“Healthy strategies become lifelong tools for managing work, relationships, and unexpected stress. Early practice strengthens problem solving, emotional regulation, and confidence in facing future challenges,” Blessie Sebastian, school counselor at Judson High School, commented.
75% of high school students experience stress on a daily basis. On a 10 point scale, adult stress averages at 3.8, while teens rate their stress at an average of 5.8, according to the American Psychological Association.
When it comes to dealing with stress, it’s important to manage it in a healthy way. Developing good habits can better one’s mental and overall health.
One healthy habit that can be beneficial to managing stress is walking.
According to Loma Linda University Health, taking a brisk walk every day or every other day has many benefits. Walking lowers the “stress hormone” called cortisol, improves sleep, helps lower blood sugar and releases endorphins— which helps regulate stress and moods and promotes relaxation.
Adding journaling to your daily routine can assist in improving overall emotional wellbeing.
Journaling helps manage stress, reduce anxiety and cope with depression. It also helps in helping identify and work on fears, tracking triggers that may make you upset and allowing an opportunity for positive self-talk, states University of Rochester Medical. Journaling lets someone reflect on the ups and downs of their day. Sometimes someone just needs to let their feelings out without fear of judgement from others. Opening a journal and writing, letting the words fall on the page, may be just what was needed.
Music is a big part of life and can play a part in bringing comfort and clarity during stressful times.
According to Very Well Mind, a board of certified physicians, music has proven to have many psychological benefits. Research found that listening to music has an impact on the human stress response, lowering cortisol levels and raising oxytocin levels. Research also suggests that music therapy can help reduce depression, along with improving moods, motivation and sleep.
While meditation may seem unappealing or perhaps boring to many, it’s important to know the many advantages that meditation can provide.
Meditation has been around for many years, dating back to at least 1500BC. People believed that meditation would deepen the understanding of sacred and mystical forces of life. But today, it is used as a form of relaxation and a destressor. Mayo Health Clinic states that meditation can help bring a sense of peace, calm and balance that helps with emotional wellbeing and overall health. It’s important to take a breath, pause and reconnect with the present moment. It’s beneficial to keep in mind that everything is or will be okay.
There are multiple ways to meditate. Mantra meditation is repeating a calming word or phrase to help keep unwanted thoughts away. Mindfulness meditation involves observing your thoughts and feelings and letting them flow without judgement. Yoga is one of the most popular meditation methods, practicing breathing while being still or performing gentle movements.
Seeking help, talking with a trusted friend or adult and finding the warmth in being with loved ones can help you through a hard time.
The Better Health Channel states that talking to someone and having a listening ear around can help in numerous ways. Understanding that every struggle is shared in some way and talking to someone can help you recognize different perspectives to the situation at hand. Being able to talk about shared experiences helps reduce the burden being carried, makes you realize the good and allows the body to release endorphins, which makes you feel better. Even if you feel alone in your times of need, there are hotlines that can help including, 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, SAMHSA National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP(4357), or text “HOME” to 741741 to Crisis Text Line.
“It’s okay to feel overwhelmed sometimes — you’re not alone, and asking for help shows strength, not weakness. Take things one step at a time, breathe deeply and know that challenges are temporary. You have the ability to get through this, and there are people who want to support you. Everything is temporary, it will not be this way forever,” stated Judson High School’s social worker, Julianna Oyola.
Coping mechanisms are a vital need for anyone. It’s especially important to utilize healthy ones that help manage stress, anxiety and depression. Everyone deals with something, but no one is truly alone. Reach out for help in times of need, start a new hobby to destress or get out in the sun to feel more energized. No one deserves to feel the weight of the world on their shoulders. There are ways to feel better, and there can’t be change without wanting to change.