Stress in Children: Something Adults Shouldn't Overlook

Teenage years are often considered the most carefree period, a familiar phrase often uttered by adults or parents to their children. However, for kids today, that might not always be the case. With increasingly demanding lessons, heightened competition, and a more stressful social environment, along with various issues surrounding them, it’s not uncommon for children to face stress levels similar to adults. adults who have been through the rigors of being students and have experienced various forms of stress during adolescence, it’s essential for us to pay attention to whether they are exhibiting the following symptoms:

Short attention span and restlessness
Headaches or body aches
Palpitations, sweating
Irritability, mood swings, or easy crying
Boredom, sadness, lack of interest in activities
Persistent fatigue

If you feel that your beloved child is experiencing these symptoms, we need to find ways to cope with stress to help them overcome the obstacles of stress during adolescence. Being there, paying attention, taking care of their feelings without criticism or judgment, and showing understanding, along with helping to solve the problems of stress during this teenage period together. Pressures or expectations that are too high can make it easy for children to accumulate stress during adolescence. This can lead to the onset of free radicals and stress at the cellular level, or what medical professionals call “inflammation,” which may not be visible to the naked eye but will manifest in the form of ‘feelings.’

Note:
According to the latest statistics from the Department of Mental Health, in 2019, it was found that Thais, especially adolescents, tend to have high-stress levels, reflected in the significant increase in calls to the mental health hotline, reaching nearly 10,000 calls, particularly in the age group of 11-19 years old. Issues of stress and anxiety are the most frequently consulted, followed by relationship problems and depression.

Another way adults like us can help reduce stress during adolescence is by preparing nutritious foods to nourish and reduce stress for children, such as B-complex vitamins, one of the fundamental vitamins that help nourish the brain and nervous system, reduce stress, and prevent depression and anxiety symptoms. We can find these nutrients in foods such as brown rice, whole grains, vegetables, eggs, green leafy vegetables, and beans. B-complex vitamins are also excellent antioxidants. For instance:

B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B12 are essential for maintaining normal brain and nervous system functions. For example, B2, B6, and B12 help prevent headaches from migraines.
Biotin (B7) and folic acid (B9) are highly effective in combating stress because they help the nervous system function properly and control muscle tension, reducing body aches and pains effectively.”

Note:
According to a report in the British Journal of Psychiatry, a deficiency in B vitamins, vitamin C, or folic acid in individuals with mood disorders helps us understand the role of these vitamins in combating stress more effectively.

Vitamin B is beneficial for the body in managing stress. However, providing your children with foods rich in these vitamins daily may be challenging. Therefore, you may consider supplementing with a B-complex vitamin or a multivitamin containing B vitamins to ensure an adequate intake of these vitamins. This supplementation can help nourish the brain and nervous system, reduce stress, rejuvenate the body, and promote overall health. With best wishes from Paradigm Pharma.

Reference:
https://health.campus-star.com/general/17857.html
https://th.rajanukul.go.th/preview-3272.html%EF%BB%BF
https://www.dmh.go.th/news-dmh/view.asp?id=30188
https://www.manarom.com/blog/Adjustment_Disorder.html
https://www.parentsone.com/how-to-child-stressed/