Let’s Talk Trash! NOV/DEC 2017
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©2017 The Keenan Group, Inc
How to sweep out the stress HAVE YOU EVER HEARD? “Being a kid is easy” “What do you have to be stressed about anyway, you don’t have to work or pay bills? “Your teenage years are the best years of your life”
By Valarie Harris - Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Mental Health Service Provider (MHSP) in the state of Tennessee and owner of Harris Professional Counseling Services, PLLC.
It’s not uncommon for adults to make statements like these. The truth is, these are ALL myths. Maybe it was easier to be in elementary school, but it really just seems to get more difficult from there for a while anyways. In fact, not only are your teenage years NOT the best of your life, your teenage and early adulthood years can be among some of the most difficult. For starters, your brain isn’t even fully developed until about 25 years of age. (A) To make matters worse, the area most lacking in development is the pre-frontal cortex. This is the area needed to organize, focus,
good news: IT’S OKAY TO NOT HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER! The adults in your life don’t even have it all together; however, they do have a fully developed brain and more time working at it, which makes it “appear” as if they have it together. In reality, they have to utilize coping skills too! If you among those experiencing excessive amounts of stress, consider these tips: 1. TELL SOMEONE. . preferably an adult.. one that will not judge you or criticize you for struggling to make sense of the world with an undeveloped brain. Consider a teacher, school counselor, parent, youth pastor or even the parent of a friend.
2 . In the world of information, seek out tips on coping with stress or make a list with the trusted adult. Pinterest is full of great tips and I have a “stress board” on mine. Feel free to follow it! (https://www.pinterest. com/HarrisPLLC/) Some of my favorites are: being crafty, going for a walk, listening to great music and laughing.
complete tasks and manage time. (B & C) Yet, as students, you are expected to organize, focus, complete tasks and manage your time. Funny, huh? As if THAT wasn’t enough, consider the pesky amygdala (Pronounced a-mig-de-la). This is the almond shaped area responsible for interpreting danger and fear and it’s OVERACTIVE in the teen years causing teens to misread and misinterpret emotions all while
3. SEEK PROFESSIONAL HELP preferably with someone who is licensed and specializes in this sort of thing. Parents are generally happy to take their teens for help when they ask for it. 4. Consider a support group . Try www.teenlineonline.org or call 800-TLC-TEEN 5. REMEMBER THIS TOO SHALL PASS.. Rome wasn’t built in a day and your brain won’t be fully built until your 20’s. Keeping that in perspective will help. (A) https://www.goodtherapy.org/blog/psychpedia/abstract-thinking (A) http://mentalhealthdaily.com/2015/02/18/at-what-age-is-the-brain-fully-developed/ (C) https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/health-matters/201006/the-teenagers-brain (D) http://www.brainleadersandlearners.com/amygdala/tame-your-amygdala/ (E) http://myerscounseling.com/decision-making/what-were-you-thinkingunderstanding-your-teens- choices/ (F) http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-talk.aspx
over responding to them (D & E) . On the one hand, teens are expected to “be mature, responsible and figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life” In the next breath, the adults are telling those same teens “slow down, you’re not grown, you are to do as you’re told”. Confused yet? Confusion can be a sign of stress. See how this fact-based article just induced stress in your undeveloped brain? Apparently, you’re not alone. A survey found that 13-17 year olds are experiencing stress at unhealthy levels. (F) Unhealthy levels of stress leads to physical and emotional symptoms such as increased feeling of sadness, worry, anger, and irritability as well as poor sleep habits, increased fatigue, and lack of concentration. Nearly a third of those teens weren’t confident in their management of the stress either. (F) The good news (FINALLY, YES THERE IS GOOD NEWS) is that YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! Yep, you are not the only one enduring these tough years. Here’s some more
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