As I mentioned before, there are different ways to cope with stress. Some people overeat or hibernate, other starts drinking, smoking, and other vices. These are all self-destructive coping mechanisms. What you are trying to do here is avoiding the problem and pushing it away by distracting yourself with unhealthy habits. Here are some better ways to cope and deal with your stress. If you ever feel stressed, go for a walk or if you want, a run. By doing exercise and other physical activity, we produce endorphins, chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkiller. It also improves the ability to sleep, which in turn reduces stress. Another way to deal with stress is talking to someone. Talk to a close friend or a family member about the thing that is stressing you out and hear out their advices. Talking a problem through can help to put it into perspective and have a new one.
Stress is a very serious issue, since it could lead to serious health problems or even death. According to Global Education Magazine, about 10% of adolescents in the US attempts to suicide. This is not just happening in the US, in India about 20 students kill themselves every day due to the stress related to exams and the desire to secure seats in prestigious schools. South India is considered the world’s suicide capital; especially Kerala, the first fully literate Indian state. They have the highest number of suicides committed daily. School is not the only thing that can cause us stress. Being bullied or having family problems can also lead to suicide. That’s why April is commemorated as the Stress Awareness Month. This is the time where folks can increase their awareness about the effect of stress and how to treat them before it's too late. If you ever need to talk to someone or need help with something, you can always got to Teen Health and Wellness. In there, you will find all the hotlines for many thing such as Cyber Bullying, Depression, Eating Disorders or even Homeless or Run Away. If you know someone or you feel that you can’t take it anymore, I encourage you to go to their website or call 800-784-2433 (SUICIDE HOTLINE).
Katerine Chung-Chen