Does your stomach feel like it’s tied in knots? Does your chest feel tight? Do you ever get this feeling that everything is out of control? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Stress is a common response to difficult situations, and high school is full of difficult situations. So, what are the most common causes for stress at Needham High School; and how do students respond?
First, what is stress? According to OxfordLanguages, stress is “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.” In simpler words, stress is a state of mind that someone enters when feeling overwhelmed in a difficult situation. Stress most often occurs during periods of change, when the mind and body are susceptible to more powerful emotions. Other noteworthy causes of stress include being put under pressure/responsibilities, the feeling of losing control, or experiencing physical or verbal abuse.
Some symptoms for stress, according to the article “Stress” from the website Mind, include experiencing emotions like anxiety, depression, loneliness, and anger/irritation. You might find yourself losing your sense of humor, hyper-focusing on something or experiencing a constant sense of dread. Although stress can appear helpful for a short period of time, in the sense that it can motivate you to try and enhance your performance or focus, stress can take a toll on the body after long periods of time. Sustained stress can “cause headaches, insomnia, weight gain, anxiety, pain and high blood pressure,” according to the article “Stress Management: How to Tell the Difference Between Good and Bad Stress” from the website Summa Health. Some common suggestions from professionals about coping with stress include exercising, doing meditations, eating healthy, well-balanced meals, getting a good night’s rest, talking to others, asking for help if needed and generally taking care of your body.
What does stress look like in Needham? When I asked a few Needham High School students whether or not they were experiencing stress these days, every one of them responded “yes.” So what were some of the recurring causes of stress for these students? The top stresser students mentioned was school, especially with upcoming tests right before the winter break. Students reported feeling overwhelmed with hours of homework and studying each night. However, school is not the only stresser. Students pointed to home lives, extracurricular activities, parental pressure, and self-imposed pressure as other common sources of stress. Social lives also ranked highly as a common cause of stress. Students mentioned that social life stress from outside of school carries over into school premises.
How do Needham students try to reduce stress? Talking to people–friends, parents, trusted adults–emerged as the most common strategy. Students also mentioned taking time for comfort activities, like watching a favorite show. They also emphasized the importance of getting back to basics: eating and sleeping well.
Stress is common. Stress can be productive. Stress can also be toxic. As we move into months of shorter days and longer nights, it is particularly important to watch for seasonal depression and its stressors. Needham High School students echo the advice of the experts: talk to someone about your stress. You are not alone.