b'the first step, but equipping them with the positive, healthy skillsCOMMON SIGNS OF STRESS IN CHILDREN they need to handle daily stressors is just as important. Exhaustion HOW TO HELP TEENS DEAL WITH STRESSThinking only about the problem If you notice signs of high stress in your teen, initiate a conversa-Cryingtion about it and offer helpful remedies for stress relief.Avoiding friends, activities, school, social events Difficulty concentrating# 1 | PUSH THE PAUSE BUTTONBehavioral changes: moodiness, aggression, or clinginessFirst off, let them know it is okay to take a break when they are feel-Decreased or increased appetiteing stressed and overwhelmed. Pushing the pause button allows Complaints of stomachaches or headaches them to reflect, relax, and reboot.Sleep problems # 2 | IDENTIFY THE STRESSORSAnger/rage toward self or othersHelp them sort out the sources of their stress and think of ways to Self-injuryeliminate or reduce the tension around the culprits. Maybe its time Substance abuseto cut back on some activities to lighten the load or prioritize whats most important. Its easy to get over-committed and over-involved to the detriment of our health.COMMON STRESSORS THAT ADOLESCENTS EXPERIENCE# 3 | MAKE A PLANSocial mediaWe all have different ways of dealing with stress.Find out what Changes in bodyworks for your teen. It may be relaxing, listening to music, taking School demandsa walk, writing, or drawingwhatever it is, help your teens find healthy ways to alleviate their stress and encourage them to make Friend/peer relationshipsit their go-to solution. Parents/family problems Too much on their plate# 4 | CHECK IN FREQUENTLYRecent move/changing schoolsKeep the conversation going and check in often to assess their Graduatingstress levels. Observe how well they are managing stress, so you Breakupscan help fine-tune the plan if needed. Trouble with the lawSTRESS IS NOT ALL BADFamily financial problemsWhile the idea of stress seems like a negative, there is a positive Separation/divorce in familyside to having stress in our lives. Unsafe home lifeYou always think about stress as a really bad thing, but its not, Teen dating violencesaid Daniela Kaufer, associate professor of integrative biology at Abuse/neglectthe University of California, Berkeley. Some amounts of stress are Chronic illnessgood to push you just to the level of optimal alertness, behavioral, Victim of bullying/cyberbullyingand cognitive performance. Death of a loved oneLike butterflies in the stomach before a big game, performance, or presentation, stress can serve as motivation. Its a normal partHEALTHY WAYS FOR CHILDREN & TEENS TO RELIEVE STRESSof life. We feel a little stressed in the morning when were rushingFind a way to vent in a healthy wayaround to get ready for the day, but that stress motivates us to get up, get going, and be on time to school and work. Write down thoughts and feelings Draw or paintThe goal isnt to eliminate stress entirely, but to evaluate it, address Relax it, and manage it in an open and healthy way. If we can help our Exerciseteens learn to do this, it will go a long way toward boosting their Sleephealth and well-being.Spend time with family and friends Editors Note: Bianca is an Outreach and Education Manager at Grant Hal-Pet animals liburton Foundation, facilitating educational presentations in North Texas Do breathing exercises schools and community organizations for children, teens, and young adults. MeditateThe Foundation works to help families recognize the signs of mental illness Listen to music and offers a variety of programs on mental wellness, suicide prevention, bul-Eat healthy foods lying, resilience, and other mental health issues. For more information, go to Practice positive thinking and affirmations www.granthalliburton.org.GoodLifeFamilyMag.comSEPTEMBER | OCTOBER 201943'