Stress and anxiety is unfortunately a common reality many adolescents endure on a day-to-day basis. From dealing with bullies to pressure to fit in socially, school-aged kids experience a variety of stress-inducing situations, and are limited to the necessary tools and understanding of how to constructively deal with their issues.

If you are concerned about your child’s stress-levels and are looking for healthy solutions to help them overcome these issues, take a look at these simple yet effective suggestions:

1.) “Face your fears, don’t run from them…”

As the parent, you are the strongest and most trusted source of security and information your child has. And as the main authoritative figure, you have the power to influence their decision-making. Encourage your child to face his/her fears, and to avoid running away from them. By having them understand that fear is simply a figment of thought, they will have a better perspective and context regarding that they control their thoughts—and no one else can take that away from them.

2.) Promote Physical Activity

As I’m sure you’re most likely well aware, physical exertion is an extremely important component of alleviating stress and burning off anger. But by helping them to understand why physical activity is a great source of overcoming feelings of sadness, they will want to take full advantage of its benefits. Explain to them that when you run and play, your mind begins to “feels good,” which will help them to understand why exercise is important for reasons other than staying fit.

3.) Focus on the Positive Qualities

When a child is angry, sad and anxious, transitioning their thoughts to concentrate on the positives of themselves become more difficult. Help them to focus on what makes them stand out from the crowd, such as their intelligence, empathy, friendliness, beauty and love. The more you instill the positive qualities of what makes them special, the less likely they are to ruminate on negative thinking.

4.) Laugh with them

Laughter is extremely important. If you notice that your child is feeling blue, making them laugh is wonderful tool for combating negative thoughts. When we laugh, we experience a rush of endorphins that helps to alleviate anxiety, elevates mood, put things into perspective and helps us better deal with stress. And remember, laughter is contagious, and if they see you brimming with laughter, they can’t help but to join you.

5.) Watch Television with them

Okay, television may not be the healthiest resource for combating negative thoughts, however, it can be if used in moderation. If you simply can’t get your child out of their funk no matter how hard you try, flip on the tube and help them soothe their frustration with an interesting or funny program. And if you’re struggling to find a child appropriate show or movie that your child will enjoy, DIRECTV’s Select Package is a wonderful and cost-effective resource for finding diverse programs that are suited to a variety of viewing-tastes and preferences.

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