{"id":57314,"date":"2022-06-10T07:23:06","date_gmt":"2022-06-10T12:23:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/?p=57314"},"modified":"2024-04-06T06:27:48","modified_gmt":"2024-04-06T06:27:48","slug":"4-signs-of-burnout-in-your-teen-and-how-to-help-them-through-it","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/4-signs-of-burnout-in-your-teen-and-how-to-help-them-through-it\/","title":{"rendered":"4 signs of burnout in your teen\u2013 and how to help them through it"},"content":{"rendered":"

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They\u2019ve been hearing about exams for ages. So it\u2019s no surprise that lots of teens are feeling\u00a0overwhelmed<\/a>\u00a0by the time exam season rolls in. To help you spot burnout in your teen, we\u2019ll go over 4 signs to look out for\u2013 plus 4 ways you can support them through it, so they can get back to feeling their best.<\/p>\n

Signs of teen burnout<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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  1. They\u2019re not sleeping or eating well.<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. They\u2019re a lot more irritable.<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. They want to spend all their time alone.<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. They\u2019ve lost interest in things they normally enjoy.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    1. They\u2019re not sleeping or eating well.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Exam anxiety<\/a>\u00a0can have a negative knock-on effect when it comes to your teen\u2019s physical health. Thoughts like, \u2018I\u2019m going to fail,\u2019 or \u2018I have to do well or I won\u2019t get into a good uni,\u2019 can keep them up at all hours. Sleep is so important to their wellbeing, so you want to nip their worries in the bud. As a parent, you\u2019ll know the tell-tale signs of when they\u2019re not getting enough sleep. Do they look tired? Are they falling asleep in class, or at strange times of the day? Are they more irritable than usual?<\/p>\n

    And when they\u2019re stressed, their appetite can take a hit, too. Are they skipping meals? Leaving lots of food on their plate? Or, are they eating tons of junk food? Under-eating, and overeating are both red flags when it comes to their wellbeing\u2013and it might mean they\u2019re feeling overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

    2. They\u2019re a lot more irritable.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    If they\u2019re lashing out or having meltdowns, they might be feeling the pressure. Teenage years are prickly anyway, with their brains going through lots of changes. But if you\u2019re seeing a big difference in their mood during exam season, it could be a sign of burnout. They might have gaps in their learning, and they\u2019re lashing out\u00a0 because they\u2019re just not getting it. Or, they\u2019re overworking because they\u2019re worried they\u2019re not good enough. Whatever the reason behind their stress\u2013 there\u2019s a good chance they\u2019ll take it out on those around them.<\/p>\n

    3. They want to spend all their time alone.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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    What makes spotting burnout trickier with teens is that they like to spend more time on their own anyway. But when they\u2019re not seeing friends and keeping to themselves more than usual, it might be a sign that they\u2019re having a hard time. There are behaviours you can look out for. Like if they\u2019re lying in bed staring up at the ceiling, or at their screens for hours at a time\u2013 it\u2019s a good idea to check-in to see what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n

    4. They\u2019ve lost interest in things they normally enjoy.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

    Hobbies and interests are so important to your teen\u2019s wellbeing. It helps keep them balanced. But if they\u2019re pulling away from the things they love\u2013 like football practice or even just watching their favourite shows, it might be a sign they\u2019re overworking.<\/p>\n

    How you can help them get through it<\/strong><\/h3>\n

    It\u2019s completely normal for you to worry when your teen\u2019s going through a stressful time. But there\u2019s still lots you can do as a parent to help them along. Exam season is a bit like a marathon, and it takes regular self-care to make it to the finish line.<\/p>\n

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    1. Have regular chats to check in.<\/a><\/li>\n
    2. Help them build down-time into their schedules.<\/a><\/li>\n
    3. Give them advice on managing their screens.<\/a><\/li>\n
    4. Reach out for support.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      1.\u00a0Have regular chats to check-in.<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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      \"illustration-mother-and-son\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

      Having regular time together makes it easier for your teen to open up.\u00a0Dr Louise Egan<\/a>, a child psychologist, says it\u2019s important to find out\u00a0why\u00a0<\/em>your teen is working themselves so hard. Do they think they\u2019re not good enough? Are they worried about what you think? Spending regular time with your teen means you can get a better picture on why they\u2019re so anxious. \u2018There\u2019s no quick fix,\u2019 Dr Egan says. But if you put your teen in the driver\u2019s seat by asking them, \u2018What can I do to help?\u2019 you might be surprised by how they open up. And with lots of chats and encouragement, you can help them work out a more balanced relationship with their revision.<\/p>\n

      2. Help them build down-time into their schedules.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      A revision timetable can help your teen to stay on top of things. It means they can relax too, since they\u2019ve scheduled their study time. To make their day-to-day more balanced, they can slot in fun activities. Encourage them to include things like, \u2018trip to the cinema\u2019, or \u2018catch-up with friends\u2019 into their timetable. If they\u2019re still stressed about spending time away from revision, let them know how breaks actually help their brain learn better.<\/p>\n

      Here\u2019s something you can share with your overworking teen:<\/p>\n

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      3.\u00a0Give them advice on managing screen time.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      Screen time<\/a>\u00a0is not all bad\u2013 in fact there are lots of\u00a0helpful learning resources<\/a>\u00a0they can tap into while they\u2019re revising. But, screens can have a negative effect on their wellbeing too, by getting in the way of sleep. And when they\u2019re not sleeping well, it affects everything\u2013from their mood, to how they study and learn. Encourage them to have a break from their screens 1-2 hours before bed. And if they just can\u2019t part with their phone, have them change the settings to night time mode, so that the blue lights are at least switched off.<\/p>\n

      4.\u00a0Reach out for support.<\/strong><\/h2>\n

      There are times when they just need a helping hand from an expert. Whether that\u2019s with a\u00a0tutor<\/a>\u00a0(if their anxiety comes from\u00a0learning gaps<\/a>), or with a healthcare professional\u2013 there are people and organizations here to help teens.<\/p>\n

      Here are a few good resources to tap into, as recommended by the NHS:<\/p>\n