5 Indicators of Teen Burnout

Teenage burnout is becoming increasingly common as young people juggle academic pressures, extracurricular activities, and social expectations. The reasons why teens are becoming more emotionally burned out and are struggling with anxiety and depression lies in the demands of our fast paced society. We commonly encourage teens to be well rounded in sports, AND participate in volunteering, AND excel academically to be competitive in the college application process. These influences coming from parents, coaches, teachers, and society are heard everywhere in a teens life. We also have to consider the notable impact of social media on our teens, which varying studies have shown to cause negative impacts on self esteem and feelings of inadequacy. The emotional toll including depression and anxiety that comes from life stressors is very real. Read this article so that you understand the indicators of teen burnout so you can support your child when they hit these struggles in life, and to help them rise above them.

You KNOW your teen is struggling

It’s evident when your teen is emotionally struggling with burnout. It can show up as the snappiness that seems to be just a bit more than typical for your teen. They might be honest with you and express that they don’t have enough time for everything. They could be trying to push all nighters just to keep up. Conversely, your teen may also be crashing to sleep the minute they walk through the doors or constantly seem exhausted. Seeing their light for life burnout is sad and concerning. You know that at this time in their youth, they should be finding enjoyment and living new experiences….You are right to be concerned.

5 Signs your Teen is Burned Out

There are ways you can recognize if your teen is in that burnout phase. Here are five signs that indicate a teen is experiencing burnout:

**Exhaustion**: This goes beyond just feeling tired; it’s a persistent lack of energy that makes even daily tasks feel overwhelming. Your teen is struggling with this if their exhaustion is continuous for 1 week or longer.
**Physical Signs**: Teens struggling with burnout frequently complain of headaches or stomach aches. A teen struggling with burn out struggles with a compromised immune system and may become sick more often. A change in your teens appetite can also indicate anxiety or depression due to stress.
**Loss of Interest**: Activities that once brought joy—like hobbies, sports, or spending time with friends—may no longer seem appealing. Your teens’ connection with their friends is now be sidelined due to the constant pressure of their lives.
**Darkening Mood or Cynicism**: Your teens outlook on life may be more negative life, often paired with feelings of hopelessness. Mood swings of depression and anger outbursts may be more commonplace than before. They can be feeling out of control of their life, and may have the perception that they are not able to succeed. These are signs of emotional fatique in managing life’s commitments.
**Increased Anxiety**: Your teen is consistently expressing anxious thoughts about being enough. They may have thoughts of dread and worry about their readiness for their commitments or academic performance.

We help teens find balance and control In their lives

Therapists can play a crucial role in helping teens recover from burnout by providing emotional support, teaching coping strategies, and addressing the underlying causes of their stress. Through a variety of approaches, therapists are able to give the guidance and insight to help teens through life’s circumstances. Whether your teen needs to learn how to set boundaries, improve their self-compassion, or even needing a safe place to express themselves we can help them through their struggles with burn out. Your teen will take away a better understanding of themselves as well as the confidence to communicate their needs to be able to enjoy their lives again – and not feel exhausted from it!

Give them the chance to regain confidence in themselves

It’s important for teens to have support, whether through open conversations with family, friends, or mental health professionals. This is the opportunity you are affording them when a teenager begins counseling. Teens who begin counseling have the opportunity to address underlying issues early and improve their emotional resilience. Even more importantly, you are giving them the chance to support their development into adulthood. Our team loves to support adolescents in their journey towards adulthood, let us help them pave a healthy path forward!

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