Helping your teen navigate stress!

According to a recent federal survey in teen health, this statistic means that yes, your teen may be struggling.

Walking through a worst-case scenario with your teen and working out a plan together of how to handle it can decrease the anxiety that he or she feels towards the situation.

School settings create academic and social pressures that are often amplified by this generation's access to digital platforms.

As a parent, the immediate and natural reaction is to take away the pain when your kid is hurting. Many parents ask themselves, "How can I solve the problem? How can I eliminate the stressors?"

Your teen will encounter more stressful situations in life—when you are not there to help them. If you attempt to take away every stressful obstacle, he or she will have a hard time learning to process their anxiety. Feelings of helplessness can persist, leading them to believe that they cannot cope with anxiety on their own.

So, when you notice signs of anxiousness, have a conversation. This is an invitation for you to process emotions with your kid. Here are some non-leading questions you can ask:

What is making you feel stressed?

Can you tell me more about the emotions you are feeling?

What do you think is causing this anxiety?

What would happen if [insert anxiety-inducing situation here] occurred?

Find more parenting resources at Axis.com!