_{by Jessica Caputo, NWH’s President’s Junior Leadership Council}

Who thinks stress only affects adults? You’d be surprised how many people feel this way, but are they ever wrong! Teenagers routinely deal with an enormous amount of stress and it comes in many forms: peer pressure, grades, expectations from both parents and teachers, sports competitions, college admission and often college expenses, and time management in general.

When I experience stress, I feel tension in my shoulder blades, become “tense” and anxious, or find myself jumping into overdrive. But there are many ways teens can express anxiety, like pulling lower grades than usual, using drugs, becoming abrupt or short with others, getting unusually sad or angry with little apparent cause, and more.  All of these are signs that teens are “maxed out” and need a release.

Drugs are a poor coping choice, but sometimes teens are actually imitating adults in their lives whom they see having a glass of wine at night after a hard day at work.  In their minds, the drugs are an equivalent source of relief from pressure.  And when students become overly emotional over minor issues, I can almost guarantee that it is not about what just happened.  It’s much more likely a ballooning effect – the tension they’re feeling keeps building and building until the student can no longer take it and ‘explodes’ or acts out.

Some pressures are not easy to deal with, but many are just part of everyday life and students can use a number of techniques to overcome their anxiety and discomfort.  And these coping mechanisms are good lessons for the future.  Here are a few that have been identified by high school student members of Northern Westchester Hospital’s Junior Leadership Council.

Take a hot shower to relax muscles or take a bubble bath - as a time out

Exercise - it helps maintain good health in general and releases endorphins in the brain, making the exerciser happier!
Create a schedule for completing tasks – getting them in some manageable order (rather than in a cluttered pile) makes them appear less overwhelming to the student.  They don’t look so insurmountable when they’re handled one at a time. Consider using that academic planner for something other than just writing down assignments- write all appointments, plans and tasks that need to be completed in a single place, then check them off as they are accomplished.

Cry - it may sound childish, but it’s a fantastic release and allows the pent up stress and emotions to leave the body, releasing negative feelings. By letting out what is bothering you, it’s easier to move on.

Create a “Happy Box” - On a piece of paper, the student can write down what the stress is and stick it in the box.  There’s a lot of emotional catharsis identifying the problem and putting it in a small and constrained space.  The inside of the box may appear dark and gloomy, but the outside should be bright, shiny and even smiley. You may laugh, but I have seen this work. Once you have placed the stressor in the box, DO NOT continue to think/obsess about it- it only makes the feelings seem even more insurmountable. State it once and then move on.   

You’ll see below suggestions displayed on the Northern Westchester Hospital’s President’s Junior Leadership Council “Stress Less” poster.  The 100 ways to de-stress were identified by teens for teens here in Northern Westchester, based on our own experiences. They did not come from a book.  We’ve used them -  these are not suggestions for teens from adults. If we’re suggesting them, it’s because they made the cut after 30 of us debated for weeks which to include.  They represent ‘the’ best methods freshman through seniors have used or seen put in practice.

Remember, the next time you’re feeling stressed, you are not alone- everyone deals with it, it’s just a matter of coping. So next time you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider using one of these suggestions -  you should then feel some of your stress “melt away.”