Stress is a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation (who.int). We recognize April as National Stress Awareness Month, which involves organizations coming together to try and help anyone who is struggling with severe stress and or even anxiety. Being able to manage your stress is an ideal component of living out a healthy, long lifestyle. As teenagers and high school students we face stress in our everyday life, be it in school or with family and friends.

According to gitnux.org, 45% of high school students say they experience a great deal of stress on a daily basis and 83% of high school students report school as a significant source of stress. Being able to handle your stress as a student will significantly help improve your grades, relationships, and your mental space, and it all just depends on how you handle it. According to cdc.gov, ways to help handle stress include taking deep breaths, stretching/meditating, eating healthy (balanced meals), exercising regularly, and getting plenty of sleep each night. If you try and commit to even a couple of these ways, you will see drastic changes in your stress levels. 

Ignoring your stress can lead to many other issues in the near future. According to mentalhealth.org, of all the people who said they had felt stress at some point in their lives, 16% had self-harmed, 32% said they had had suicidal thoughts and feelings, and 37% of adults who reported feeling stressed also reported feeling lonely as a result. Being able to recognize and control your stress at an early state will truly make a difference in the long run. 

Ways to help show your support during National Stress Awareness Month include sending out self care kits, hosting a wellness event, trying meditating with others, trying out a yoga class, eating healthy for a week, and encouraging others to go outside more during the day.