• Back to School and Back to Stress

    It’s that time of year again: kids are going back to school, schedules need to be rearranged, the stresses of ‘routine’ are beginning to appear. For adults, these struggles are fairly common, and it’s easy to get caught up in your own lives and schedule. But for adolescents, this abruption can cause great difficulty. What’s worse is that often, these struggles may go unnoticed. It makes sense: you look at your child and see a straight A student who is involved in activities, such as cheerleading, band, or clubs. They are seemingly well socialized and happy. When you talk to them about school, they say everything is great or fine. So what is there to be worried about? Just because your child does not seem to struggle academically or even socially, doesn’t mean that they aren’t suffering.

    If you’re an adolescent or teen, you know exactly what I mean. You might struggle with social anxiety, self-esteem issues, or low mood or energy levels. You might lack motivation or even dread going to school because of difficulty with a former friend group. Navigating relationships is tricky enough as adults; as students who are still trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in the world, in the high-pressure setting of middle school or high school, these anxieties are amplified and can be made significantly worse.

    If you’re the parent of a high performing child, these things can go unnoticed. And if you’re the teen who’s reading this and nodding along because you feel seen for once, keep reading for some tips on overcoming your difficulties.

    Nina’s Top Tips:

    We sat down with our very own Nina Kosubevsky, a specialist in children and teen therapy,  and asked her what are some ways youths can conquer their hardships. Here’s what she had to share:

    1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Finding a safe person who you can open up to and talk to in a judgment free environment is one of the best ways to start your journey towards wellness. You can start with a friend or family member that you feel safe around. You might even talk with a mentor or close family friend. No matter the case, you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help.

    2. Practice Mindfulness. This may sound harder than it actually is. If you have Spotify, Apple Music, or even YouTube, you can pull up the app and type in ‘Guided Meditations’, ‘Mindfulness’, or ‘Christian Meditations’.  Justin and Dr. Jaimee also recommend using the Hallow  app for Meditations. You will find hundreds of different length videos to pick from. Choose one, close your eyes, and let the video guide you through a meditation. This not only helps you to get grounded, but it also helps to alleviate your stress and anxiety.

    3. Set Aside Time for Yourself. So often with busy schedules we forget to focus on ourselves,especially when we’re on the go with after school activities, homework, school, jobs, and social commitments, such as relationships. We often forget to set aside time for ourselves when that’s who we should be prioritizing. Set aside 20 minutes a day to engage in your favorite self care activities.

    Finding peace is easier than you might think. Just by incorporating any one of the above three practices, you’ll see a change in yourself and your demeanor. If that’s still not enough, and you’re frustration and stress are too much for you to handle, don’t hesitate to call us in order to set up an appointment.

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