A stressed out person is easy to pick out from the rest of the crowd. They don’t talk much and never really look happy. Thoughts run to the mind of the observer. Why is this person sad? What’s causing it?
According to a study done by suicide.org ,10 percent of all teens have an anxiety disorder. The reasons for this include school work, parents, and struggling with a relationship. A good percent of teens have experienced all three of the reasons.
“School work and trying to get good grades is easily the biggest cause of stress,” freshman Zach Keeling said. “Trying to please my parents with my grades can be really stressful.”
School in general can be extremely stressful. High school can really be an epicenter for anxiety. According to a recent mental health survey, nearly10 percent of teens ages 13 to 18 have an anxiety disorder, however only 18 percent of those struggling with anxiety are receiving mental health care. Other causes of anxiety could be younger siblings or a death of a loved one.
“Keeping my GPA up can be really stressful,” junior Brandi Huesman said.
Most high schoolers have plans to attend college. A good GPA is necessary to get into college. This leads back into how schoolwork causes stress. Choosing a college can also be a cause of anxiety . Top high school athletes are sometimes pressured by their peers, parents, offered money and gifts by the school, and all to try to get the athlete to attend a certain school.
Teens can be very susceptible to stress and anxiety. They also have to deal with the social aspect of things. Many teenagers feel unaccepted by society which can be a depressing thought.
“Students always have plenty on their mind,” Keeling said. “Having too much to think about can lead to anxiety causing thoughts.”
Teenagers minds also haven’t fully matured and can perceive things differently than what they really are. Some can take a joke and others can’t; everyone’s mind works differently.
“Teens can really overlook things,” Huesman said.
In a study done at a mental health clinic by the University Of California Los Angeles, results showed that teenage girls experienced higher levels of stress related to their relationships with their parents, friends, or teachers than did boys.Teenage boys, however experienced more stress from events outside their relationships with others, such as school or a move to another home.
“Listening to music really lets me forget about my stress,” Keeling said. Many people use music as a gateway where they can forget about all their problems. A lack of sleep also can contribute a stressed out lifestyle.
When it comes to stress it’s obvious everybody has had to deal with it sometime in their lifetime.There is no way to avoid it being a teenager. Peoples methods to get to their “happy place” definitely varies. Teens who are undergoing a tough time in their lives need to realize that it won’t always be like this and that getting to a state of wellbeing can be reached.
