Connie Ma (research intern)
Where Emotions Flow
What is Stress?
Stress is the state of constantly being worried or anxious about something. This state is very normal and every human being experiences it from time to time. Stress is the body’s response to new experiences and dangers. For example, if you had an interview, you would be pretty stressed since you don’t know how you would do in the interview and whether or not you’ll get the job. It is very important that people learn ways to manage and deal with their stress. However, what are the causes of stress?
What are the causes of stress?
Stress is caused by many things. For teenagers, it is more common that stress is
caused by life pressures, school, changes, family issues, body image issues, relationship troubles whether platonic or romantic, tests, and major life events. Some other causes of stress in teens can be the stress of preparing for college or getting ready for college, getting a bad grade, dealing with grief or parents divorcing, making mistakes, or just the pressures of doing well in sports or performances. All of these things can cause stress for teenagers. Following this, what are the symptoms of stress?
What are the symptoms of stress?
Symptoms of stress can range from person to person. In addition these symptoms can also be physical and mentally. Some physical symptoms of stress include but are not limited to: exhaustion, headaches, chest pain, digestive problems, high blood pressure, muscle tension, aches and pains, and weakened immune systems. On the other hand, some mental symptoms of stress include(or can lead to) anxiety/irritability, depression, sadness, and panic attacks. All of these symptoms can really have poor long term effects on a person’s body which makes it very
important for one to go see a medical professional if they suspect that they have stress.
How can stress affect teens and how can we manage our stress?
Stress can affect teens as it can affect their performance in school and in other daily activities. For example, tests in school or sport games that a student might have. Their minds could be preoccupied with things which can affect how well the student does in a test or a sports game. Stress can also affect the quality of a student's work and their ability to learn something and do well in a class or in school in general. It can affect a student’s sleep schedule and sleep quality which will affect their mental health and their ability to study well and do well in their daily lives. We can manage our stress by making sure that we exercise daily and eat well, seeing a medical professional, talking to someone you trust about it, and do more forms of self-care like journaling or doing a hobby, taking a walk, meditating or breathing exercise, etc.
References
Cleveland Clinic. (2024, May 15). What Is Stress? Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
Hughes, S. (2022, June). Teen Stressors | Childhood Development. Www.cincinnatichildrens.org. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
Scott, E. (2022, November 7). What is stress? Verywell Mind. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
Teens and stress: When it’s more than worry | NIH MedlinePlus Magazine. (n.d.).
MedlinePlus Magazine. Retrieved September 15, 2024.
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