Stress: Who Has Time For It?
Key points
- Stress is what you feel when you react to pressure, either from the outside world (school, work, after-school activities, family, friends) or from inside yourself (wanting to do well in school, wanting to fit in).
- Most of us couldn't push ourselves to do well at things-sports, music, dance, work, school-without feeling the pressure of competition.
- With all the things that happen at your age, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.
- Although you can't always control the things that are stressing you out, you can control how you react to them.
What is stress?
Stress is what you feel when you react to pressure, either from the outside world (school, work, after-school activities, family, friends) or from inside yourself (wanting to do well in school, wanting to fit in). Stress is a normal reaction for people of all ages. It's caused by your body's instinct to protect itself from emotional or physical pressure or, in extreme situations, from danger.
Is stress always bad?
No. In fact, a little bit of stress is good. Most of us couldn't push ourselves to do well at things-sports, music, dance, work, school-without feeling the pressure of competition. Without the stress of deadlines, most of us also wouldn't be able to finish projects or get to work or school on time.
If stress is so normal, why do I feel so bad?
With all the things that happen at your age, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Things that you can't control are often the most frustrating. Maybe your parents are fighting, or your social life is a mess. You can also feel bad when you put pressure on yourself-like pressure to get good grades or to get promoted at your part-time job. A common reaction to stress is to criticize yourself. You may even get so upset that things don't seem fun anymore and life looks pretty grim. When this happens, it's easy to think there's nothing you can do to change things. But you can! See the tips below.
| Signs you're stressed out Feeling depressed, edgy, guilty, tired Having headaches, stomachaches, trouble sleeping Laughing or crying for no reason Blaming other people for bad things that happen to you Only seeing the down side of a situation Feeling like things that you used to enjoy aren't fun or are a burden Resenting other people or your responsibilities Things that help fight stress Eating well-balanced meals on a regular basis Drinking less caffeine Getting enough sleep Exercising on a regular basis |
How can I deal with stress?
Although you can't always control the things that are stressing you out, you can control how you react to them. The way you feel about things results from the way you think about things. If you change how you think, you can change the way you feel. Try some of these tips to cope with your stress:
Make a list of the things that are causing your stress. Think about your friends, family, school and other activities. Accept that you can't control everything on your list.
Take control of what you can. For example, if you're working too many hours and you don't have time to study enough, ask your boss if you can cut back.
Give yourself a break. Remember that you can't make everyone in your life happy all the time. And it's okay to make mistakes now and then.
Written and revised by
Gerald Hurowitz, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
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