Emily+K.

=__​__= ** Teenage Stress ** By: Emily Kelly

** "Rule 1. Don't sweat the small stuff. **
 * Rule 2. It's all small stuff. **
 * Rule 3. If you can't fight or flee, then flow. **


 * If you don't mind, it don't matter" - Author Unknown **

=__About Stress:__=

You’re standing near the front door, gazing down the street. Your hands are all clammy and there’s sweat trickling down your face. This dreaded incident takes place four times a year. Anxiously waiting for that letter we all get in the mail; our report cards. These days’ teenagers have a lot on their minds. Not only are they worried about what will happen to them on that day, but they're worried about what the future holds for them also. They know that the grades they get today with effect their future. Sometimes teens take on challenges and realize that they have bit of more than they can chew. While others have parents that push them to limits they never even imagined they could reach. Some teens have a lot more than the pressures of academics to worry about on day to day bases. They have to be concerned for their own safety and security also. These teens have a big problem on their plates; bullying. All of these pressures and worries of security begin to pile up. When the pile gets too high to handle stress starts to become a big part of many teenagers’ lives. For most, the pile is just too immense to handle. media type="youtube" key="SsPN9InEeAo" height="344" width="425"

Stress has both an emotional and social affect on teens. It affects them emotionally because they tend to become very unstable. When all of the stressors add up the amount of stress becomes too much to handle. When dealing with the stress their feelings start to be much more negative. When they are affected emotionally they start to go through mood changes and tend to act differently towards family members. This is affecting them socially because it messes with the way they interact with loved ones. They also have a new perspective on society as a whole.





=__Causes:__ =

One of the main causes of stress in teens is the pressure to do well from parents and the competition with classmates. Sometimes students hear things about colleges only accepting students that qualify in certain areas. When the students hear this they start ranking each other, adding more pressure to an already “product-oriented and competitive” culture that’s gone into overdrive (“Students under Stress” 580). These days’ teens tend to be much more competitive when it comes to grades. I even see it take place. No longer are friends rooting for one another to do the best they can do but instead they’re disappointed when someone does better than them. Parents are also a very big cause of the stress in teens. They start to push their own children to take on tasks that may be too large to handle. In a recent survey, though, it was said that only 15% of all adults thought that parents were putting their children under too much pressure. While 56% thought that they were putting too little (“Students under Stress” 580). But many children feel they need to reach the expectations of their parents, whether the parents, themselves, agree or not.

Many parents that disagree with the fact that they are a cause of stress on their teens believe that homework, instead, is the main cause. They feel that the homework load is too much for one person to handle. Some parents say today’s kids face unprecedented school-related stress beginning as early as kindergarten (“Students under Stress” 581). The average homework load for first through third graders has doubled over the past two decades, even though research shows homework doesn’t benefit such young children. These parents say that the added pressure from homework robs children of needed play and family time and can cause stress, sleep deprivation, depression and family strife (“Students under Stress” 578). But compared to many other countries like Iran, Armenia, Italy and the Philippines, United State’s pre-teens do not get a lot of homework. Only 5% of students in the U.S. said that they spent four or more hours daily on homework. While a whopping 24% of students in Lebanon said they did (“Students under Stress” 588).

=__Bullying:__ =

Not only do some teenagers feel stressed from the pressures of academics and other school related issues. But they also have to face the issue of bullying every day. Many people see something about bullying and automatically assume it is punching or kicking. But bullying can come in many forms.  There is also verbal bullying, which is usually used more in girls. But no matter what kind of bullying it is it is found to have a negative effect on the victims and the bullies themselves. Both groups of students have a much higher dropout rate than their peers. Bullied students also tend to have failing grades (“Bullying” 2). The failing grades go right back to the type of stress described earlier. Research conducted in 1933 indicates that children who are bullied often suffer from depression and low self-esteem well into adulthood. Moreover, the act of bullying can become a “gateway” to other negative behaviors in adolescence (Watkins 3). Bullying has also caused the victims to feel depressed and many of them suicidal. For instance, a girl that is bullied every day by others is eight times more likely to commit suicide than her girl classmates. Boys who are bullied are five times more likely than their peers to suffer from depression (Greenya 10). Stress is just the beginning for many teens. After the stress comes the depression and sometimes, unfortunately, come the thoughts of suicide.  [] []

=__Solution: __= Stress in teens is very common. But in order to get rid of the stress first you need to take care of the underlying causes; like the pressures and bullying. Most parents will have a hard time trying not to pressure their children into doing better because most just want their children to be the best that they can be. But some parents should learn to take it down a notch and notice that it really is affecting their children. I think that in order for students to stop being so competitive we should all realize that everyone learns and succeeds at their own rates. If one person does poorly on one test they may do significantly greater on another. The best way to prevent bullying is for schools to always keep an eye out for everyone.

There are many laws in Illinois and other states that try to stop bullying from occurring but many do not do anything to help. Parents need to talk to their kids and ask them how they are doing. Most people that are bullied won’t say anything about it. But for the few that will, their parents can take action and do something about it. But it isn’t just up to the parents to do something. So as for the teens, they should learn to talk to their parents, or anyone, if bullying is something that is really putting stress on their life. They could talk to a counselor at school, friend or teacher; anyone will be eager to listen. If the causes of stress are not taken care of then the stress will build up and lead to things much more serious. Teenagers all around the world are overwhelmed with everything they hope to accomplish in life. But if they just learn to take it day by day life will seem to be not so bad. Who knows, you may even be running towards your mailman begging for your report card to be opened.

** Accept yourself for who you are ** ** Reailze that not everyone is perfect Take a break from what is stressing you in your life Stand up to those who only want to hurt you Find someone to tak to Be who you want to be, and live STRESS FREE **

**"Even to much sunshine can be devasting, while only with rain can growth occur. Accept both as part of the growing process in the garden of life." //Donald S. Neviaser, from The Inner View// **

=Recommended sites to visit: =

**about stress:**
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 * about bullying:​**

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 * how to deal with pressure:**

= Works Cited: =

"Bullying." //Issues & Controversies On File//, 29 Apr. 2005. //Issues & Controversies @ FACTS.com//. 1 Feb. 2010 <http://www.2facts.com>. “Bullying Among Youths Is a Serious Problem.” //Opposing Viewpoints: America’s Youth//. Roman Espejo. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//. Gale. 1 Feb. 2010. Greenya, J. “Bullying.” //Cqresearcher.com.// CQ Researcher Online, 4 Feb.2005. Web. 1 Feb. 2010. “Students Under Stress.” //Cqresearcher.com//. CQ Researcher Online, 13 July.2007. Web. 1 Feb. 2010. Watkins, Christine. “Bullying Puts Teens at Risk.” //Opposing Viewpoints: Teens at Risk//. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2009. //Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center//, Gale. 1 Feb 2010.