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Beating
Burnout
How much is too much for today’s busy teenager?
By Anna
Ferguson (Daily Staff Writer)
At 6:20 a.m., the alarm sounds.
Neil Place, of Stephens City, gets up and
readies for the long day ahead of him.
First school, then play practice, then driver’s education class and a
Boy Scout meeting. Somewhere in there,
he grabs dinner. At about 9 p.m., the
15-year-old heads home, finishes his homework and, if he’s lucky, squeezes in a
small sampling of TV. By 11 p.m., he’s
ready to hit the sack, only to get up in the morning and do it all over again.
“I’m so used to being busy, I don’t know what
I’d do with free time,” says the Sherando High School sophomore. Sometimes, yeah, I do feel like I’m too
busy.”
That seems understandable. Indeed, busy schedules and ensuing stress is
a major concern for teenagers, according to information collected by Community
and Law Enforcement Against Narcotics, Inc., a nonprofit group that head’s Winchester’s
community resource line, which provides families with information ranging from
coping skills to exercise tips.
In recent months, the majority of callers to
the community self-help line have been adolescent females, seeking information
on ways to deal with stress, says Linda Jones, program manager for CLEAN, which
organizers say has expanded its mission since it formed two decades ago.
“Our data shows that stress is a top concern
for young people,” she says.
While being “busy may be vital in deterring
adolescents from harmful behaviors such as drugs and alcohol abuse, daunting
doses of stress can make teens susceptible to burnout.
“Some stress is good. For some kids, a challenge drives them and
gives them more energy,” says Silvia Restivo, a guidance counselor at John
Handley High School and part-time therapist at Behavioral Health in
Winchester. “But I see it all the time,
teenagers being too busy. You see them
putting all this pressure on themselves.
There needs to be balance and moderation.”
In today’s academic setting, students have
more options than ever regarding what activities to sign up for, what clubs to
join and what sports to play. While
having these options can be a luxury, it can also be overwhelming.
“There are so many choices in schools. I could name at least 20 different clubs,
and then name more sports they could join,” says Restivo. “Then they have gymnastics, dance lessons,
things that are offered in the community.
It is a lot. Kids want to try it
all and a lot of times, parents want them to try it all, too.”
For many high school students, a major source
of hectic schedules stems from preparing for college and beefing up on
acceptance requirements. As colleges
become more competitive, so do students, working harder to have high test
scores, a high grade-point average and still participate in extracurricular
activities.
“I have witnessed this across the board, in
teenagers all across the country,” Restivo says. “Planning for a postsecondary education is a major stressor. These students need to know that it’s OK to
not do everything.”
Part-time jobs, too, are a common activity in
high school. While having an
after-school job can be beneficial in teaching life and social skills, earning
a paycheck can weigh down an already loaded agenda. For teens who need a job to help with a family situation, the
stress is just that much more plentiful.
“Some teens have to work extra jobs to help
financially support their families,” says Rhonda Headley, a counselor and
educator at CLEAN. “They may have to
take care of younger brothers and sisters.
And these are huge burdens. In
addition to their school responsibilities, they have all those home
responsibilities.”
When teenagers overload themselves, just like
adults, there are ramifications. Sleep
deprivation and lower grades are the most common effects of a loaded schedule,
but more serious implications can also occur.
Psychological issues, such as eating disorders, anxiety attacks and
self-injury, can arise when a teenager, male or female, is under more stress
than he or she can handle, says Headley.
“When a teen is experiencing burnout, they
just start to shut down,” she says.
“They will start to act out, start missing school or will be routinely
late for class. Most commonly, I see
teens who are not getting enough sleep.
In extreme cases, teens will become self-destructive, by cutting
themselves, or become depressed. These
are ways teens cope with stress in rare, extreme cases, but it does happen.”
The amount of stress an adolescent can handle, Restivo says, varies
from teen to teen.
“If I knew the answer to that, I’d be a millionaire. Some teens may be able to juggle four
activities, while another can handle eight.
It’s important to treat them as an individual,” she says.
Spotting a teenager approaching burnout can be tricky, but there are
warning signs. If a teenager is moodier
than normal, has drastic changes in appetite and sleep patterns, stays up all
hours of the night doing homework, suddenly loses interest in school and starts
skipping classes, these may be indications of a teen who is overextended,
Restivo says.
“It’s important to know your teen’s habits versus their reaction to
stress. If the behavior lasts a long
time, it may be more than just a mood swing.
When in doubt, ask them,” she says.
The key to avoiding burnout, Restivo adds, is for parents to set a good
example of balance for their child.
“They pick up on how a parent handles stress. It really does all begin at home,” she says.
Keeping the lines of communication open is vital in helping a teen cope with a hefty schedule,
as is spending quality time together, despite initial resistance from the teen,
says Headley.
“Parents need to be involved and spend time with their teens. Talk with them, not at them,” she says. “Making a date with your teen is a great way
to get to know about their lives. They
might tell you they don’t want to, but do it anyway. It’s not the quantity of time you spend with them, but the
quality of your time together.”
The community resource line can be reached by calling 722-2221.
„ Contact Anna Ferguson at
aferguson@nvdaily.com