Hey everyone! I’m Vanessa, and this is my blog about being a teenager. I write about all aspects of being a teenager – from fashion to school life to relationships. But today, we’re going to be talking about how you can handle stress. Stress is an inevitable part of high school, but it doesn’t have to rule your life. Over the next few minutes or so, we will talk about why you should manage stress successfully and what you can do if it becomes too much for you. Let’s start with your brain. One of the areas that has been shown to respond to stress is the limbic system, which is also referred to as the emotional brain or the reptilian brain. The limbic system controls your emotions and reactions to events in your life. It is where you store memories, which you can draw on when dealing with future situations. Your limbic system also helps determine what you think about things and how you react to certain people or situations. It’s also connected to your amygdala, which controls all of your basic emotions like anger, fear and anxiety. How does your brain process stress? Essentially, chronic stress releases cortisol and adrenaline, which make your body react as if it’s in danger. Your body prepares itself for a “fight or flight” situation by raising your heart rate and blood pressure. This is why some people feel like they can’t handle situations. They usually experience racing thoughts and difficulty breathing, which makes them think that the situation is more intense than it really is. But how can you handle stress without having all of these intense feelings? What you need to do first, though, is to figure out what type of stress you are experiencing. Stress can come from events in life, such as conflicts with siblings or bullies at school. Stress can also come from things outside of life, such as exams and homework deadlines. The next thing you need to do is decide if this stress is an added benefit or a detriment to your everyday life. Can you live without this stress? If so, then you’re dealing with chronic or mild stress and probably should see a professional. On the other hand, it’s probably not too high of a priority on your list if it doesn’t effect your daily routine. If you’re dealing with chronic stress, then it may be good to see a doctor or counselor. They can help you work through your issues and reduce their effect on your life. You could also try out some relaxation techniques. 8eeb4e9f32 59
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