Everyone has a hard time in their teenage years to some extent. Adolescent stress is something which everyone experiences as a teenager. Many things can contribute to adolescent stress, such as the physical changes and hormonal shifts which are a natural part of puberty. Adolescents are also learning how to cope with their growing and changing bodies and emotions, even as they struggle with becoming adults and making important decisions for themselves. All of these factors can lead to adolescent stress.

The following are just some of the things which can be difficult or stressful for adolescents to cope with:

- the separation or divorce of their parents

- moving to a new house or a new city

- beginning studies at a new school

- a death in the family

- conflicts with their teachers, their parents or their classmates

- starting or ending their early romantic and/or sexual relationships

- having sex for the first time

- family illness (physical or mental), alcoholism or other troubles

- their family experiencing financial problems

- living in a dangerous neighborhood

- physical changes in the body

- pressure to achieve academically

- negative feelings and thoughts about themselves

Of course, all of these things could cause stress in adults too. Adolescents, however have less control over their lives and tend to cope with stress differently than do adults.

Every teenager experiences stress. They may show this by:

- irritability and mood swings

- anxiety, worrying

- withdrawal, avoiding other people

- using alcohol or drugs

- becoming physically ill

Here are some things a person can do to relieve stress. Some of them are immediate, for use when you feel most anxious, angry or panicky. Others are long term techniques that will help your hormones and emotions to stabilize.

- watch or read something that makes you laugh

- listen to music which relaxes you

- talk to friends or play with your pets

- exercise regularly

- eat healthily, including a variety of vegetables in your diet

- avoid stimulants (coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, sugar, tobacco, alcohol, drugs) especially when feeling stressed out

- learning relaxation techniques, including deep breathing

- practice yoga, tai chi or meditation

- learning to communicate with others in a way which is assertive but not threatening. This involves learning to clearly communicate how you feel or what you want

- if you do not know where to start with a task, break it down into smaller parts and do them one by one

- try to replace negative thoughts with positive ones such as affirmations

- don't dwell on the possibility of negative outcomes

If you are under a lot of stress and your health or enjoyment of life is suffering as a result, stress management training may help you. This will teach you some of the above skills in a very practical way so that you get to a point where you learn to relax out of the stress almost as soon as you feel it.

Finally, do not feel bad if you get stressed from time to time. Remember, everybody does. The difference is only in how we deal with it. Adolescent stress does not have to take over your life.