give you comfort, whether it's the things you do before class, going out to lunch, or have a nightly phone call with a friend.

5. Take care of yourself. Be sure to take care of yourself-physically, mentally and spiritually. And get sleep. If you don't, you may be more irritable and nervous at a time when you have to stay sharp. There's a lot going on, and it's going to be tough to face if you're falling asleep on your feet.

6. Take control. Even in the midst of tragedy or great uncertainty, you can move toward goals one small step at a time. During a really hard time, just getting out of bed and going to school may be all you can handle, but even accomplishing that can help. Think about what you can control and what is out of your control that you can do something about. Bad times make us feel out of control-grab some of that control back by taking decisive action.

7. Express yourself. Tragedy and significant challenges can bring up a bunch of conflicting emotions, but sometimes, it's just too hard to talk to someone about what you're feeling. If talking isn't working, do something else to capture your emotions like start a journal, or create art.

8. Help somebody. Nothing gets your mind off your own problems like solving someone else's. Try volunteering in your community or at your school, cleaning up around the house or apartment, or helping a friend with his or her homework, in-person or online.

9. Put things in perspective. The very thing that has you stressed out may be all anyone is talking about now. But eventually, things change and bad times end. If you're worried about whether you've got what it takes to get through this, think back on a time when you faced up to your fears, whether it was asking someone on a date or applying for a job. Learn some relaxation techniques, whether it's visualizing a peaceful place, thinking of a particular song in times of stress, or just taking a deep breath to calm down. Think about the important things that have stayed the same, even while the outside world is changing. When you talk about bad times, make sure you talk about good and so-so times as well.

10. Turn it off. You want to stay informed-you may even have homework that requires you to watch the news. But sometimes, the news, with its focus on the sensational, can add to the feeling that nothing is going right. Try to limit the amount of news you take in, whether it's from television, newspapers or magazines, or the Internet. Watching a news report once informs you; watching it over and over again just adds to the stress and contributes no new knowledge.

You can learn resilience. But just because you learn resilience doesn't mean you won't feel stressed or anxious. You might have times when you aren't happy-and that's OK. Resilience is a journey, and each person will take his or her own time along the way. You may benefit from some of the resilience tips above, while some of your friends may benefit from others.

The skills of resilience you learn during really bad times will be useful even after the bad times end, and they are good skills to have every day. Resilience can help you be one of the people who've "got bounce."

For more help

Developing resilience is a personal journey. If you're stuck or overwhelmed and unable to use the tips listed above, you may want to consider talking to someone who can help, such as a psychologist or other mental health professional. A psychologist can help you cope with many of life's problems. The American Psychological Association does not provide referral services. For a referral to a psychologist in your area use APA's locator service.

Turning to someone for guidance may help you strengthen resilience and persevere during times of stress or trauma. Information contained in this brochure should not be used as a substitute for professional health and mental health care or consultation. Individuals who believe they may need or benefit from care should consult a psychologist or other licensed health/mental health professional.

Thanks to Mary K. Alvord, PhD, Robin Gurwitch, PhD, Jana Martin, PhD, and Ronald S. Palomares, PhD, who assisted with this article.

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Social isolation, in a nutshell, means your social network is limited and unfulfilling. If you feel isolated, there's a lot you can do to reshape your social circle and enjoy meaningful connections with others.

You can think of social isolation as a state of detachment, one where you lack social bonds or ties.

Anyone can become isolated. To put it another way, isolation often has nothing to do with your character, charisma, or other personality traits.

Perhaps you're recovering after pregnancy and childbirth, and you don't talk to anyone besides your partner, most days. Or maybe you moved to a new city a few weeks ago. You've met plenty of people, but you don't know any of them well yet. You might also feel isolated in other circumstances:

retiring after 20 years at the same job

breaking up with your partner of several years and feeling as if you've lost all your mutual friends

starting a new job where you don't know anyone, or any of the office traditions

leaving home to start college

Isolation isn't the same thing as loneliness, a feeling where you long for social contact. Loneliness may happen as a natural consequence of isolation, of course, but you can have a thriving network of friends and loved ones and still feel lonely from time to time.

Still, like loneliness, isolation can have a far-reaching impact on your overall well-being. Read on to learn a few signs of social isolation to pay attention to, how it might affect your everyday life, and what you can do forge new bonds.

Due to the rise of remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's become pretty common for some people to spend entire days at home in solitude.

So, how do you tell the difference between social isolation and everyday life in the digital age?

Isolation is somewhat relative, but researchers generally consider signs like:

Relationship status: Are you married? Dating? Or happily single?

Community participation: Do you belong to any clubs or sports teams? Are you a member of a religious group, like a church or temple?

Number of close contacts: Do you trust at least a few people enough to house-sit when you leave town, bring you groceries when you get sick, or confide in after a bad breakup?

Frequency of contact: Do you talk with your friends and family on a regular basis?

Overall quality of relationships: Do you feel like the people in your life respect and care about you?

You may have thousands of Twitter followers, a large group of classmates you spend time with, or a whole Brady Bunch of a family tree. But you might still be socially isolated if you have a hard time connecting because you:

feel like an outsider

believe no one knows the real you

worry that everyone in your life considers you a burden

go days or weeks without having a meaningful conversation with anyone

The structure of society means some groups of people are more vulnerable to isolation than others. At-risk groups include:

Older adults: As people age, their social circles often grow smaller due to retirement, an empty nest, and the loss of older family members. Ageism can further restrict how much older adults participate in community events.

Marginalized groups: People who regularly face stigma and discrimination may have a smaller pool of social contacts they feel emotionally safe with. Some social circles may exclude them by default.

People with disabilities: Even with anti-discrimination laws in place, many people with disabilities, especially those who use wheelchairs, have trouble finding accessible transportation - which can seriously limit their ability to socialize in-person.

People in remote locations: Military service members, airline pilots, and other people who spend long periods of time away from home can begin to feel disconnected from their loved ones. People living in rural areas may also have a hard time forming a robust social circle.

Immunocompromised people: According to a 2022 study, many immunocompromised people feel locked out of public life now that much of the public has stopped using masks and other key COVID-19 precautions. In short, they can't participate in everyday social activities without risking their health.

Social isolation can have major consequences for both physical and mental health.

Physical health

links ongoing isolation to:

Your social life can affect your physical health for two main reasons.

First, isolation can make it less likely you'll take care of yourself, since no one else offers support or motivation. According to the American Heart Association, people who are socially isolated tend to:

Isolation can also increase stress and inflammation. From an evolutionary perspective, being alone makes you vulnerable to predators and accidents. If you don't have anyone to watch your back, then you have to stay constantly alert, which uses up precious mental and physical energy.

The less socially connected you are, the harder it becomes for your body to weather the wear and tear of chronic stress. Your inflammation levels rise as a result, which can damage your body's cells and potentially contribute to health issues.

Mental health

Isolation can also have a profound effect on your mental health. A examined how people reacted psychologically to stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study linked social isolation to:

As mentioned above, humans need company to help keep their stress levels in check. Without company, you may grow anxious or mistrustful of the world around you. A 2019 study found a lack of social stimulation can prompt your brain to become hypersensitive to sensory information, like the sound of doors opening. You may find that everyday sights and sounds now put you on edge.

Human contact also helps you maintain a sense of reality. Your sense of self is defined, in part, by how you interact with others. Without anyone to witness or react to your actions, you may start to feel like nothing you do matters. You may wonder where reality ends and your imagination begins.

Research from 2020 examining the impact of solitary confinement for people in correctional facilities found intense isolation can cause:

Granted, most people won't ever experience the total isolation of solitary confinement. However, long-term social isolation can still lead to many of these symptoms, even without complete solitude.

In some cases, social isolation may happen as a sign of abuse. A romantic partner or caregiver may try to control you by limiting your contact with the world outside the relationship. This isolation ensures you depend on them and only them for all your needs, which gives them extensive power and control over your life.

Signs someone may be trying to isolate you include:

They pick fights with friends and family members, then encourage you to cut off the people who offended them as a show of loyalty.

They spread gossip about you online or to your friends and loved ones to ruin your reputation.

They gaslight you into getting angry or upset in public so that you seem like the "abusive" one.

They prevent you from finding or keeping a job by sabotaging interviews, hiding your car keys, or making a scene at your workplace.

They insist on having access to your mail, phone, and email at all times to monitor your communication.

They get clingy when you're apart and try to call or text you nonstop. They may get angry or accuse you of betrayal if you don't respond right away.

Here's how to get help for relationship abuse.
Isolation can happen for many reasons, so some coping strategies may work better for your unique circumstances than others.

A few strategies to consider:

Go digital

If you've moved far away from loved ones, face-to-face time can become sparse. But thanks to technological advances, you can stay connected through text, email, and video calls.

Research involving older adults in long-term care facilities found even a 5-minute weekly video call with loved ones may significantly reduce loneliness and help people feel more emotionally supported.

Find a fur friend

Pet ownership can go a long way toward helping reduce social isolation.

Animals don't just offer unconditional companionship, they often also make great icebreakers - something you might already know, if you've ever visited a dog park.

involving older adults China found older dog owners were more socially connected than their peers, because walking their dog encouraged them to go outside and spend time with other dog owners.

Explore new communities

Not all friendships and relationships can be salvaged. Maybe you serve as the family scapegoat, most of the people in your friend group regularly make homophobic remarks, or your partner consistently puts you down.

Sometimes, cutting ties with toxic people can do a lot of good for your mental health. If your current social network mistreats you, rest assured that other people out in the world will value and accept you as yourself. It may take some time to find them, but starting that search is an important first step.

Volunteering

Making the first overtures toward friendship could help you form new connections more easily.

Consider joining a pen pal program, mentorship group, or community center to reach out to other isolated people around the world.

You can also begin to grow your social circle by volunteering. According to one 2018 study, volunteering in itself can offer an effective way to expand your social network, especially when mourning the loss of a loved one.

Temporary isolation usually won't have long-term consequences for your physical or mental well-being, and you can often take steps to manage it on your own.

That said, you may start to notice some effects after weeks or months of isolation. It may be worth considering professional support if you:

feel intense loneliness most or all of the time

believe you're unlovable and don't deserve companionship

feel incredibly nervous when you talk to people

mistrust people by default, even when someone has given you no reason to suspect them

go out of your way to avoid social interactions and dread the few that are necessary to live your life

A compassionate therapist can help identify possible triggers and work to address both isolation and its impact on your health. Goals of therapy may include:
Here's how to find a therapist.
Your social ties play an important role in your physical health and emotional well-being.

It may not always feel easy to form new friendships and relationships, especially when coping with life changes, health challenges, and other stressful or overwhelming circumstances.

But pursuing just a few social connections can make a big difference. If you're not sure how to get started, a therapist can offer more guidance and support.
Emily Swaim is a freelance health writer and editor who specializes in psychology. She has a BA in English from Kenyon College and an MFA in writing from California College of the Arts. In 2021, she received her Board of Editors in Life Sciences (BELS) certification. You can find more of her work on GoodTherapy, Verywell, Investopedia, Vox, and Insider. Find her on Twitter and LinkedIn.

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Teenage Isolation and How Parents Can Help

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Teenage Isolation and How Parents Can Help

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Updates list:

Due to a variety of influences, social isolation in adolescence can be pretty normal. While some think it is the elderly who are most affected, teenagers and young adults are actually the most socially isolated groups of people.

It's normal for teens to feel misunderstood and isolate themselves from family and peers. This can be due to fear of judgment, anxiety, depression, and a host of other reasons.

The Covid-19 pandemic heightened this already existing problem. According to a report by Harvard University , 61% of teens and young adults in 2021 reported feeling lonely almost all the time.

While many adults struggled with loneliness during the pandemic, this problem was elevated for teens as a result of lockdowns, virtual schooling, and social distancing.

Other influences, like social media and video games, have also caused some teens to be more isolated with less face to face interactions. However, on the other hand, some teens have used these methods to stay connected with their peers.

Negative Impacts of Isolation on Teens

Humans are naturally a social species. Especially during development, it is extremely important teenagers learn to interact with the world. Dr. Shannon Gourley, a neuroscientist from Emory University describes adolescence as "a critical period during which social experience is sculpting the brain".

Social interaction during this stage of development helps build healthy communication skills that will increase positive outcomes in relationships, school and future professional careers.

Studies that increased isolation in adolescence can lead to negative outcomes during adulthood, including mental health disorders, physical health problems, substance abuse and strained relationships in home and the workplace.

Impacts on Physical Health

While most think isolation and loneliness only affect our mental health, did you know they can also impact our bodies and physical health? By lowering cortisol in our bodies, social connectedness is a proven method to reduce stress.

Cortisol is a stress hormone that increases inflammation in the body. It messes with the nervous system and has been related to a number of increased health problems and negative effects on general well being including poor immune system, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's and dementia.

In teenagers specifically, heightened cortisol can lead to a variety of unwanted health symptoms including:

Social connection for teens plays a larger role than many think on their physical health. For parents, educators and anyone who works with teenagers, it's important to keep this in mind when making decisions that could impact levels of isolation in teens.

Impacts on Mental Health

While social isolation may be a bit more common among adolescents, if you find your teenager frequently isolating themselves, especially when paired with other symptoms, it may be important to do a check in on their mental health.

Frequent isolation is linked to a number of mental health and psychiatric problems including:

How to Cope with Teen Isolation

As a parent, it can be difficult to watch your teen go through periods of social isolation. You may ask yourself " how do you handle a case of a child who is socially isolated?". There are a number of effects of having no friends on teenagers.

Guide for Parents

Here is a brief guide with tips and strategies to help comfort your teen who may be experiencing teen loneliness.

Take Interest and Listen Actively

Ensuring you are a solid support for your teenager is important to help them feel they are not alone. Model yourself as a space safe for your teenager to vent and confide in. While some of their problems may seem irrelevant to parents, taking an interest in their daily lives will show them that someone cares.

Actively listening to your teen builds trust that you are an ear they can listen to. Sometimes parents want a quick fix to help their teenager combat feelings of loneliness, but providing a calm and present ear to listen to is all your teenager really needs sometimes.

Validate Their Feelings

Ensure your teenager feels heard. Try to develop a "no shame zone" where they feel free to discuss their feelings.

Find An Activity to Do Together

Sometimes teens dont always want to spend time with their parents. But carving out a small time during the week focused on them is a great way to make sure they feel like they have a support system. Let your teen pick an activity that you can do together during the week.

Some activities, based on the interests of your kid, may include going on a nature walk, enrolling in an art or dance class together, bike rides, cooking a meal together or even playing a round of video games with your teenager.

Not only is this a great way to bond, but it will provide a distraction from thoughts of loneliness they may be having.

Group Therapy

If you feel your child is showing severe signs of isolation that could mark depression, anxiety or another mental health problem, enroll them in a support group if they are open to it. This could be a great way for them to connect with other peers who may be having the same feelings.

Support groups provide a safe space for teens to share feelings of isolation without feeling invalidated or shamed. Many teens feel they are misunderstood and cannot relate to others, which only increases feelings of isolation. By connecting with other peers, they will learn skills of empathy, self-compassion and the simple reminder that they are not alone even if they feel it.

Guide for Teens

If you find you are struggling with feelings of isolation and loneliness, this is a great start to educate yourself. Feeling lonely is something that even the most successful adults can feel and is not a reason to carry shame.

Here are some things to think about, and coping strategies you can try, if you find yourself struggling with feelings of loneliness.

Explore Your Feelings

As you grow into adulthood you will learn the first step to coping with any of your internal struggles is exploring these feelings and where they come from. Sometimes it can be difficult to see that there are people in your life who care.

Next time you find yourself feeling lonely ask yourself what brought on these feelings. Do certain situations or people you spend time with tend to make you feel lonely? Do you struggle with making or keeping friends?

Asking yourself these kinds of questions may help you better understand yourself which is the first step to finding solutions that can help with these feelings.

Reach Out to Someone You Trust

Understand that it's normal to feel a bit embarrassed when getting vulnerable with your feelings. Having even one person that you can build a trusting relationship with is extremely valuable. This could be a friend, parent, family member, coach, pastor, counselor, favorite teacher or anyone else in your community you feel comfortable opening up to.

Find a Hobby or Enroll in an Activity

Trying out new activities is a great way to build connections with others based on shared interests, and also to explore your own talents. Isolation can reduce self-esteem, trapping the brain into thinking they have no skills or interests.

There are many opportunities at local schools, gyms, studios and community centers to take part in. Try out a new activity to get out of your comfort zone and if you don't like it at least you can mark it off your list as something you tried.

Online Support Groups

Tons of virtual groups exist online to not only support you through mental health challenges but to connect over similar interests as well. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are all filled with groups or pages you can join. Some act as support groups specifically for people feeling lonely, while others act as simply a space to vent or connect over shared interests.

Using social media and the internet to your advantage is a helpful tool. It's important to remember not everything on social media is real, sometimes seeing others showing off happy posts can increase feelings of our own misery or isolation.

That being said, social media is a great way to stay connected to long distance friends, meet new people or discover community events.

Volunteer

Volunteering your time for a cause that means something to you is a great way to promote positive health benefits. It can reduce stress, chronic pain or give you a deeper sense of purpose in your life.

It is also a great way to connect with others who have similar interests and give back to your community.

Get Physical

Physical activity will naturally boost your endorphins leading to increased confidence, making it easier to connect with others in social settings. Think about joining an outdoor group, gym or local park that will get you moving.

During periods of isolation it is easy to spend a majority of time in your bed or on the couch. Get your body moving to increase energy and remove these negative feelings naturally. Exercise boosts dopamine, increases serotonin and overall has general mental and physical health benefits for teens, kids and young adults of all ages.

Online Resources

Psychology Today offers articles and a therapist directory, allowing you to search for therapists who specialize in group therapy for adolescents.

Child Mind Institute - This organization provides resources and articles on various mental health topics for children and adolescents, including information on group therapy.

National Alliance on Mental Illness ( ) - NAMI offers information and support for individuals and families dealing with mental health issues, including resources on group therapy.

Sources

Social isolation and health . (2020). Health Affairs Health Policy Brief.

Cashin, A. (2024, May 3). Loneliness in America: How the pandemic has deepened an epidemic of loneliness - making caring common . Making Caring Common.
Elizabeth A. Hinton et. al. "Social isolation in adolescence disrupts cortical development and goal-dependent decision making in adulthood, despite social reintegration." eNeuro 2019; 10. 1523/ENEURO.0318-19.2019
National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Development. (2002). Stress system malfunction could lead to serious, life threatening disease.

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Stress Management and Teens

No. 66; Updated January 2019

Teenagers, like adults, may experience stress every day and can benefit from learning stress management skills. Most teens experience more stress when they perceive a situation as dangerous, difficult, or painful and they do not have the resources to cope. Some sources of stress for teens include:

School demands and frustrations

Negative thoughts or feelings about themselves

Changes in their bodies

Problems with friends and/or peers at school

Unsafe living environment/neighborhood

Separation or divorce of parents

Chronic illness or severe problems in the family

Death of a loved one

Moving or changing schools

Taking on too many activities or having too high expectations

Family financial problems

Some teens become overloaded with stress. When this happens, it can lead to anxiety, withdrawal, aggression, physical illness, or poor coping skills such as drug and/or alcohol use.

When we perceive a situation as difficult or painful, changes occur in our minds and bodies to prepare us to respond to danger. This "fight, flight, or freeze" response includes faster heart and breathing rate, increased blood to muscles of arms and legs, cold or clammy hands and feet, upset stomach and/or a sense of dread.

The same mechanism that turns on the stress response can turn it off. As soon as we decide that a situation is no longer dangerous, changes can occur in our minds and bodies to help us relax and calm down. This "relaxation response" includes decreased heart and breathing rate and a sense of well-being. Teens that develop a "relaxation response" and other stress management skills feel less helpless and have more choices when responding to stress.

Parents can help their teen in following ways:

Monitor if stress is affecting their teen's health, behavior, thoughts, or feelings

Listen carefully to teens and watch for overloading

Learn and model stress management skills

Support involvement in sports and other pro-social activities

Teens can decrease stress with the following behaviors and techniques:

Exercise and eat regularly.

Get enough sleep and have a good sleep routine.

Avoid excess caffeine which can increase feelings of anxiety and agitation.

Avoid illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.

Learn relaxation exercises (abdominal breathing and muscle relaxation techniques).

Develop assertiveness training skills. For example, state feelings in polite, firm, and not overly aggressive or passive ways: ("I feel angry when you yell at me." "Please stop yelling.")

Rehearse and practice situations which cause stress. One example is taking a speech class if talking in front of a class makes you anxious.

Learn practical coping skills. For example, break a large task into smaller, more attainable tasks.

Decrease negative self-talk: challenge negative thoughts - with alternative, neutral, or positive thoughts. "My life will never get better" can be transformed into "I may feel hopeless now, but my life will probably get better if I work at it and get some help."

Learn to feel good about doing a competent or "good enough" job rather than demanding perfection from yourself and others.

Take a break from stressful situations. Activities like listening to music, talking to a friend, drawing, writing, or spending time with a pet can reduce stress.

Build a network of friends who help you cope in a positive way.

By using these and other techniques, teenagers can begin to manage stress. If a teen talks about or shows signs of being overly stressed, a consultation with a child and adolescent psychiatrist or other qualified mental health professional may be helpful.

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Teenagers, like adults, may experience stress everyday and can benefit from learning stress management skills.

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Anxiety: Understand Symptoms and Get Help | Crisis Text Line

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Childhood Behavior Problems | Emotional Disorders | Child Mind Institute

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Adults caring for children often have questions about how to set clear expectations and manage behavior effectively. Especially when children exhibit challenging behaviors, adults want to know exactly how to address these situations with strategies that promote positive behavior, good social-emotional development, and increased self-esteem. The Child Mind Institute's B.E.S.T.

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All kids have their ups and downs, but if your child is unusually irritable, sad or withdrawn for a prolonged period of time she may be showing signs of depression. Depression is more than moodiness - it can affect all parts of a child's life, including behavior, appetite, energy level, sleep patterns, relationships and academic performance. In this section you'll find expert information on spotting and understanding different kinds of depression in children and adolescents, and how to get the most effective treatment for your child.

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Childhood and Teen Depression | Child Mind Institute

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All kids have their ups and downs, but if your child is unusually irritable, sad or withdrawn for a prolonged period of time she may be showing signs of depression. Depression is more than moodiness - it can affect all parts of a child's life, including behavior, appetite, energy level, sleep patterns, relationships and academic performance.

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Managing difficult behavior is the No. 1 concern we hear about from parents. Setting limits for kids in a calm and consistent way and responding to problem behavior when it occurs are among the toughest parts of parenting. In this section we try to take the guesswork out of effective discipline with experts' advice on issues like the best way to give effective instructions, why your time-outs might not be working, tantrum management strategies, and how to stop yelling and start being heard.

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Advice on Discipline from Experts | Child Mind Institute

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By Mental Health First Aid USA on June 26, 2019

"More than nine in 10 Generation Z adults (ages 15-21) said they have experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom because of stress, such as feeling depressed or sad or lacking interest, motivation or energy," according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

High school teens spend most of their time attending classes, participating in extracurricular activities and doing homework. There is constant pressure to do everything and do it well to prepare for a successful career or higher education after high school. This can cause a lot of stress.

When they do have time, research from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that teens most often turn to media and communications activities, including watching TV, using social media and the internet and calling or texting friends. Although these can be helpful ways to relieve stress, the excessive use of technology can lead to lack of human connection and feelings of loneliness.
Use these tips to take a break from the barrage of constant communication and manage your stress in a healthy way.

1. Get some sleep.
Getting enough sleep helps you grow and develop normally, pay attention throughout the day and maintain overall health. For teens, this means about 8-10 hours each night.

2. Focus on your strengths.
Take some time to think about what you're good at and ways to do more of those things. By focusing on and building your strengths, you can keep your stressors in perspective.

3. Do things that make you happy.
Find activities or hobbies that make you happy and incorporate them into your daily life. This might be a physical sport, an artistic outlet or spending time with family and friends.

4. Engage in physical activity.
Exercise takes our mind off stress and releases chemicals in our brain that make us feel better. This can be anything from a stroll in the park to a bike ride or basketball game with friends.

5. Talk to someone.
It can be hard to manage stress alone. Talk to a parent, teacher or other trusted adult about your problems and they may be able to help you find new ways to manage your stress.

If you're still looking for ways to manage your stress, take a Mental Health First Aid course today. teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) teaches high school students about common mental health challenges and what they can do to support their own mental health and help their friends who may be struggling. Right now, eight high schools across the country have trained students in tMHFA. We're looking forward to expanding to more schools across the country in the coming years. Learn more about this new program, run by the National Council and supported by Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation.

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Five Tips to Help Teens Cope with Stress - Mental Health First Aid

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"More than nine in 10 Generation Z adults (ages 15-21) said they have experienced at least one physical or emotional symptom because of stress, such as feeling depressed or sad or lacking interest, motivation or energy," according to research published by the American Psychological Association.