Stress

Does it ever feel like things are getting too much? Perhaps it is homework, exam pressure, or issues at home. Whatever the cause, you feel anxious, irritable, and finding it difficult to cope. You might even get headaches or struggle to sleep.
In other words, you are stressed. But don’t panic – you’re not alone. Stress is a normal way for your body to react to high-pressure situations, and we all experience it sometimes.
However, for the millions of people who suffer from stress long-term, it can have serious consequences. It has been linked to a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and a weaker immune system. It can also feed into existing mental health problems.
April is Stress Awareness Month, which makes it the perfect time to think about ways of coping with stress. But how?
The NHS recommends that you start with small steps. Take some time out of your day to relax. Make sure you keep exercising – at home, in the current climate – which releases hormones that, in turn, reduce stress. If things still feel like too much, remember that you can always talk to an adult, or seek professional help, which might have to be online at the moment.
Read Our Stories
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Mental health crisis surging in UK schools
What is to blame? Today is World Mental Health Day and this year’s theme is “young people in a changing world”. In the UK, there has been a surge in the number of schoolchildren seeking help.
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The new movement for a three-day weekend
Should we have a four-day week? After trialing shorter working weeks for two months, a New Zealand company found its workers were happier, less stressed and just as effective.
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Tia, 15: ‘I think as a girl it’s very stressful’
Why do so many teenage girls feel depressed? In The Day’s series on gender, Tia explains the many different pressures young girls face, from exams, to make-up, to Brexit.
Assembly
What is mental health? And will it help us to talk more about it? This video helps to introduce the topic to students.
Activities
- Noticing what makes you stressed is one of the most useful ways of managing your stress in future situations. Write a list of the five things that are most likely to make you feel stressed, with a practical solution for each one.
- Complete this one-minute meditation for reducing stress. How do you feel afterwards? Did it work?
- Create a poster for Stress Awareness Month which gives advice on how to cope with stress.