Being young is hard. And being a young woman is doubly hard. This has always been the case, but now, more than ever, there are any number of modern social stress examples that beg the question of how to deal with stress as a teenage girl.
From peer pressure in school to navigating their peer group and self-representation online, many modern stressful situations, whether experienced just once or repeatedly, can easily serve as causes of stress in teens and potentially deeply harm a teenager’s mental health.
But the teen girl or young person in your life doesn’t need to go it alone. From stress management skills to tips to reduce stress hormones and beyond, there are ways you can help them learn to manage frequent symptoms of stress.
Here are just five tips for stress relief for teenage girls.
5 Ways to Help Teen Girls Navigate Social Stress
1. Talk it Out
Encouraging the teenage girl in your life to talk openly about their experiences and feelings when you notice signs of stress will not only help them to confront the factors that are affecting them but will show them that they can share their perspective without fear of judgment.
2. Guide Healthy Coping Strategies
It’s widely accepted that regular exercise, meditation, mindfulness practice, deep breathing exercises, and more can lower one’s stress response and contribute to positive physical health and mental health. Encourage your teenage girl to work these strategies into their daily routine.
3. Exercise Self-Care
Every teenager would benefit from plentiful sleep, healthy eating, and other self-care activities, and this goes doubly for times when they experience social stressors.
4. Lead By Example
When you are less stressed, those around you may become less stressed. Acting as an empathetic positive role model for your teen girl will not only show them that it is okay to feel stress, but that there are ways of healthily navigating it too.
5. Find Strength in the Peer Group
In many cases, teens experience the world through the eyes of their peer group. Encouraging your teen girl to foster deeper connections with the positive members of their peer group will provide a sense of support and belonging during stressful times.
Teenage social stress: you are not alone
Know that we are here for you. Our team of therapists has worked to support many adolescent patients experiencing social stress, social anxiety, and more. Learn more about counseling for teen girls and young girls or, to schedule a session, use our helpful self-scheduling tool 24/7 or call us directly at 301-690-0779.
You and your teenager are NOT alone. We’ve got you.
