I'm feeling very stressed, can someone help?

 By Hannah Haslett

Anxiety and stress go hand in hand. Sometimes anxiety causes stress and sometimes stress causes anxiety. 

I talked to a friend of mine who is also an anxiety-filled girlie and here’s some of her advice. “Music and meditation help me when I’m feeling stressed out. I write down a list of the things that are stressing me out and make a plan for the things that I can control.” I love these ideas and will use them in the future. 

Whether you find yourself stressed about school,

finances, or just life in general it’s important to find ways

to help you manage your stress. 

I visited with Jenny Lamb who is a Social Work Lecturer and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. When it comes to dealing with stress as a teenager she says, “My first piece of advice is don’t try to manage it alone. If your usual solo techniques aren’t working, invite others to help you. This help can be either informal through friends and family or via more formal avenues depending on the level of stress and how it is impacting you. For example,  maybe invite a friend to hang out or do a coping skill aimed at stress reduction like a deep breathing exercise, yoga, or just something fun.” 

Don’t try and force yourself into doing something just because the internet said it will help your stress. If you do, it might even create more stress. 

One thing that I always joke around about with my mom, is making a list for everything. Whether it’s a grocery list, a Christmas list, or a to-do list. Lists are the number one way to stay organized as long as you can take a few minutes to sit down and make that list. 

We all have stress. It’s a natural part of life. If you learn to manage your stress and find techniques that work for you, it will help you so much.