Stress and Teens: Know the Signs

What is stress?

Stress is what you feel when you react to pressure from others or from yourself. Pressure can come from anywhere, including school, work, activities, friends, and family members. You can also feel stress from the pressure of wanting to get good grades or wanting to feel like you belong. Stress comes in many forms and everyone feels stress.

How does my body handle stress?

Your body has a built-in response to handle stress. When something stressful happens, you may experience sweaty palms, dry mouth, or knots in your stomach. This is totally normal and means that your body is working exactly as it should. Other signs of stress include emotional signs such as feeling sad or worried, behavioral (your actions) signs such as not feeling up to doing things, and mental (your mind) signs such as not being able to concentrate or focus.

What causes stress?

Is stress always a bad thing?

No! A little bit of stress can work in a positive way. For instance, during a sports competition, stress might push you to perform better. Also, without the stress of deadlines, you might not be able to finish schoolwork or get to where you need to be on time.

What are signs that you have too much stress or are stressed out?

Are you stressed about your body?

During adolescence, your body is going through many changes that are happening at a fast pace. These changes might make you feel unsure of yourself at times, or stressed. They might make you worry about your size and wanting to fit in with the rest of the crowd.

Do you worry about the same thing other girls do?

• Why am I taller than most of the boys my age?
• Why haven’t I grown any?
• Am I too skinny?
• Am I overweight?
• Why is my weight going up and down?
• Am I normal? Will others like me now that I am changing?
• My breasts are too small.
• My breasts are too large
• Why am I so emotional?
• Why am I getting pimples?
• Do my clothes look right on my body?
• That new dress style doesn’t fit me – my friends won’t think I’m cool.