Adolescence is a time of big changes, both good and bad. But it might also bring new sources of stress in the form of homework assignments, tests, friendship problems, and growing independence.
Some stress is a normal part of life. A little pressure can even help teenagers prepare for a challenge, such as an exam or presentation. However, stress can become a problem when it occurs frequently, giving the brain and body very little time to properly recover.
Understanding stress and the developing brain can help you recognize what’s happening with your teen and when they might need some extra support.
In this guide, we explore:
Stress is the body’s natural response to a demand or a challenge.[1] When the brain detects a potential threat, the body responds through the stress response. This protective reaction prepares us to deal with danger or move away from it.[2]
When your teen faces a stressful situation, hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline help activate the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. This makes you feel more alert and ready for action, preparing your body to either fight off danger or flee the situation and get to safety. They might notice their:[3]
This response can be useful in the short term. For example, if your teen has an important exam tomorrow, they might feel nervous, become more alert, and feel motivated to study for it. Once the exam is over, their body should shift smoothly back from “stress response mode” to a calm resting state. This is known as “nervous system regulation.”[4]
Stress isn’t necessarily the problem. The concern is when the stress response is activated repeatedly, with little time for the body and brain to recover.
It’s easy to think of stress as a one-off experience that passes. But short-term and chronic stress can affect the body differently, especially when it comes to the impact of stress on the developing brain.
Short-term stress is usually linked to a specific situation, such as:
These stressful feelings tend to ease once the situation has passed.[2]
Chronic stress is different. It can develop when stressful situations continue over time, or when young people have little opportunity to recover between them. In a teen’s life, this might come from things like:
Stress is a fairly common experience for lots of people, including adolescents. According to the American Institute of Stress:[5]
This suggests that many teens are experiencing levels of stress that may be impacting their mental or physical health.
When the brain and body don’t have enough time to recover from each stressful event, it can affect sleep, concentration, and mood, making everyday challenges harder to manage.[3] But what actually happens in the brain when a person is stressed?
When teenagers encounter a stressful situation, their brain and nervous system quickly respond as though they’re facing a potential threat.
The amygdala, a part of the brain involved in detecting threats and processing emotions, helps activate the stress response. Stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, are released and help prepare the body to respond.[3]
At the same time, teenagers’ attention may narrow towards the immediate challenge. This can be helpful when they need to react quickly, such as when there is danger. But it’s less useful when the stressful situation isn’t something they can immediately solve.[2]
The prefrontal cortex, which is involved in executive functioning skills such as planning, decision-making, and managing emotions, is still developing throughout adolescence.[6] This means that when young people are stressed, they may find it harder to hit the pause button, think through their options, or work out how to handle a strong emotional reaction.
So stress doesn’t just affect how your teen feels. It can temporarily influence how their brain functions, too. But what might this look like in everyday life?
Imagine your teen has a stressful day at school. They come home, snap at you over something small, forget about their homework, then become overwhelmed when you remind them about it. Later, once they’ve calmed down, they may wonder why they reacted that way.
This doesn’t mean they’re incapable of making good decisions. When they’re overwhelmed, though, the brain systems involved in emotional responses can make it harder to access skills like planning and impulse control. As their stress settles, these skills may become easier to use again.
Adolescence is already a time of major change. Your teen may be growing more independent, figuring out complicated friendships, and making decisions that carry bigger consequences. But the teen brain is still developing the systems needed for effective planning, impulse control, emotional regulation, and managing multiple demands.[6]
During this crucial time of rapid adolescent development, chronic stress may interfere with some of the brain changes that support skills such as attention, learning, and decision-making.[7]
What’s more, research also suggests that chronic stress can affect areas such as the amygdala, which plays an important role in processing emotions and responding to threats. Ongoing stress may also influence the development of the prefrontal cortex and the hippocampus, which are involved in decision-making, memory, and learning.[8]
Because of these changes, ongoing stress may make it harder for your teen to:[2]
Teenagers may also be more sensitive to the effects of stress while their brains are still developing. Persistent stress has been associated with a greater risk of developing stress-related mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression.[6][9]
This doesn’t mean young people can’t cope with stress. When stress and the developing brain are so connected, it’s worth paying attention when stress becomes a regular part of their life.
Mission Prep is here to help you or your loved one take the next steps towards an improved mental well-being.
So, how can you tell when stress is starting to affect your teen?
Stress is common during adolescence, but this doesn’t mean every sign of stress should be dismissed as “Just being a teenager.”
It can be difficult to know when emotional strain and academic pressure begin to affect an adolescent’s mental health. After all, a certain amount of stress can be useful. Instead, it may be helpful to look at what’s changed for your teen and whether those changes are affecting their everyday life.
If your teen is coping with long-term or chronic stress, you may notice the following signs:[5][10][11]
Emotional and Cognitive Signs:
Physical Signs:
Changes in Behavior:
While these are often signs of stress, they could also have several other causes, such as:[12][13]
On top of these changes, adolescents may also experience burnout.
Burnout can develop when stress and pressure continue for too long without enough opportunity to rest and recover.
You might first notice the signs when your teen says they feel exhausted all the time, even after a good night’s sleep. Then, they might seem to have problems concentrating, lose motivation, or say that nothing they do is ever enough.
Teen burnout isn’t simply a case of being tired after a busy week. It’s a state of severe physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion.
Knowing how to recognize the signs that your teen is dealing with stress means you can support them in accessing the help they need.
Mission Prep provides treatment for teens experiencing various mental health conditions. Mental Health support is a phone call away – call 866-901-4047 to learn about your treatment options.
See our residences in Southern California’s Los Angeles & San Diego areas.
View our facilities in Loudoun County, VA within the DC metro area.
Some stress is a normal part of growing up, but ongoing pressure can become difficult to manage when teenagers don’t have the chance to rest and recover. If stress begins affecting your teen’s school attendance, performance, sleep, relationships, daily activities, or mood, know that you don’t have to face it alone. We’re here to support you.
At Mission Prep Teen Treatment, we offer a variety of treatment programs and therapy services to support teenagers facing mental health and well-being challenges, including stress, anxiety, and burnout. Our team works with your teen to understand what they’re experiencing and develop a personalized treatment plan around their individual needs and goals.
Whether your teen could benefit from residential treatment at one of our locations, or something more flexible like an outpatient mental health program or virtual telehealth to treat their mental health concerns, our team can help. Mission Prep Teen Treatment accepts insurance and is in-network with most major providers. We are happy to help you check your insurance coverage for mental health care.
Contact us online or call 866-901-4047 to speak with a caring member of our team who can answer any questions you might have. Reach out for a free, no-obligation conversation. We can talk through what you’re seeing and whether our support might be right for your family.
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It’s normal to feel worried about your teen if you suspect that they’re chronically stressed. To help, we’ve provided the following answers to FAQs about stress in teens that we hear.
You can’t remove all stressors from a teen’s life, nor can you solve their problems for them. Instead, what you can do is listen to them, support healthy eating, sleep, and exercise routines, and offer enjoyable activities that help them relax.
Just knowing that you’re there for them unconditionally can help ease their nervous system.
No one knows your teen like you do, so if you suspect that something is off and has been for a while, it may be time to seek support.
Also, sudden and significant changes are worth paying attention to, so if their sleep, mood, eating habits, and performance have shifted, seeking professional help may be a wise step.
Yes, stress can cause physical symptoms. If issues like stomach pains, headaches, muscle tension, and tiredness are persistent and without a medical cause, stress could be to blame. In fact, physical complaints are often the first sign of chronic stress and anxiety.
However, even if stress is at the root of these issues, it’s important to see a doctor to rule out any potential medical causes.
Are You Covered for Mental Health Treatment?
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