IDENTIFYING, UNDERSTANDING, AND COPING WITH STRESS

	Everyone faces a certain degree of stress in his or her daily life, and a little bit of stress is not always a bad thing.  A controllable amount of nervous energy or self-motivated pressure can improve our performance in daily activities.  However, when the pressure becomes unmanageable, stress can become extremely harmful to the point that this tension can manifest itself in physical infirmity.  The keys to coping with stress are to figure out what may be causing it, to understand the potential effects, and to make stress manageable for you.

	As a young person, there is a wide assortment of issues that may cause tension on a daily basis.  Any sort of change may bring, particularly the physical and emotional changes as a result of growing up may cause stress.  Other potential stress generators include peer pressure, family problems, concerns over grades or extracurricular activities, fear of violence, or even just maintaining a busy schedule.

	When the amount of pressure on you reaches a level in which it becomes unmanageable, you reach what is known as "stress overload."  If you believe that this may be the case, keep an eye out for these signs of stress overload.  Physically, you may be experiencing headaches, an eating disorder such as loss of appetite or overeating, trouble sleeping, or reduced immunity to illness.  Emotionally, you might feel depressed, edgy, moody, or overwhelmed and apathetic.  Behaviorally, you may find yourself becoming more temperamental, argumentative, defensive, or even violent. 

	Avoidance is the major impediment to overcoming stress overload.  Some teens choose to handle adversity by evading their problems, perhaps by dropping out of school or by running away from home.  Others may even turn to alcohol or drugs, which may seem to provide a momentary escape from stress, but just lead to more serious trouble down the road.  This is not a healthy or productive manner of dealing with adversity.

	In order to face your problems head on, begin by attempting to put your concerns into perspective.  Teenagers especially seem magnify their troubles to the degree that they seem much more daunting than they actually are.  The most important technique for coping with stress is to take responsibility for your own decisions and the manner in which you react to pressure situations.  Remember that if an issue is out of your control and there is nothing you can do about it, that you should not allow it to bother you.  

	One of the best outlets for managing stress is to share your thoughts with others.  Whether it's a friend, parent, or counselor, talking with someone about your problems allows you to get an issue off your chest while receiving another person's opinion about how to handle it.  Here are some more suggested activities for reducing stress:

* Allow relaxation time every day

* Prepare ahead of time for potentially stressful events

* Learn to manage your time wisely

 	Keep a calendar to avoid scheduling conflicts

* Live a healthy lifestyle:

	Eat nourishing foods

	Get enough sleep

	Exercise regularly

	Larry Deutsch is the Community Education Director for Youth In Need, a non-profit organization serving the youth and families of Eastern Missouri.  Youth In Need has taken a "strength-based" approach toward helping teens, a method which stresses the empowerment of youngsters to solve their own problems.  Youth In Need counselors avoid preaching or belittling clients and work to improve situations rather than searching for blame in them.  The program offers personalized in-home visits, information and assistance on life needs, and opportunities to share experiences with peers.  For more information please contact Youth In Need at (636) 946-0101.