Stress is a very common thing amongst teens, especially in school. School, with all the classes, assignments, homework, etc., it really weighs a lot on a young adult. I would know being a teen going to school myself. Aside from all the home stuff with families, school just adds to all of it, risking a mental illness in someone such as anxiety or depression. Going through either of those just makes the situation worse.
Stress causes one to have built up emotions, which may include anger and sadness. This can cause the short-tempered stereotypical teenager we’re all aware of. But the thing is, parents/guardians just blow it off as the kid being disobedient due to hormones. It might be part of the problem, but there’s always more to it than what meets the eye. Referencing off of personal experience; it took my father over five years to realize I was obviously depressed, but he claimed it was just me being a teenager. Soon after, we went to a psychiatrist and it turned out I had severe depression and anxiety. He had no idea. Guess what was causing it.
Overwhelming school work.
In an article called 6 Common Triggers for Teen Stress by Kathleen Smith, it states, “For teens, the most commonly reported sources of stress are school (83 percent)” (Kathlee
n). 83%! Can you believe that? That’s a lot of kids that are suffering due to school. School is a good thing, but the way it’s getting executed is giving teens mental illnesses. Something no one should have to go through.
The issue with teens and stress may seem impossible to fix at this point, but that is very untrue. The best way to make peace with yourself when you’re suffering overwhelming situations, is to make sure you’re healthy physically. Often when people are stressed, they forget to take care of themselves which only makes the situation worse. In Teens and Stress: how to keep stress in check, by David Palmiter and Dawn Wilson, they advise, “The best types of physical activities are those that have a social component” (Palmiter, Wilson). Not only does this imply to get physically active, but they also tell you to have fun with it. You’re more likely to continue something you enjoy rather than something you don’t. It’s supposed to relieve stress, not increase it. So, if you find yourself stressed out about taking a daily walk etc., you don’t enjoy it and it’s time to try something else.
Stress is a huge issue in our society, especially amongst teenagers. A huge reason for this being is because of school. But another part of it is teens have no idea how to cope with it or often forget to. So, this writing piece is to remind one of the things you can do to improve yourself and your health. A healthy body makes for a healthy mind.
Smith, Kathleen. “6 Common Triggers of Teen Stress.” Psycom.net – Mental Health Treatment Resource Since 1986, www.psycom.net/common-triggers-teen-stress/.
American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association, www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-teens.