If you’re the parent of a teenager reading this article right now and your teen is with you...stop reading...and put your teen in front of the screen. This month my column is about ways teens can handle the stress of being a teenager in the 21st century. Stress at school, with friends, with tragedy, with life.  
 
Dr. Maria Trapp, a family counselor, was recently on NewsChannel Four talking to our young viewers about resilience. Resilience is the ability to adapt well in the face of hard times. Here are some of her tips on ways to build resilience.
 
• Get Together. Talk with your friends and yes, even your parents. Your parents have more life experience than you do even if it seems they never were your age. Don’t be afraid to express your opinion, even if your friend or parent takes an opposite view.
• Create A Hassle-Free Zone. Make your room a hassle-free zone. Don’t keep everyone out, but create a haven free from stress and anxieties.
• Express Yourself. Tragedy can bring up conflicting emotions that may be too hard to talk about, but try. If talking isn’t working, do something else to capture your emotions—start a journal, draw, paint.
• Turn It Off. Try to limit the amount of news you take in from around the world—whether it’s from television, newspapers, magazines, or the Internet. Pay attention to how the news is delivered—the way the news is presented can sometimes add to the feeling that nothing is going right.
• Take Care Of Yourself. Exercise, eat right, and get enough sleep. If you don’t, you may be grouchy and nervous at a time when you have to stay sharp.
• Stick To The Program. During a time of major stress, map out a routine and stick to it. You may be doing all kinds of new things if you’re just now entering high school but don’t forget the routines that give you comfort, whether it’s talking before class, going out to lunch, or having a nightly phone call with a friend.  
 
I would add prayer to that list Nothing can make you feel better than talking to God. Tell Him your problems. Ask for His help in dealing with the issues that are bothering you, and ask to know His will for your life.

Just because you learn to be resilient doesn’t mean you won’t have stress. You will have times when you are not happy. That’s okay...that’s  life. But these tips might help those times occur less often and with less severity. (Now you can let your parent have the computer!)

 
Until next time...