Stress has no respect for age. It attacks from the time we are born until we are old. Stress is not harmful until it grows into distress, which is harmful, causing sickness, and even death.
The years between chlldhood and adulthood; the teenage years, seem more stressful because in that time young people meet new challenges and circumstances with less protective parental care than in childhood. Many factors contribute to excessive stress in the lives of teenagers. Among these are, high expectations of parents and teachers, parent’s unhappy marriage, peer pressure, and constant criticism. These may also lead to feelings of guilt, low self-esteem, and boredom.
In these years, children are struggling for independence and parents should give them room for it by keeping their distance, while at the same time not staying too far away to help when it is needed. Children may rebel if their parents are too insistent or inquisitive.
The burden of coping with stress during the teenage years should not rest solely upon the young people. Parents can, and they should help relieve the tension in their adolescent children. Most parents, however, are guilty of adding to the stress by overly criticizing, failing to praise and appreciate their children while placing too many demands upon them.
Because of inadequate skills of dealing with, stress, there are devastating results, the worst being teenage suicide. According to the National Center for Health Statistics in Washington, D.C., approximately two million teenagers attempt suicide each year of which six thousand succeed. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers.
Many teenagers are reluctant to seek help even when their- distress has gotten out of control. They can suffer moodiness which may turn into severe depression. There can be relentless stretches of melancholy with peculiar or provocative acts of delinquency.
There are danger signs before things develop that far, signs which parents, teachers, and the youth themselves should be watching for. Some of the physical signs are reoccurring headaches, tight stomach muscles, sweaty palms, fiushed face, shortness of breath, fatigue, shaking hands, and nervous habits such as teeth grinding. Some of the behavioral signs are, readiness to comply, lack of communication, no cooperation, general loss of interest, rebellion, inability to concentrate, impulsive acts, preoccupation, withdrawal, isolation, restlessness, nightmares, self hating and lower grades.
The first and foremost important medicine to combat stress is to have faith in God. To know the purpose of life, involves Bible reading and prayer. Church going children are better armed to fight stress because of their broader outlook on life with trust in God and His loving care. Without regard for Gods love, children often tend to feel that nobody loves or cares for them. The second most important thing is for the youth to openly express their feelings and emotions to parents and teachers. They should communicate and make friends with their parents and trust that they really care for them and will help them. Third, follow a healthy diet and get sufficient sleep at night, taking good care of their health. Relax, and breathe properly. Fourth, avoid idleness. Seek useful employment and hobbies to occupy their spare time, such as getting involved in helping others. Finally, acquire problem solving skills. Identify the problem and give it a name. Decide on an appropriate solution and then break the solution into manageable steps.
When the· youth have learned these stressfighting skills, their life will be more fulfilled and joyous. Although stress may still be present, they will have learned to live with, and avoid letting it turn into distress. They may even enjoy the challenge of combating stress as much as a mountain climber enjoys scaling the highest peak, or and athlete striving to win a race.
Timo Martin