Difficulty
Stress
Stress is natural and most people feel stressed sometimes- it is the release of chemicals into your blood to give you more energy and strength as a reaction to mental or emotional pressure. It can be a good thing when you are threatened with physical danger but it can be bad for you when it’s affecting your life as a response to something emotional that you have no outlet for. Common reasons that young people experience stress are school, family, friendships, health and relationships.
NHS
Recognise the signs & symptoms
Possible signs of stress
- Changes in sleeping patterns; either sleeping too much or not enough.
- Having ‘nervous’ behaviour such as twitching, fiddling, talking too much, nail biting, teeth grinding, pacing, and other repetitive habits.
- Constantly feeling tired and worn out.
- Experiencing a change in appetite.
- An increase in your breath and heartbeat.
- Becoming sweaty and clammy, leaving you with cold hands, feet, or skin.
- Feeling sick to your stomach or getting ‘butterflies’.
- Feeling tense or a tightening in your muscles.
- Getting headaches regularly.
- Difficulty concentrating.
Help with stress
MindSpace top tips
- Talk to someone you trust e.g. a friend, parent or teacher about your feelings as they may be able to help.
- Make time to do self-care and relax.
- Make to do lists or create a routine and prepare things the night before if you have a lot of things going on.
- Use exercise to release any negative feelings and release those endorphins (happy hormones).
- Do something you enjoy everyday that makes you smile or laugh.