a parents’ guide to stress
Created by George, Adam, Ioan, Daniel & Edward
hello, We are a group of students from a Learning Resource Centre (LRC) in a secondary school in Pembrokeshire, and we are stressed! Being a young person means figuring out who we are and who we want to be - it’s a tough time! We don’t always know how to handle the pressure and parents don’t always understand our behaviour. So we made this booklet. A guide to help understand and support young people with stress.
George (17), Adam (17), Ioan (18), Daniel (16) & Edward (16).
why? Why do young people get stressed? Odd question. Everyone gets stressed. But, for young people, there are lots of reasons...
Major examinations coming up, that determine our future prospects and judge our abilities? Stressful.
School work, homework, work-work. Building a career on the side of education? Stressful.
Lot’s of new emotions and fears as a young person. Can some people make life hard? Yes. Stressful.
Lot’s of new emotions and hormones as a young person. Boyfriends, girlfriends, friend-friends? Stressful.
We all want to be the best we can be, but at the same time figure out who we are. Social expectations? Stressful.
when we... Act solitary... We’re finding our own space and working out everything in our head. The good things and the bad things. A bit of space can help.
Lose ourselves in hobbies... It’s a form of escapism. The world got a little too hectic and we need to lose ourselves in a different one for a reasonable amount of time.
Are upset... We are upset. Pretty simple. The stress of the world got a little too much and we express it in a burst. Like a balloon popping - hopefully everything gets better.
Pick up bad habits... Are we moody and grumpy and maybe a little bit snappy? Picked up a new bad habit like drinking or smoking? These may be signs that we’re lashing out at a world that made us feel stressed.
Decline in health... Then we may feel dizziness, irritable, anxious, insomnia or even actual pain. Rest and medicine may help this pass, but help and support may be needed.
Have trouble sleeping... Then we have a lot on our mind. Racing thoughts, tension headaches, constant worrying and difficulty focusing. We may need help and something new to focus on. *The symptoms and related issues of stress on this page were sourced from www.nhs.uk. Context for the issues were provided by the young people involved on the project.
help by... Giving us company... We may want some time on our own, but that doesn’t always mean we want to be alone. Pets can be theraputic and relaxing to spend time with!
Letting us have time... If we lose ourselves in a book, or binge a TV show, or even play a game for a few hours. That’s our time to unwind. Let us have it.
Talking to us... When we’re ready, we’ll want someone to open up to and chat about how we feel. This may not be right away, but let us know you’re there for us.
*The stress busters and related helpful hints on this page were sourced from www.nhs.uk. Context for the hints were provided by the young people involved on the project.
Getting help... In some cases, we might need more help than friends or family are capable of giving. So if you know a young person who is struggling, encourage them to see a professional. To talk to somebody who can help them emotionally, mentally and physically.
Allowing silent time... Silence is underrated. If we have a lot of things going on in our head, we may need to work our own way out, maybe through meditation, or yoga!
Encouraging hobbies... Sometimes we get stuck in a rut, we feel down and we don’t know how to get out of it. So ask us to do something physical. A walk, a swim, a visit to the gym!
Thank you for reading our booklet! We hope that it helps both parents and young people in managing and approaching issues of stress. For more information, support or help, please visit the links below. anxiety.org.uk mentalhealthsupport.co.uk youngminds.org.uk
This booklet has been made with the help of Fixers, the campaign that gives young people a voice. These are the opinions of young people, and should not be relied on or substitute for formal (medical or other) advice.
Š 2018