Teens and Anxiety- Part 3

Helpful Strategies to Teach Your Child How to Cope with Stress

Many teens respond differently to different types of parenting as well as to perceived levels of stressors in their lives. Some teens who have greater difficulty regulating their emotions might turn to self-injury (see previously posted article on that topic) while others tend to keep the feelings inside which can turn into anger or increasingly greater amounts of sadness and despair. The healthiest way to handle stress is to talk it out with someone and learn coping strategies such as the ones below to calm them and thereby allow them to handle the stressors in a calmer, healthier way.  I’d love to hear which, if any, of my suggestions you’ve tried and which have worked or not worked. 

Do not ignore the fact that your child is upset. Even if you do not feel your teen will want to talk with you about whatever is causing the stress, it is helpful to point out, in a calm manner, that you are aware that they seem down and you are interested in hearing more about whatever it is that is bothering him/her. 

Teach your teen about cleansing breaths. They might look at you as if you have three heads but then again, they might appreciate the suggestion. Have them focus on their breath and imagine the clean, peaceful air going in through their nostrils and then the stressful/angry/sad/frustrated breaths getting pushed out with their exhales. If they can do this 5 times, and each time only concentrating on their breath, it might help them to relax. The events/people/situations that made them worry will still be out there, however, they might be able to see things more clearly if they clear their mind through this breathing exercise. 

Another helpful strategy is to tense up and then release all the muscles in your body. Start with your fists by tightening and then releasing them. Then move to your face and scrunch it up and then release. Continue through all major muscles in your body and see how you feel at the end. Teach this to your teen and see what they think. 

A third suggestions to handle stress is to have your teen picture a peaceful or happy scenario in their mind. Have them imagine the smells, what they hear, what they are wearing, etc. When they start to feel stressed suggest they go to that peaceful or happy place in their mind to calm them. 

Important Notice: The information presented below is provided for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for consulting a psychologist or other mental health professional to discuss your unique situation. If you would like to talk with me about it, you may call my office at 914-329-5355.