In today’s ever-changing world, it’s becoming increasingly important for us to understand how to help our students cope and manage anxiety. Anxiety is a real and very common issue among teens, and the fact is, we need to be better prepared to see early signs and offer coping mechanisms. In today's episode Brittany Richmond, a Youth Speaker and Anxiety Expert, shared her insights on teenage anxiety and how we can better help our students navigate through it.
Brittany explained that a significant issue teens are facing today is people-pleasing. She noted that, often times, teens feel like they have to please everyone, whether it’s their peers, their teachers, their parents, or even their online followers. This leads to unrealistic expectations and an overwhelming sense of pressure, which can be overwhelming and exhausting.
Brittany also shared that teens communicate differently than previous generations. She explained that understanding their own "language" is essential if we want to be able to help them effectively. As education professionals, it’s important that we understand how our students express themselves and the mediums they communicate through.
She also noted the stigma that still exists around mental health. Mental health is still a taboo topic for many, and this makes it difficult for teens to speak up about their feelings. Brittany suggested we work at creating a safe and secure environment in order for students to feel comfortable expressing their issues.
On top of fostering an open environment for discussion, Brittany noted that it’s also important to teach strategies to help students cope with teenage anxiety. She suggested relaxation techniques such as mindfulness and deep breathing. It’s also important to help teens recognize their own triggers and to provide them with the skills to manage them, as well as their reactions to the triggers.
Finally, Brittany suggested teaching teens the importance of self-care. She noted that teens often struggle with feeling overwhelmed and exhausted, and it’s important to help them understand the importance of taking time for themselves and doing things that make them happy and relaxed.
Overall, Brittany offered a lot of great advice on how we can better help our students manage their anxiety. If you'd like to learn more about Brittany and how she can help your students, you can find her at brittanyrichmond.com, or follow her on Instagram @thebrittanyrichmond