supporting stressed teens
SIMPLE TOOLS THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Would you like to know how to help your teenager reduce stress, regulate their emotions, and become the best version of themselves? Is this something you’d like for your whole family?
Last year was a roller coaster of emotions for our family. My beautiful children were navigating life with separated parents, and my daughter was under immense pressure completing her last year at school. Honestly, I don’t know how we would have managed without kinesiology.
Kinesiology helps identify what’s really going on beneath the surface - the core cause of stress rather than just the symptoms.
Once we identify stress at its root, it breaks the mental loop of “I’m stressed, I’m stressed, I’m stressed or I’m going to fail!” Without deeper enquiry, the only options often feel like trying to relax, ignore the issue, or disconnect from it and let’s be honest, the problem is usually still there at the end.
How a Kinesiology Session Supports Stress
In a kinesiology session, we work to:
Identify the problem
Create a new goal
Resolve the issue
Essential Healthy Habits That Support Teens
There are some key healthy “hygiene” habits that can make a significant difference to a teenager’s well-being and performance:
Hydration
Water is essential for physical performance, brain function, energy levels, headache prevention, and healthy digestion. Around 1.5–2 litres per day is recommended, depending on body size and activity levels.Healthy Diet
A balanced diet supports growth, development, and emotional regulation. Reducing excessive sugar intake can help stabilise mood, energy, and overall health.Exercise
Movement benefits the entire body, including the brain. Regular exercise supports mental health, emotional balance, and improved sleep quality.Sleep
Adequate sleep supports cognitive function, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. 8–10 hours per night is recommended for teenagers.Oxygen increases endurance and stamina and supports mental clarity and focus. Open the windows and doors, take short breaks in between study sessions outside and take some deep breaths.
Home Support Strategies
In kinesiology, we use muscle testing to ask the body’s wisdom what will best support the individual in relation to their stress and goals.
Some supportive outcomes have included:
Emotional Stress Release (ESR): Placing your hand on your forehead helps calm the nervous system, release built-up energy, reduce mental fog and overwhelm, and support clearer thinking and creativity.
Positive affirmations
Writing affirmations such as “I am strong,” “I am kind,” and “I am capable” to support self-esteem and confidence.Visualisation
Visualising the desired outcome helps create new neural pathways, preparing the brain for success.Breath
Breathing helps regulate our nervous system. Inhaling energises us and delivers oxygen, while exhaling calms the body and mind. For a balanced approach, try box breathing—inhale for 4, hold for 4, and exhale for 4.
Future self-perspective
Imagining what your 30-year-old self would say can help teens gain perspective when stress feels overwhelming. This approach supported my daughter immensely during her final exams.
Try asking: “What do you think your 30-year-old self would say to you right now?”Other strategies that support teens stress include practising mindfullness, journalling, hobbies, time management and building a strong social support network.
I am deeply grateful for the support kinesiology has brought to my family and to so many people I’ve worked with in clinic. I would love to support you, your teenager, or someone you know in finding greater calm, clarity, and emotional balance.
