Between balancing school, extracurricular activities and other responsibilities, it is easy for teens to get caught up in the anxieties of high school. The added pressures of AP classes, deadlines, leadership positions and college applications add to the medley of everyday stress.

“The biggest problem is that there aren’t enough hours in the day. I get really stressed because sometimes I try to do more than that for which I have time. I always worry that what I produce won’t be good enough and I will be blamed,” said senior Megan Stevenson.

“Throughout my high school career, my stress level has increased every year. My senior year has been the most stressful because of school work, yearbook, college applications and family pressure. School and college applications are very stressful on any student, but for me the stress level has been increased greatly because I’m enrolled in three AP classes,” said senior Asia Mateo.

Stress is not always negative, however. The added pressure can push people to become more productive, procrastinate less, focus more and overall become more motivated.

“Oftentimes I have noticed that stress is a motivator because I have a drive to get things done. However, there are definitely times where I get too stressed, especially when I am on a deadline and things don’t cooperate, such as when computers malfunction. At those times I get really on edge and might snap at anyone. The smallest annoyances seem to be magnified when I’m stressed,” said Stevenson.

Stress may also be caused by other factors such as pressure from one’s friends and family, pressure to succeed outside of school, as well as pressure from society.

“As the first person soon to graduate from a private school on my father’s side, the pressure my family gives is very stressful because I have to ‘do good and make grandma and dad proud,’ my aunty often tells me. Since many of my cousins right after high school did not make wise choices, I’m more pressured not to follow in their footsteps, and the nagging and lectures I receive stress me because I know the expectations they have for me,” said Mateo. 
 In severe cases of stress, one can experience a variety of symptoms. One may be affected on a cognitive level, experiencing memory problems, the inability to concentrate, poor judgment, a pessimistic attitude, anxiety, racing thoughts or constant worrying. Emotional problems may also manifest due to stress, such as moodiness, irritability, a short temper, agitation, the inability to relax, feeling overwhelmed, a sense of loneliness and isolation, depression and general unhappiness.

“This year with more sources of stress I get a lot of headaches and I hardly spend time with family and friends because I’m always trying to get work done for school, college, yearbook or my other activities,” said Mateo.

Stress may also appear in more concrete ways, such as aches and pains, digestive issues, nausea, dizziness, chest pain, rapid heartbeat and frequent colds. Stress may even affect one’s behavior over a long period of time.

“The negative effects that stress cause are shown through my diet; sometimes I will eat too much or too little. I neglect what my body needs, so I become more prone to getting sick,” said Mateo.

Stress can become a real issue for teens, especially when it gets to the point where it becomes less a commodity and more a way of life. If one is experiencing such symptoms, she is advised to consult a counselor, a trusted adult or even her doctor. Various measures should also be taken to help relieve such stress, which can vary from person to person.

“When I’m stressed, I like to go running or do Zumba and Pilates to calm my body and mind. I clean my room or bake. No matter how much pressure there is and the need to get things done, I learned that you cannot overwork the body. It’s best to pace yourself and take small breaks so the body has time to rest and recover,” said Mateo.

“Although it’s counterintuitive, I find it best to step away for a few minutes and calm down, drink water, take a shower, anything to get my mind calm and refocus,” said Stevenson.