Stress

Whilst stress is something that everyone experiences you may find that you are experiencing high volumes of stress consistently.  If so, then it may be useful to consider making some changes to your lifestyle in the way of stress management.  Whilst in short bursts stress can be positive and motivational,  in the long term, it can have a detrimental effect on your well-being.

Many young people experience stress. Adolescence is a transitional life stage where a young person moves from childhood into young adulthood. Throughout this developmental period, the young person begins a process of individuation. This is where they gradually start to separate from their parents/carers and develop their own identity and values. This process can be stressful for both parent and child. There may be disagreements and challenging negotiations related to newfound freedoms. Parents/carers may also struggle with their children ‘leaving the nest’ and find it difficult to adjust to being at home without them.

As a person moves from childhood into their teenage years a greater emphasis is placed on friendships. Fitting in with other young people becomes incredibly important for some teenagers and many find that they struggle with peer pressure. The NHS defines peer pressure as “pressure that your friends and the people you know, put on you to do something you don’t want to do or don’t feel ready to do”. In the current climate of social media, young people are in constant contact with their peers. Not only do they spend most of their time with them whilst at school, but they also continue to communicate into the night when they get home. This can add to the pressure that a young person may feel to fit in and partake in activities they do not feel comfortable with or ready for.