Yes, Teens Experience Burnout. Signs to Look For and How to Address it
With the high stress, high demand world we live in, the experience of burnout is not limited to adults. When you combine the demands of academics, extracurricular activities, social pressures, both on and offline, you have a recipe for complete and total burnout. As a licensed therapist who specializes in working with teens, I see this every day in my practice. The intensity and disconnection of the pandemic has made teens even more vulnerable to the effects of stress. In this blog, I’ll explore how teens experience burnout, its causes, signs, and how the effects of the pandemic continue to reverberate, increasing chances of mental health challenges.
Understanding Teen Burnout
We know that teens brains and development are greatly impacted by stress, especially in a post-pandemic world. So what contributes to increased levels of burnout in teens? Here are some of the major contributing factors to teen stress, anxiety, and burnout:
Academic Expectations: The pressure to excel academically, meet high GPA standards, and secure college admissions can be overwhelming.
Extracurricular Overload: Teens often engage in multiple extracurricular activities to enhance their resumes. These commitments can lead to time constraints and exhaustion.
Social Media: The constant comparison and the need to maintain a curated online presence can lead to stress and anxiety.
Peer and Social Pressures: Adolescents navigate complex social dynamics, including peer pressure and the desire to fit in.
Family Expectations: Expectations from family members, especially when it comes to career choices and future plans, can be a significant source of stress.
Is My Teen Experiencing Burnout?
If you have a teen who’s prone to perfectionism, they may be more likely to experience anxiety and burnout. If this sounds like your teen, here are some signs to look out for:
Physical Symptoms: Fatigue, headaches, and frequent illnesses may be indicative of burnout.
Emotional Changes: Teens may become irritable, withdrawn, or experience mood swings.
Academic Decline: A sudden drop in grades or a loss of interest in schoolwork can be a sign.
Loss of Interest: Disengagement from hobbies and activities they once enjoyed.
Sleep Disturbances: Insomnia or oversleeping can be related to burnout.
Social Withdrawal: Avoidance of friends and social activities.
What Can a Parent Do if Their Teen is Experiencing Burnout:
If you think your teen is suffering from or is at risk of experiencing burnout, here are some steps you can take:
Open Communication: Create a supportive environment where they feel safe discussing stressors. Give them space to talk about the pressures they’re facing without judgment and without offering advice.
Self-Care: Help them prioritize time for rest, free time with their friends and space for creativity or some type of outlet for emotional release.
Setting Realistic Goals: With burnout there is often a sense of feeling you can “never do enough.” Your teen might be struggling with feelings of self-worth because the high expectations they place on themselves lead them to feeling constant failure. Help them identify some achievable, simple goals to regain a sense of accomplishment and trust in themselves.
Limiting Screen Time: Model and encourage time away from screens. This can be very challenging as they may see social media as a space for connection, even if it’s causing them stress. Find ways you can help them connect with other outlets or plan time as a family that provides them distance from their phone and helps them connect with others.
Seek Professional Help: If burnout persists or worsens, it may be the result of a mental health issue such as anxiety or depression. If you think this is the case, consider seeking the support of a licensed therapist or counselor who specializes in adolescent mental health. If you’d more help with talking to your teen about going to therapy, check out blog here.
Teen burnout is a real and concerning issue that can have long-lasting effects on a teenager's mental and physical health. We as a society have experienced collective grief, trauma, and burnout as the result of the pandemic. Our teens are not immune to the effects of this and may be even more vulnerable, given the disruption this caused to their development. But it’s possible to reverse the impact of burnout in teens with empathy, attention and care.
We can help teens experiencing burnout move from feeling shut down and exhausted to finding hope and resilience. By addressing the causes, recognizing the signs, and implementing prevention and recovery strategies, we can help teenagers thrive in an increasingly demanding world while preserving their mental well-being.
About the Author:
Rachel is a licensed independent clinical social worker (LICSW) who specializes in teen and women’s anxiety, burnout, and trauma. She is a graduate of New York University and received post-graduate training in trauma and somatic (body-based) therapy practices such as sensorimotor psychotherapy and EMDR. If you are interested in starting either individual or group therapy, reach out to Rachel today to schedule a free consultation.
