Stress:
Anxiety and Stress II
Definition of Stress
II
Stress Article II
Emotional Stress
II More Stress II
Teen Stress
The 21st Century Teen and Stress.
By Coty D. Miranda
Two teens walk into a school, a third teen says, “Man, that must
have hurt.”
A playful opener to a serious subject – teens and stress - but a
little levity can be a good thing.
Sometimes school is a source of teen stress; but as you well know,
there are so many stress prompters. And in this 21st century,
possibly more than at any other time in modern history, stress
seems to be a ubiquitous fact in the life of a child or teen.
But let’s look at stresses that today’s teen may face:
Student stress. Making the grade, pressure from your teachers,
parents, friends. Attempting to do your best and hearing it just
isn’t good enough. Not to discount the desire to excel in school,
but keep in mind nearly every successful adult at some point in
their school years heard or read the words “Doesn’t work to the
level of his/her ability” a jillion times. Or close.
Family stress. It’s a different world you occupy than that of your
parents, and certainly your grandparents. Today we have blended
families where you may feel you just don’t fit in. Some teens are
in dysfunctional families – though this is not a new occurrence.
Still, being in a teen in a family that endures divorce, alcohol
or drug problems, or physical or emotional abuse is extremely
stressful and affects all of your hours, not just those spent at
home.
Future education stress: Ah, college. Where to go, the application
process, how to pay – all of these lay heavy on today’s teen
student. Add to that the financial difficulties most families face
today, and it makes for stress in even the most balanced of family
units.
Today’s job market stresses. Let’s talk about being a teen
attempting to find getting a job. It’s tough. There are fewer part
time jobs available and the competition for those is often
extreme. You may get the feeling that no matter how hard you try,
there just aren’t any jobs out there for you. Or if you do land
one, trying to pay adult prices on teenage minimum wages brings
its own stresses.
So, yes, these are but a few of the stress factors you face. But
learning to cope with these now will enable you to face stress
better throughout your life. And that is a valuable tool to carry
into adulthood.
First realize stress is a normal reaction to things that threaten
our well-being. “Stress Happens”, as one of my favorite bumper
stickers read. As one writer aptly put it, “Stress is the wear and
tear our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually
changing environment.” And no one knows that better than today’s
teen.
For you especially, communication is a major stress coping
mechanism. Keeping your lines of communication open so that you
can talk about what you are feeling and going through is
paramount. Speak to someone you trust, whether it’s a teacher, a
friend, or a spiritual advisor. If your parents aren’t part of the
problem, talk with them, but whatever you do – talk it over with
someone. Many high schools today have trained peer counselors. If
you can make use of these people, do so.
If the pressure stemming from stress is just too much, don’t
hesitate to seek professional help. Mental health advocates can
often help you keep these feelings under control. Allowing
ourselves to become overly stressed and then not managing it
correctly can lead to severe feelings of anxiety, aggression,
withdrawal from family and friends, alcohol or drug abuse and even
physical illness.
You can help yourself get through daily stresses by practicing a
few stress-busting techniques:
Avoid excess sugar and caffeine that can increase your feelings of
anxiety and agitation. Alcohol and tobacco, regardless of how they
are touted, also add to your stress. Avoid them all.
Exercise regularly. Get out there and walk, run, jog, or join a
group sport. All the while you’re helping decrease your stress
while increasing your energy and improving your health.
Eat regularly and well. Come on, how can you consider skipping
meals or devouring chips and soda to be any good for you normally,
let alone when you are going through stressful periods. Picture
your body as a fine, expensive sports car and treat it with
respect and pride.
Learn relaxation techniques. They’re easy and they work. Try this
deep breathing exercise that can be done anywhere, any time:
Slowly inhale through your nose, filling your lungs with a full
capacity of air. Now exhale slowly through your mouth. Do this
three to five minutes, several times a day.
Take it easy on yourself. Don’t expect perfection, just do the
best you can. Refuse those internal negative words – you know what
I mean. Instead, challenge those negativities with positive,
reinforcing statements. Example: “I’m a total failure at school.”
Instead: “I may be doing poorly but I know I can improve and will
take definite steps towards that goal. After all, I’m a pretty
smart cookie.” Or similar words.
Take time away from stressful situations. Do something you enjoy:
listening to music, writing, drawing, walking the dog. Laughter is
an excellent release; so make sure you find something to do that
brightens your day.
Remember, stress is a part of live as a child, teen or student,
but learning to cope with it in positive manners will be helpful.
If you feel you just can’t handle it on your own, seek
professional help. Stress doesn’t go away but often internalizes,
affecting your physical and mental health. Don’t let it set up
shop.
Ultimately, the good news about stress is that you have more power
over stress than you may realize.
If you have trouble dealing with stress, we
recommend using
Extress.
Extress is a homeopathic and nutrition
supplement that is exceptionally effective in providing the body
with the nutritional requirements which aid the body during
periods of stress, tension, anxiety, minor phobic reactions and
complaints of generalized patterns of anxious discomfort.
The natural ingredients in Extress complement the body's natural powers
to reduce stress and anxiety. The specific doctor-formulated Extress
formula naturally diminishes emotional sensitivity and mood
swings, calms and focuses attention, relaxes muscles and reduces the possibility of stress-induced head pain and muscle aches.
Extress also helps diminish hyperactivity, aggression and anger
outbursts.
