Managing Teen Stress
- January 2009
- Eliza Collins '10
- Arcadia High School
Phoenix, Arizona
Stress: Your Body's Gift To You. You have tryouts all this week, your research paper is due tomorrow, you have a math test Tuesday, and you’re fighting with your best friend-- the world seems like it’s crashing down. At some point during the year, even multiple points, this scenario will ring true. You are stressed beyond belief, but with a few simple stress management tips you can learn to transform that stress into a positive motivator to push you through the rough patch.
What is Stress?
Look “stress” up in the dictionary and you will find stress is “a specific response by the body to a stimulus, such as fear or pain, which disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism.” However, to any normal human it can be defined in one word: awful. Your body releases adrenaline which can cause rapid breathing, high blood pressure, upset stomach, and in serious cases, a temporary mental paralysis, such as loss of thought, confusion or a panic attack.
With so many difficult symptoms, you may ask how stress can possibly help. The truth is stress is a good thing in a misleading package. Stress is your body’s response to a certain upcoming event; it’s your way of preparing yourself to take on whatever comes your way. If you can learn to control it, stress can actually help you get through the event with ease.
What Causes Stress?
Stress can be caused by the unknown. For example, not knowing what will be on your math test Friday causes you to freak out and study the wrong material, or in some cases not to study at all. However, if you ask for help, such as asking the teacher what exactly you should study, you can minimize the unknown therefore decreasing your stress. If you do your research on whatever event is coming your way, you’ll be prepared and will be able to accomplish more.
Being aware of your thought process is another great tool for managing stress. Don’t think negatively because these thoughts will psych you out and increase your chances of failure. For example, if before tryouts you think “what if I trip and fall?” at the actual tryout you’ll be a lot more likely to trip.
How Teens Can Manage Stress.
The last and probably most important trick in managing your stress is to take care of yourself. Hunger, fatigue, and idleness can all increase your stress level. Make sure to eat right, get plenty of sleep, and exercise daily in order to stay focused to accomplish your goals.
Stress is something that will be around for the rest of your life, you might as well learn to compromise. Managing your stress will not only decrease it, it will allow you to use the focus and energy to boost you through the upcoming storm. If you have trouble managing your stress, and notice stomachache or headaches, drowsiness, sour moods, panic attacks, eating issues, or feel the need to turn to alcohol and drugs, get help.
What is Stress?
Look “stress” up in the dictionary and you will find stress is “a specific response by the body to a stimulus, such as fear or pain, which disturbs or interferes with the normal physiological equilibrium of an organism.” However, to any normal human it can be defined in one word: awful. Your body releases adrenaline which can cause rapid breathing, high blood pressure, upset stomach, and in serious cases, a temporary mental paralysis, such as loss of thought, confusion or a panic attack.
With so many difficult symptoms, you may ask how stress can possibly help. The truth is stress is a good thing in a misleading package. Stress is your body’s response to a certain upcoming event; it’s your way of preparing yourself to take on whatever comes your way. If you can learn to control it, stress can actually help you get through the event with ease.
What Causes Stress?
Stress can be caused by the unknown. For example, not knowing what will be on your math test Friday causes you to freak out and study the wrong material, or in some cases not to study at all. However, if you ask for help, such as asking the teacher what exactly you should study, you can minimize the unknown therefore decreasing your stress. If you do your research on whatever event is coming your way, you’ll be prepared and will be able to accomplish more.
Being aware of your thought process is another great tool for managing stress. Don’t think negatively because these thoughts will psych you out and increase your chances of failure. For example, if before tryouts you think “what if I trip and fall?” at the actual tryout you’ll be a lot more likely to trip.
How Teens Can Manage Stress.
The last and probably most important trick in managing your stress is to take care of yourself. Hunger, fatigue, and idleness can all increase your stress level. Make sure to eat right, get plenty of sleep, and exercise daily in order to stay focused to accomplish your goals.
Stress is something that will be around for the rest of your life, you might as well learn to compromise. Managing your stress will not only decrease it, it will allow you to use the focus and energy to boost you through the upcoming storm. If you have trouble managing your stress, and notice stomachache or headaches, drowsiness, sour moods, panic attacks, eating issues, or feel the need to turn to alcohol and drugs, get help.
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