Helping teenagers deal with stress - Part II

By Rachna Buxani, Counselling Services Coordinator, GEMS group of schools

Part 1 of this article touched upon some ways parents can be supportive of their teens during stress times. Here are some more very useful pointers to keep in mind.

Another excellent way for your teenager to deal with stress is encouraging him to get into a physical activity of his choice. Swimming, jogging, cycling or skating are all ways of releasing stress.

Teach your child how to identify stressful situations and some coping strategies to help him deal with them.  Use humor to buffer bad feelings and situations. A child who learns to use humor himself will be better able to keep things in perspective.

Make sure you do not indulge in criticizing your child. They are already having a tough time trying to establish an identity and your negative comments can make that process very difficult. Build your teenager’s confidence and self-esteem by remembering to praise him when he does something good. It’s not that they aren’t doing good things all the time; it’s just that we, as parents, sometimes need to take the time to notice that they are doing good things. With the basic foundation of confidence and self-esteem that you provide, your teenager will be better able to handle changes and stress.

Show your teenager how to focus on the positive aspects of a situation. Have him try and list the benefits and opportunities created, rather than the problems. Even the most unpleasant experiences can lead to positive growth and outcomes.

In spite of all your effort sometimes adolescents find it is a difficult to seek help from their families. When pressures become extreme and when solutions run out, it's time to talk about getting help. When you see evidence that your child is extremely stressed and is resorting to substance abuse or suicide ideation, get professional help immediately.

Children cannot escape the stress and the pressures that come with living in today's society. But they can learn ways to cope. Always, role model healthy coping behaviors and be there to back your teens. A little support at this time can go a long way to ensuring a healthy well-balanced individual in the future! 

Photo courtesy: bbc.co.uk

Rachna Buxani, with an M.Ed in School Counseling from Suffolk University in Boston and a B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Child and Youth from Eastern Connecticut State University, USA has specialised in Middle and High School Counseling. Rachna's expertise is in assessment and management of problems related to adolescence. She writes regularly on parenting issues on womenone.or, and answers to readers' queries related to it.

Have something to say about the article? Say it here
 

*************