Let’s cut to it.

Teen stress isn’t just a phase or too much screen time.

It’s deeper than that—and if you’re raising, teaching, or supporting a teen right now, you’re already seeing the cracks.

They’re overwhelmed, checked out, or on edge. You know something’s off. You’re just not sure where it’s coming from.

Here’s what today’s teens are actually up against—and how we can help them carry less of it.

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So, what’s causing this level of stress?

The expectations are sky-high

School, sports, jobs, college prep, leadership roles, activism, volunteering, extracurriculars... all before dinner.
Teens today aren’t just students—they’re expected to be mini-adults with perfect grades, perfect resumes, and a flawless social presence.

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Social media never clocks out

They’re not just living their lives. They’re watching everyone else’s, in real time, with filters and pressure to keep up. There’s no off-switch for comparison.

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Everyone’s asking: “What’s your plan?”

The moment a teen shows promise—on the field, in the arts, academically—they’re peppered with questions about what’s next. But most teens don’t have a plan. And they’re terrified they’re already behind.

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But underneath all that? Grind Culture.

Grind culture is the toxic belief that your value = your productivity. That rest is weakness. That burnout is just part of the hustle.

It teaches teens:

• If you’re not doing everything, you’re doing nothing.
• If you need a break, you’re failing.
• If you slow down, you’ll fall behind forever.
• It’s the water they’re swimming in. And they’re drowning in it.

This mindset hits especially hard for teens navigating mental health struggles, identity questions, or lack of access to support—especially LGBTQIA+ teens and teens of color who carry invisible weight others don’t always see.

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What it looks like when it hits

Stress doesn’t always look like panic attacks or tears. For some teens, it looks like:

• Constant exhaustion
• Insomnia or sleeping too much
• Trouble focusing
• Emotional outbursts or total shutdown
• Saying “I don’t know” to everything
• Avoiding things they used to care about
• Comparing themselves constantly
• Feeling numb
• If your teen says things like:
  “I can’t get up.”
  “I’m tired, but I can’t sleep.”
  “My brain won’t stop.” ‍

Believe them. Something’s going on.

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So what can you do?

Focus on what you can add, not just what to take away

Instead of banning screen time or cutting everything down, try adding in:

• Time outside
• Quiet pockets in their schedule
• Phone-free zones without shame
• Opportunities to explore hobbies with no pressure to “be good at it”
• Model what it looks like to not be okay
• Let them see you rest. Let them hear you say, “That was a lot—I need a break.”

You’re showing them what it looks like to live a full life without burning out.

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Don’t try to fix it all - Say this instead:

“This sounds like a lot. You don’t have to carry it alone. I’m here.”

Validation over solutions builds trust.

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Questions to gently ask:

What’s been feeling heavy lately?

What’s one thing you wish you had less of in your life right now?

What’s one thing you wish you had more of?

Is there anything you’re pretending is fine—but really isn’t?

You don’t have to solve it in one conversation. You just have to open the door.

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When it’s bigger than what home or school can hold

Sometimes the best thing you can do as a caregiver is bring in backup.

That’s where we come in.

Sanare’s Turning Point program gives teens real, consistent support—four days a week of group therapy, plus a community that gets it. We help teens move from “I’m barely holding it together” to “I’m figuring this out—and I’m not alone.”

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Here’s how it works:

You call in, and we’ll schedule a consultation within 48 hours.

A licensed therapist will meet with you and your teen to figure out what support will help most.

They’ll join a group that feels safe, start learning real-life tools, and begin to feel like themselves again—sometimes for the first time in months.  

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Final word

You can’t protect your teen from everything. But you can protect them from doing it all alone.

You’re here, reading this. That’s already one of the most powerful things you could do.

If it’s time to take the next step—we’re ready when you are.