Stress from Covid and Adolescents
By Rachel Fuller on Thursday, October 22nd, 2020 in Anxiety Counseling. No Comments
By now, you have probably decided that 2020 has not been shaping up to be a great year. COVID19 has undoubtedly turned your and everyone’s world upside down. At this point in the year however you are likely past the shock of wearing a mask, learning how to social distance, and washing your hands obsessively. In all likelihood you are probably more accustomed to post COVID life. At least when it comes to day to day functioning. Many other parts of life however still don’t feel quite normal.
For many students, online remote learning has become the “norm” for the year. Others have the option of a hybrid in person learning. While advantages to both, neither can hardly say they are normal. This has put a lot of stress on students. I have found in my practice students are experiencing a great deal more stress related to their academics and relationships than ever before. A significant part of a normal school day is having 7 hours of your day designated towards school. This provides a sense of structure and routine in ones day. It’s a place where students can socialize with peers, feel productive and participate in sports or after school activities. It can offer distance and healthy separation from ones’ family, which for some is an emotional lifesaver because of possible strained or toxic relationships within their family.
All that encompasses a normal school day has been unfortunately just about disappeared with the effects of COVID. What I have found helpful for many of the students I work with is to stick to the things they can control within this reality to cope as best as they can during this time.
- Here are a few strategies I offer:Keep as much structure and routine in your day as possible. If you are doing remote school, find those quiet places you can focus. If you cannot find it at home, go to a coffee shop and social distance there. Go to a park. Sit in your car. Get creative! Use a physical planner to write down your assignments. Take 15 minute breaks do move around. Do 5 push ups, walk around the block, play with your dog. Eat a healthy snack. Then set an alarm to get back to school work. Keep structure as best you can. Ask others to help if you.
- Socialize: Video chat, text and try to see friends in person – safely. Don’t forgo a chance to physically be together outside if it is safe for you and them to do that. Staying connected is so critical for your emotional health and mental health wellbeing.
- Take things one day at a time. When we get overwhelmed our brains move from our pre-frontal cortex to our amygdala which causes us to stop coping in helpful ways. Take a deep breath, practice self-care and talk to someone about your stress. Then make a list of all the ways you can cope through stressful situations for the day. Sometimes a day is overwhelming. Believing that your whole week will be so is going into all or nothing thinking. That won’t help you and is not the truth. Doing grounding activities will help bring perspective back to you and build your emotional resilience muscles.
- Seek out counseling if you feel like your stressors are beyond a level you can cope with. It is really important to get the help you need at this time. Remember, the effects and realities of this pandemic have been life altering and it is only human to feel stressed out about it. For many, seeking counseling has helped give them the tools and safe place they are needing to continue coping with these challenging days.
Latest posts by Rachel Fuller (see all)
- Stress from Covid and Adolescents - October 22, 2020
- Teens Facing Emotional Stress of COVID-19 - April 7, 2020