Stress In a Teen's World

Things can get pretty stressful this time of the year.   With trying to fill out college applications on time, studying for exams, working, and other chores, you can really build up some major stress without even knowing it.  Here are some signs that mean you are way too stressed out: headaches, sore, bleeding gums, memory loss, crazy surreal dreams, insomnia, hives, jaw pain, and drop-dead fatigue.  Luckily, there are a couple ways you can relieve your stress.

One way is by rewriting your internal dialogue.  Instead of blowing up when someone cuts you off while driving to school, tell yourself, “It was out of my control, and it really isn’t a big deal.”  Also, a high-stress situation such as a big test or interview may cause you to put pressure on yourself.  A good way to ease the stress is to tell yourself, “I will do my best,” or “I can do this.”  If something is causing you stress now such as a rough patch in a relationship, ask yourself, “Will I be stressing over this next month?”  As long as the answer is no, some stress will be relieved immediately. 

Certain conversations can be stressful too.  When being put on the spot, if you don’t know the answer, simply admit it calmly.  The world will not collapse if you don’t have all the answers.  Also, if people ask you questions and you can’t find the right words, say something like, ”Let me get back to you on that.”  This will prevent you from getting flustered.  Make sure you don’t bite off more than you can chew.  If your calendar is packed and people ask you for favors, just say, “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”  This type of response will save you stress because you are asserting yourself without hurting others’ feelings. 

Certain foods have been proven to relieve stress as well.  These foods include: fresh bananas, baked tortilla chips and salsa, breakfast cereal bars, black bean soup, decaf nonfat lattes, baby carrots with nonfat sour cream dip, and raisin bread with fat-free cream cheese.  Exercising and deep breathing, of course, relieve stress too.  Meditation is also something to consider.   It stimulates the part of the nervous system that lowers heart and breath rate and blood pressure, and it relaxes muscles.