Reduce stress

Stress busters to the rescue!

The life of the average young person is a lot more stressful than it used to be. The pressures of jobs, looks, boyfriends, girlfriends and keeping credit in phones to name but a few! But all this and then school/college can sometimes be too much for a lot of people.

Most people don’t realise how stressed they are until it is too late, so check out the common signs of too much stress here. It is very important that stress is spotted early so something can be done about it.

What can you do about it?

You need to confront the problem and learn how to relax. Try to work out what is causing you to feel anxious. It’s really important not to let anxiety take over your life. Try to figure out what’s causing the stress and do something about it.

If it’s caused by a situation you can’t control (bullying or family situation) talk to an adult you trust or a doctor. It might also help to talk to your friends and see if they’re going through the same problems.

Some tips to reduce stress:

Recognise the signs of stress (talk to a doctor if you’re not sure what’s wrong with you).
Have at least one good friend you can confide in.
Express yourself through writing, sport, art, music, fashion etc (It’s a great way to relieve tension)
Handle life’s challenges one day at a time (Don’t spend all your time worrying about ‘tomorrow’).
Know and accept your strengths and weaknesses.
Strive to change the source of stress and/or your reaction to it.
Remember: alcohol won’t reduce stress, it will only make things worse when you have to deal with a mega hangover.

Some people find the best way to deal with stress is through personal strength, Clint Eastwood once said "Strength is to hold it together when everyone would understand it if you fell apart".

Or in the wise words of a Chinese proverb:"Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you really are".

Thanks to The Guide

See the help section for contact details of support organisations.