Strategies for both parents and their children of all ages.
By Pam Willsey, Willsey Connections
Although most Americans have experienced elevated stress levels due to COVID-19, an October 2020 American Psychological Association report found that adults ages 18 to 23 were experiencing the highest stress levels. Among my own clients, this age range specifically attributed the majority of their stress to education. Campus closures, online learning, unpredictability surrounding expectations, and insecurity about the future have weighed heavily on young adults.
For example, one of my clients is a college freshman. Like a lot of freshmen, she found her initial transition into college challenging. Feelings of anxiety about being overwhelmed by remote learning expectations gave her panic attacks. When she learned she would need to move to off-campus housing after winter break, her anxiety escalated to the point where she felt paralyzed when she had to make any decisions at all.
Another client is a college athlete I began working with after the pandemic started. She expressed overwhelming anxiety and depression. Juggling hybrid academics, being socially disconnected, and her feelings of inferiority in her sport had completely fatigued her. In one of our sessions, she shared that she had tested positive for COVID and felt somewhat relieved because now she could take a break.
Red Flags
Our teens and emerging adults shouldn’t feel relief after testing positive for a potentially deadly virus. That’s a glaring sign that they’re not managing their stress appropriately.
As the end of the semester approaches for college students, it is a time of year that is typically stressful even under normal conditions. And without a spring break for relief, this year has presented additional challenges. Piling on the effects of the pandemic, we’re sure to see stress levels escalate. Working with a life coach or therapist could help your teen or emerging adult manage their minds so they can manage their stress. Additional support and guidance on how to build and develop the tools they need to navigate life’s challenges are important now and in the future.
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If your teen is experiencing stress that is impacting their ability to perform academically or to enjoy everyday activities, these three tips may help:
1. Connections. Isolation and loneliness only aggravate stress. Encourage your teen or emerging adult to reach out to old friends, video chat with family members, and share their feelings with those they trust. Strengthening the connections that matter to them will alleviate some symptoms of stress.
2. Self-Care. Remind your teen or emerging adult that caring for yourself is about more than sweet treats or online purchases. Self-care is caring for your mind. Getting enough sleep. Nourishing your body with healthy foods. Exercising to increase endorphins. Taking a few moments to “just be,” sit with your emotions and feelings, and learn from them. Recognizing that feelings are an internal GPS will help them to lean in before choosing the next right step.
3. Seek help. College students can reach out to counseling services, advisors, and professors at their school as a great place to start. However, according to the Association for University and College Counseling Directors in 2019, the mean ratio of student-to-counseling staff at colleges and universities is 1,737 to 1. Psychology Today has a therapy directory. Primary care doctors are an excellent source to find mental health professionals in your community. Alternatively, certified life coaches are another great resource. My clients and I work together to strengthen the connections they have with themselves and others to help them create and thrive during their college years and beyond.
What my clients all have in common, despite their unique situations, is the fact that the stressors that they were experiencing initially exceeded their ability to manage the challenge. Since we’ve been working together, my clients have increased their self-awareness and now have the tools they need to successfully navigate their challenges.
The pandemic has highlighted how many of our kids, teens, and emerging adults may have been like a duck on a pond. On the surface, the duck looks to be gliding along seamlessly and without much effort. Just under the surface, though, it’s using every ounce of energy. If you’re the parent of or work with emerging adults, remember to take a quick mental health pulse on them, even if they’re not showing outward signs of distress.
Do you know a girl or have a daughter who could use some guidance?
Visit my website WillseyConnections.com for more information and let’s connect.
