Stress and The Effects It Has On The Teenage Mind

Delilah Dare

Photo courtesy of Vecteezy

Have you ever been curious about how stress can affect not only the mind but also the body? How does stress change your decision-making, your thinking, and even your perception of the world around you? Students struggle with stress daily, and depending on the severity, it can drive teens into a hole that may be hard to climb out of. Many may ask what stress actually means, a good deal of people have different opinions on this. Some may describe it as worrying, excitement, or anxiety about something new, or even the opposite, a response to danger. But the question is still faced, what is stress and why does it have such an effect on society? By definition, stress is “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.” What does that entail when it comes to school specifically?

Many would say it has to do with the homework, the teachers, or maybe even the grades, but how and why do all these things contribute to stress? The National Library of Medicine shares that the main reason stress is such an issue is because students are forced to deal with three main stressors, including peer stressors, academic stressors, and home stressors. These may not seem like they are all connected but they most definitely are, as they are all a part of a larger-scale issue: mental health in teens. The Mental Health Foundation states that 20% of adolescents struggle with mental health throughout any given year. Teens often struggle to reach out as ViewPoint Center points out “There’s a large stigma against adult and teen mental health issues, making it difficult for individuals to seek help when they desperately need it,” proving that even when getting help is completely necessary, reaching out is not the number one priority.

When it comes to stressors in anyone’s life, it can affect the mind and its capability to react, but it can also affect the body in many ways that go undetected. Supporting this, the Mayo Clinic

shares that deeply rooted problems such as weakened immune systems, muscle tension and pain, and even sleep problems are all effects that stress can have on your body. The impacts on the mind and your mood are just as unpleasant, including memory problems, lack of motivation, and overeating or undereating. Now imagine this happening on top of everything high school puts on your plate. Between being dismissed by everyone around you, and the amount of school work, stress just builds and builds. The overload is very overwhelming and many don’t take the time to realise it.

Students face so much unwarranted stress that can affect their grades, mood, and overall health. Putting unwarranted extra stress on adolescents is inhumane. Be kind to your children, students, and friends because you never know what they could be going through. On top of treating others with empathy, also make sure to treat yourself, understand that your emotions are normal, and don’t be so hard on yourself. Stress is normal and can be overcome if you give yourself time and communicate your feelings.