Teen stress has been heightened by the pandemic. Here’s how to help them

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Stressed kids can present as irritable, avoidant, even withdrawn. And/or their stress might manifest in physical symptoms, including headaches, stomach issues and difficulty sleeping. Photo: Pexels

 

(John Duffy/ CNN Health) — I started working with Shannon, a high school junior, at the beginning of lockdown. Shannon has asthma, and she’s afraid of getting Covid-19 herself. She’s also afraid of making a family member or someone else sick. And she fears the pandemic will never be over, that things will never again feel normal.

I also work with Tim, a high school senior. I started therapy with Tim about two years ago. He is a handsome, popular, athletic guy. But he’s stressed about being able to afford the upper-middle-class life his parents have given him. He can’t picture being successful, and he is painfully anxious about it. Especially during the pandemic, possible failure is on his mind nearly constantly. (…)

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