Between school, sports, friends and family, it’s easy to get stressed and feel overwhelmed. It might come from those three tests that all happen to be on Friday, the day after your big track meet, or from the fight you just had with your best friend.

According to TeensHealth, “Stress is a feeling that’s created when we react to particular events. It’s the body’s way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness.”

Stress could be a short term thing or a long-term thing, depending on the circumstance, and sometimes we’re pretty good at dealing with it, while other times it can just feel like nothing is getting better. When we feel like this, it could be due to stress overload. TeensHealth points out these signs that could signify overload:

• anxiety or panic attacks
• a feeling of being constantly pressured, hassled, and hurried
• irritability and moodiness
• physical symptoms, such as stomach problems, headaches, or even chest pain
• allergic reactions, such as eczema or asthma
• problems sleeping
• drinking too much, smoking, overeating, or doing drugs
• sadness or depression

However, stress DOES NOT have to take over your life.

How to Deal with Stress

1. SLEEP. Most teenagers think they are invincible and will function normally without sleep. However, getting adequate sleep will help your mind deal with stress better.

2. RELAX. make yourself calm by doing something you enjoy, like reading a book, doing yoga, listening to some coldplay. Or, you can simply breathe in and out. When we get stressed but are able to ease that feeling, we have used a relaxation response. Relaxation responses lead to a “decreased heart and breathing rate and a sense of well being,” according to this website.

3. EAT WELL. It will make you feel way better than cheetos. Your body will appreciate that extra kick of vitamin D during a stressful time.

4. BUILD RESILIENCE. According to TeensHealth, this can be accomplished when you:

• Think of change as a challenging and normal part of life.
• See setbacks and problems as temporary and solvable.
• Believe that you will succeed if you keep working toward your goals.
• Take action to solve problems that crop up.
• Build strong relationships and keep commitments to family and friends.
• Have a support system and ask for help.
• Participate regularly in activities for relaxation and fun.

Basically, THINK POSITIVE. It goes a long way and trust me, you don’t want those worry lines when you’re older.

By HOSNA SAFI