Stress Management 10 Signs Your Teenager Is at Risk of Burnout By Denise Witmer Denise Witmer Denise Witmer is a freelance writer and mother of three children, who has authored several books and countless articles on parenting teens since 1997. Learn about our editorial process Updated on November 27, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Susman, PhD Medically reviewed by David Susman, PhD David Susman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Jamie Grill / Tetra Images / Getty Images Is your teenager burning out? Believe it or not, it is quite possible. High school, sports, extracurricular activities, friends, boyfriend/girlfriend relationships, social media, and family all demand time and attentiveness from your teen. So much so, that they could be experiencing signs of stress or worse— burnout. Prevalence of Stress in Teens In a 2013 survey of adults and teens conducted online on behalf of the American Psychological Association by Harris Interactive Inc., teen reported stress levels during the school year far exceeding what they believed to be healthy (5.8 vs. 3.9 on a 10-point scale). The average reported stress level of adults was 5.1 on a 10-point scale, demonstrating that teens' feelings of stress rival those of adults. In the survey, results indicated that: 31% of teens reported feeling overwhelmed30% of teens reported feeling depressed or sad as a result of stress36% of teens reported feeling tired23% of teens reported skipping a meal due to stress How Stress Leads to Burnout Burnout is a state of chronic stress that leads to physical and emotional exhaustion, depression, detachment, cynicism, and lack of accomplishment including feelings of ineffectiveness. Though most adolescents go through situations that cause stress and tension, chronic stress and piled up stressors can result in depression, aggressive behavior, or suicidal tendencies. Some teens may take to fighting, drinking, and smoking or other risky behavior in an effort to cope and deal with their feelings of stress. If you or your teen are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call 911. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. 10 Signs Your Teen Is Burning Out Here are 10 signs of burnout that you should be on the lookout for: Depression: They doesn't want to do anything, they have lost interest in things they like to do, and they have decreased attention or effectiveness when doing things. Anxiety: Your teenager is feeling some anxiety for no known reason or acting overly anxious. The inability to relax, or not sleeping well (having nightmares, restless, etc) are all signs of anxiety. Insomnia: Your teenager is suffering from insomnia if they are unable to get to sleep at night or they wake up and can't go back to sleep. Eating habits: Your teenager is either overeating or undereating—both are a response to being stressed. Emotional behavior: Your teenager is giving in to impulsive behavior, more than normal, and is showing signs of emotional instability (extreme anger, fear or sadness), more than normal. Physical pain: Your teenager is experiencing neck or back pain. Missing periods: Many health conditions can cause your teenage daughter to miss her menstrual cycle; stress may be one reason. Health issues: Your teenager is complaining of stomachache, dizziness, dryness of throat and mouth. Nervous behavior: Your teenager is acting hyper, has emotional tension or alertness not usual to their personality (including high-pitched voice or nervous laughter). Risky behavior: Increased risk-taking behavior can be a sign of burnout. For example, smoking, drinking alcohol, or experimenting with sex or drugs sometimes point to underlying problems such as burnout. How You Can Help an Overwhelmed Child Parents can start to help by being understanding of the problems faced by their teens. With proper guidance and time, your teen can learn to overcome stress and related issues. This is why it is important to seek the help of a trained professional like a guidance counselor or psychologist. Better support and health education (at both school, home, and at the community level) will lead to breaking the cycle of stress and unhealthy behaviors for your teen. 11 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Psychological Association. Teen stress rivals that of adults. Maslach C, Leiter MP. Understanding the burnout experience: recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry. 2016;15(2):103–111. doi:10.1002/wps.20311 Pascoe MC, Hetrick SE, Parker AG. The impact of stress on students in secondary school and higher education. Int J Adolesc Youth. 2020;25(1):104-112. doi:10.1080/02673843.2019.1596823 Andersen SL. Stress, sensitive periods, and substance abuse. 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Back and neck pain are related to mental health problems in adolescence. BMC Public Health. 2011;11:382. doi:10.1186/1471-2458-11-382 Ossewaarde L, Hermans EJ, van Wingen GA, et al. Neural mechanisms underlying changes in stress-sensitivity across the menstrual cycle. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2010;35(1):47–55. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2009.08.011 Shapiro MA, Nguyen ML. Psychosocial stress and abdominal pain in adolescents. Ment Health Fam Med. 2010;7(2):65–69. Additional Reading Psychology Today. The Tell-Tale Signs of Burnout ... Do You Have Them? By Denise Witmer Denise Witmer is a freelance writer and mother of three children, who has authored several books and countless articles on parenting teens since 1997. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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