Being a Teen is Stressful: Staying Balanced Can Help Dissipate Stress

April 3, 2010 - PRLog -- To the outside world, teenagers may appear relaxed and carefree, but this is often not the case. The pressures on today’s teenagers are very different from what their parents faced just a generation ago. Today’s teens know about the economy being in bad shape, feel pressures about drugs and alcohol, cope with broken families due to higher divorce rates and wonder about their future after schooling ends. These are decisions with lasting impact, and teens realize this. They often worry about their grades, their friends, and their families, and these worries can cause a great deal of stress. Fortunately, there are resources available that can help teenagers manage these daily stresses more effectively. The stress reduction booklets available at http://www.outside-the-box.net provide practical ways of managing stresses and staying balanced.

Dee Cohen, a licensed social worker stated, "In my counseling sessions I find that many kids worry about their families breaking up, losing their friends and worry heavily about their grades. Kids are not as carefree as they appear."

There’s no doubt about it, being a teenager can be difficult and stressful. Teens are juggling academics, sports, keeping up with their friends on facebook and often going back and forth between two homes . At the same time, they are making important decisions in school that have far-reaching consequences. Many teens feel overwhelmed by the expectations of their parents, teachers, and friends, and have a difficult time knowing what they should do and whom they should follow. These stresses can cause teens to be angry, worried, and difficult.

Cohen was initially surprised to see bulk orders of her booklet, "How to Stay Balanced During Stressful Situations" from school administrators. However, in counseling teachers and school staff as well as students, Cohen noticed that often teens have a similar degree of stress to adults.  Fortunately, there are resources out there to help teens learn to manage this stress and exercises one can do at home to change the mental channel. Kids are very open to using breathing and meditation techniques to decrease feelings of panic and being overwhelmed.  Slowing down the breath and focuing the mind provide practical, manageable ways to counteract daily stressors. Changing one's perspective takes practice but teens can be very motivated to change negative habits of mind. The techniques discussed in this booklet will help many teenagers feel more in control of their lives, both in school and out.

Dee Cohen says that, “Having quick, concrete ways to dissipate anxiety is important to counteract daily stress. This not only will help teenagers at this point in their lives but also through college and later on in the workforce “

If you want practical ways to help your teenager counteract daily stress, check out tips booklet at http://www.outside-the-box.net for techniques to apply each day .

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About Outside-the-box.net is a website of Dee Cohen, a licensed social worker, with tips at http://www.outside-the-box.net for reducing stress in daily life.