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What Happens to Overworked Teens?

Between school responsibilities, extracurricular activities and part-time jobs, teenagers can often have a full plate. While these various duties are beneficial in helping teens to develop a strong work ethic and expand their skills and worldview, many teens become overwhelmed if their schedule is too packed. When teenagers are overworked, they can become stressed. While stress can at times be a strong motivator, there are also some potential mental and physical drawbacks associated with being overworked.

  1. Emotional/Mental Issues

    • Otherwise happy teens can suffer various emotional and mental issues as the result of being overworked. Stress can lead to moodiness. At a time where teenagers are already prone to angst and emotional distress, stress can only heighten these traits. Overworked teens can sometimes suffer from temporary or prolonged depression as a result of a sense of loneliness, isolation and feeling overwhelmed. Symptoms of depression include mental and physical fatigue, irritability and poor hygiene practices.

    Physical Issues

    • Stress does not only attack a teen's mental state, but it can also take a physical toll on his health. For example, teenagers who are overworked are more prone to high blood pressure, muscular tension, spikes in heart rate, dizziness, headaches, nausea and chest pain. Stress can also lead to a weakened immune system, which can cause teenagers to catch colds more frequently. If untreated, these problems can become much more pronounced and dangerous over time.

    Behavioral Problems

    • Being overworked can cause several different behavioral problems in teenagers. To cope with stress, teens might start to eat more or less, which can lead to weight loss or weight gain and potentially take a toll on their health. Children who are overworked might have trouble sleeping, leading to unbalanced sleep schedules, which causes mental and physical fatigue. Stress affects the nerves, so teenagers might take up a bad habit to cope. This habit can be as minor as nail biting, or as dangerous as using and abusing cigarettes, alcohol or drugs.

    Cognitive Issues

    • Aside from the emotional dangers of being overworked, stress can cause errors in cognitive function. Teenagers may struggle to stay focused on tasks, concentrate in school or recall information. These issues can be enhanced by a lack of sleep or improper eating habits. Other cognitive issues include a sense of dread, which can lead to a state of paranoia and racing thoughts. According to the website More 4 Kids, teens who work part-time jobs for 13 to 20 hours per week can sometimes experience a drop in grades that could be related to poor time management and issues with cognitive function.

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