As reported by the American Institute of Stress, 32% of teenagers deal with extreme stress during their schooling years. This stems from difficult classes with a heavy workload, a bountiful amount of extracurricular activities and the overwhelming societal pressures on adolescents. These major stress factors can contribute to substance abuse and various mental health issues. Therefore, it is imperative that the science behind stress is understood, so teenagers can help regulate their bustling lives.
“Teenagers especially deal with pressures of school and extracurriculars to be a high-level candidate for colleges,” Scotch Plains-Fanwood junior Amelia Condell said.
Stress is when someone confronts a perceived danger or fear. There are two types of stress, acute and chronic. Acute stress is the common, short-lived version that deals with minor pressures from everyday life. Chronic stress is a harmful, long-lasting process to the body that can further medical issues.
The stress response begins in the brain’s amygdala, which is the part of the brain responsible for emotional responses, especially anger and fear. The amygdala sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus, which acts as a command center to send signals to the body. The brain triggers the sympathetic nervous system, which then sends nerves to the adrenal glands. Then, the hormone epinephrine (adrenaline) is released into the bloodstream.
Once the hormone is released, the body acts immediately. Blood pressure and heart rate quickly increase, along with rapid breathing and occasionally sharper senses. It is important to note that these symptoms are more harsh and align with the fight or flight response. Everyday stress is less extreme but still sets into motion this chemical process.
After the first part of the stress response has passed, the hypothalamus activates the HPA axis (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis). It is responsible for stress management and does so by releasing cortisol into the bloodstream to control the body’s blood pressure and other systems. One can start to feel relaxed after the process and it hinders the stress response.
“Stress makes me frustrated and causes me to act out to people around me,” junior Paige Rowley said. “There’s lots of parental pressure about grades.”
So how does one control the amount of stress responses they experience? First, it begins with recognizing the type of stress one feels. Is it a continuous cloud above one’s head, or does it only appear in certain situations?
Being consistently stressed is a side effect of life, but there could be underlying medical issues. It is important to let medical professionals know what is going on, so proper treatment can be administered.
In the meantime, there are ways to reduce overall stress from one’s life. Having a support system is huge when dealing with these things. Maintaining close relationships with family and friends can allow one to have someone to confide in about difficult situations. They can offer valuable advice and provide practical solutions to the issues at hand.
Furthermore, getting regular physical exercise and eating a healthy diet will have massive impacts on improving one’s overall well-being. Exercise releases endorphins that help boost emotional mood. Additionally, forms of exercise such as yoga combine movement with focus for an overall state of calm. A nutritious diet gives the body the essential vitamins for the immune system to balance hormones when stressed.
Priority management is always something to work on. Organizing tasks and focusing on the urgent matters at hand will allow one to take control of the work. This skill develops with time and can be helped by creating to-do lists and keeping an updated schedule.
The most fun way to manage stress is by doing things that are enjoyable. Hobbies, such as reading, creating art and playing video games are common outlets that can boost dopamine and serotonin levels in the brain, leading to a happier life.
Think about what you can alter in your life to make the workload less cumbersome. There are always resources available at Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School for students and teachers to turn to when life gets overwhelming. Remember that whatever you are going through, it will pass. You will get through, and come out stronger on the other side.
