Stress Management to Help Teens Cope Podcast

Mindfulness, Meditation, and Guided Visualization Enter the Classroom

Elliott O., a high school senior at the Maharishi School in Iowa, is a regular kid, affected by peer pressure, grades, and meeting parental expectations. But unlike some frazzled teens who react to stress by acting out or even drinking or using drugs, Elliott meditates twice daily. Although stress makes many adolescents anxious, angry or depressed, Elliott has developed skills to get himself through tough times, and through meditation, his stress at school has virtually evaporated. “You can do it anywhere,” he says, “and through meditation you can learn to relax and get in touch with yourself.” 

Schools Teach Students to Relax

Many high schools and colleges are taking a proactive approach to student stress.  Marilyn Wilcher, senior director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, has been working for nearly a decade to teach students coping techniques such as deep breathing and visualizing their goals during class. 

“We’ve found that when teens experience undue stress,” says Wilcher, “they start exhibiting unhealthy behavior. We teach relaxation responses, the importance of exercise and nutrition, and especially, awareness of thoughts and behaviors that are caused by stress and how to stop thinking negatively.”  The Benson-Henry Institute has found that students exposed to a relaxation-response-based curriculum earn high grade point averages, have increased self esteem, less aggressive behavior, and better study habits and attendance.

Will F.,a participant in the stress management workshops at Needham High School near Boston, says he has found the exercises to be extremely helpful in reducing stress. “Personally, I find deep breathing exercises particularly relaxing and convenient as I can do them anywhere,” Will says.  “Benson-Henry’s explanation of ‘being in the moment’ has also helped to de-stress me as I used to always think about the test I was going to take or the homework I had instead of enjoying being where I am at an exact moment.”

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