When your kid is stressed, when the pressure builds, when there is lots of chaos and disruption in their lives, meditation and relaxation can really help. Unfortunately, teenagers typically HATE strategies that have them sit quietly and not think; especially when they need it most. But, some take to simple meditation. Others like various guided relaxation and meditation practices. It gives them something to focus on. In this article, Sarah Beach talks about some of the benefits of meditation that included improved performance when students meditate before an exam, improved concentration and, of course, reduced anxiety, stress and depression.
If you are worried about your kid stressing or if you know that your kid is really hard on themselves, encourage them to try meditation or relaxation.
Guided Imagery Meditation
Some people have trouble turning off their mind to become calm when stressed. Guided imagery is an effective technique that occupies your mind with a calming, soothing, relaxing experience. The voice of the speaker helps keep you focused on the experience while the descriptions help you imagine the kind of place where you will feel calm and relaxed. Once you have gone through the recording you may then begin to imagine yourself in the relaxing setting without needing to be guided. You can then use recordings of the relaxing setting as background and use your imagination.
handout-meditation-guided-imagary
If this doesn’t work, there are some other techniques you can find on the other blogs in this series by searching for Stress Management
