Experiencing Teenage Stress, Anxiety or Panic?

As I progress as a coach, more and more of my sessions focus on how to reduce panic, anxiety and stress. I have seen a significant increase in these concerns in young people, specifically in secondary education.

These issues were just not familiar to me when I was in my teens.  In those days anxiety and stress were issues for adults that worked too hard, not for young people! Being a teenager was more carefree in my day.

So what has changed for so many young people to be affected?

In my experience, pressure is the main factor in the majority of cases and this tends to come from peers, school, family and social media. The focus on academic results and public awareness of them puts students under an enormous amount of pressure to exceed or maintain the previous year’s results.

As the education environment constantly changes, so does the requirement for supporting students who are not coping with this increase in pressure. School pastoral teams are being asked to educate students regarding coping methods and strategies and how to use them to combat stress and anxiety.

Most schools offer a counselling service, although more forward thinking schools are also promoting coaching – which is more about taking action rather than a talking therapy. Coaching enables students to build confidence, increase self-esteem, consider different perspectives and take action and control in order to achieve specific goals. Focusing on the soft skills of communication, body language and building rapport is an essential part of the coaching process, especially in preparation for education and career progression.

Integrating techniques such as Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness and Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) enables me to coach my students and clients effectively, helping them to build a toolbox  of coping mechanisms to deal with stress and anxiety, no matter how it manifests itself.  Some of the techniques I use are:

  • Visualisation
  • Breathing
  • Mind Games
  • Mindfulness
  • Meditation
  • Distraction
  • Tapping

To find out which techniques are most suitable for your situation, you could attend workshops or read self help books. Alternatively, if you prefer a more personal approach tailored to your needs then why not contact me?