Anxiety

Counseling Helps Anxious Teens

Teens with high stress levels are concerned about a lot of things and feel a tremendous amount of anxiety. They often have trouble falling asleep at night or feel physically sick like they might throw up. They may desire to stop being so stressed out but they are consumed by the fear that their worst thoughts may come true. They spend a lot of time thinking about what negative things might happen to them or their family. This anxiety is not just something a teen can snap out of. Counseling can benefit teens by helping them talk about the things that are leading to their anxiety. This enables them to be emotionally healthy as they learn and implement skills to help deal with whatever worries come their way.

TEEN STRESS SCALE

Today’s teens are under a tremendous amount of stress. This scale can be helpful in alerting you to situations your teen could be experiencing. The items have been given a number value according to the amount of pressure they may put on a teens well being. Add up the points for items that have touched your teen in the last 12 months.

Less than 150 = AVERAGE STRESS LOAD

Between 150 – 300 = HIGH STRESS LOAD
– Be aware of symptoms and ways to help reduce stress

Over 300 = SERIOUS STRESS LOAD
-Strong likelihood of experiencing health or behavior reactions

LIFE EVENT
VALUE
1. Death of a parent
100
2. Divorce of parent
73
3. Separation of parents
65
4. Parent’s jail term
63
5. Death of a close family member
63
6. Personal injury or illness
53
7. Parent’s remarriage
40
8. Suspension or expulsion from school
47
9. Parents’ reconciliations
45
10. Long vacation (summer, etc.)
45
11. Parent or sibling illness
44
12. Mother’s pregnancy
40
13. Anxiety over sex
39
14. birth or adoption of a new baby
39
15. New school, classroom or teacher
39
16. Money problems at home
38
17. Death or moving away of a close friend
37
18. Change in studies
36
19. More quarrels with parents
35
20. Change in school responsibilities
29
21. Sibling going away to school
29
22. Family arguments with grandparents
29
23. Winning school or community awards
28
24. Mother or father going to work or stopping work
26
25. School beginning or ending
26
26. Family’s standard of living changes
25
27. Change in personal habits (bedtime, homework, etc.)
24
28. Trouble with parents (communication, hostility, etc.)
23
29. Change in school hours, schedule of courses
20
30. Family’s moving or relocation
20
31. New sports, hobbies, family recreation activities
19
32. Change in church activities (more or less involvement)
18
33. Change in social activities (new friends, loss of old friends)
16
34. Change in sleeping habits
15
35. Change in number of family get-togethers
15
36. Change in eating habits (diets, family cooking habits)
13
37. Vacation
13
38. Christmas or other extended holidays
12
39. Breaking home, school or community rules
11

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