If your teen is dealing with stress at school, they’re not alone. Statistics show that one-third of teens experience stress during the school year.[1] For teens recovering from substance use disorders, stress can be especially dangerous as it can open the doors to relapse. Many teens revert to their old habits as a coping mechanism to help them deal with the stress they are feeling. As a teen drug treatment center, Ember Recovery is committed to helping teens manage their stress so that it does not impact their sobriety. We will share some stress-coping strategies, so your teen can better deal with school-related stress.
How School-Related Stress Impacts Teens After Teen Drug Treatment
There are many ways that school can impact teens and make them feel stressed. From academic pressures to the social environment, teens face stress every day.
Academic Pressure
Teens can feel the academic pressure to succeed in a competitive school environment. The pressure to keep up and maintain grades that their peers may be receiving can prove to be too much for teens who are also trying to maintain their sobriety.
Teens may also feel pressure from parents to get good grades and excel. While parents may think this push is for their children’s benefit, it can sometimes be too much.
Social Dynamics
Besides the academic pressure of school, there is also the social dynamic. The push to fit in and be accepted by peers can be stressful. This can lead to feelings of inadequacy among teens, who may feel as though they are not good enough to fit in.
Some teens may also be the victims of bullying, which can also trigger great amounts of stress. Either one of these situations can be enough for teens to be tempted to use substances again to ease their stress and feel like they belong.
School Violence
Sadly enough, the threat of school violence can also cause stress among teens and adolescents. With school shootings and threats, many young people may feel stressed by simply going to school. This is something that may also lead them to use substances to ease their fears.
Stress Coping Strategies for Teens After Teen Drug Treatment
There are several ways teens can better cope with these school-related stresses. These include:
Exercise and Eat Healthy
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which act as natural painkillers.[2] These endorphins have many benefits, including improved sleep and reduced stress. Studies show that exercise can reduce fatigue, improve alertness, and enhance overall cognitive function. This is all useful for teens experiencing stress from their school environment.
Eating well can also help combat stress. Studies show that maintaining a balanced diet can help support a healthy immune system and provide the extra energy needed to cope with stress.[3] Since stress can elevate cortisol levels, eating foods that regulate cortisol levels is important. These include vegetables and foods rich in Omega-3 fats, such as tuna, salmon, and nuts.
Learn Relaxation Techniques
Teens can also learn relaxation techniques to help them better manage their stress. Deep breathing, meditation, and yoga can all help teens relax and reduce their stress levels.[4] These can be done right at home through podcasts or online videos that show teens how to use these relaxation exercises to battle stress.
Decrease Negativity
Since stress can lead to negative thoughts, decreasing negative self-talk can help to deal with stress. Looking for the positives in what appears to be a negative situation can help teens who are feeling extremely stressed. By practicing positive affirmations, teens can learn how to channel their negative thoughts so that they are not a source of stress.
Set Small Goals
Many teens get overwhelmed by their schoolwork, with its due dates and demands. Breaking down tasks and setting small goals can make assignments seem more manageable.
Also, by utilizing time management skills, teens can learn how to prioritize tasks so that they do not wait until the last minute to get everything done. By getting things done at a slower pace, they can help decrease the stress that these assignments can bring.
Seek the Help of Support Groups After Teen Drug Treatment
Peer support groups are available during and after teen treatment to help teens deal with stress and other issues. Sometimes, talking through what’s bothering them can be enough to ease the pressure. Being around others who are experiencing the same issues can also provide teens with the comfort they need.
Support groups involve people who will not only listen to what is going on but also offer valuable advice. These words can also help to keep teens on a sober path.
Seek Teen Drug Treatment at Ember Recovery
Ember Recovery provides drug treatment specifically for teens and young adults in Iowa. Our programs are specifically for teens and young adults because we understand the challenges they face as they try to overcome their substance use disorders.
Teens and young adults will find that our customized plans include a variety of therapy sessions and other options that help to achieve and maintain sobriety. Our patients also learn coping strategies to deal with stress and other triggers in the real world.
Contact Ember Recovery today to learn more about our treatment programs for teens and young adults who want to live sober lives.
Source:
[1] https://www.stress.org/who-gets-stressed/teens/ [2] https://adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/related-illnesses/other-related-conditions/stress/physical-activity-reduces-st [3] https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/stress-and-health/ [4] https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/relaxation-technique/art-20045368
Andrea Dickerson is a Licensed Therapist and Certified Substance Use Counselor who has worked in behavioral health since 1997. Currently, Andrea is the Director of Behavioral Health, overseeing the Ember residential treatment programs and YSS outpatient counseling clinics throughout Central and North Central Iowa. She became a Motivational Interviewing (MI) trainer in 2006 and provides MI trainings throughout Iowa.
Andrea specializes in working with adolescents and their families and enjoys seeing the family relationships grow through therapy. Andrea is also a CARF International Surveyor, going around North America ensuring behavioral health organizations are meeting required standards.
In her free time, Andrea enjoys cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes and Chicago Cubs, as well as being an active member of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA), a global organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. She has been a member of the SI of Des Moines club since 2012 and has been actively involved at the regional level, currently serving as Co-Governor of the Peaks to Plains Region.
Through her involvement in SIA, Andrea has been actively involved in the Dream Programs, coordinating annual Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls projects, which give girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.