Everyone stresses about issues in life at one time or another. Not all stress is bad. There are stresses that help us to excel in certain situations. For example, a teen may worry about failing a particular test and in response study harder.

Other stresses can be detrimental to a teenager. A teen may allow his or her worries to become all consuming and affect the teenager negatively in powerful ways. Teens who experience stress may act out their aggressions, lose sleep, or gain or lose weight. Teens simply do not have the experience or tools necessary to deal effectively with stress.http://www.mindspring.com/~wholistic/teens_stress.html

• Moving to a New Home or School

• Dating

• Not Being Asked out on Dates

• Tests and Homework

• Social Awkwardness

• Relationships with Friends

• Sports or other Extracurricular Activities

• Divorce

• Family Problems, such as, Alcohol or Abuse

• Physical Developmenthttp://www.teenhelp.com/teen-stress/teen-stress-causes.html

• Loss of Interest in Activities that Promoted Enjoyment

• Insomnia

• Loss of Appetite

• Overreaction to Minor Situations

• Talks about Suicide

• Multiple Headaches or Stomachaches

• Withdraws from Friends

• Takes Extreme Risks

• Exercises Obsessively

• Expresses Feelings of Worthlessnesshttp://www.troubledteen101.com/articles43.html

• Be Encouraging and Positive

• Use Active Listening Skills[http://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm

• Be Understanding- do not minimize the problem

• Support extracurricular activities

• Seek therapeutic assistance

• Ask open-ended, pointed questions

• Avoid 'Yes' or 'No' questions

• Make sure there is plenty of time to talk

• Teach practical coping skills

• Teach relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing or meditation. Yoga is also a stress-reliever http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Helping+Teenagers+with+Stress§ion=Facts+for+Families