More teenagers and adults are claiming to be stressed than ever before. According to “School Stress,” an article in The Huffington Post, 27% of the teenagers say that they face “extreme stress” during the school year. However, during the summer, only 13% agree. In recent years, stress levels have increased, which can be damaging to physical health and mental health.

According to Medical News Today, stress is defined as “anything that poses a challenge or a threat to our well-being.” Symptoms of stress include rapid breathing, an increase in blood pressure, and lack of sleep.

The article “What Is Stress? How To Deal With Stress” from Medical News Today lists some of the symptoms of stress. The article notes, “Our fight-or-flight response is our body’s sympathetic nervous system reacting to a stressful event.”

Mr. Thompson, Director of Psychological Counseling Services at Williston, says, “The amount of homework is a major cause of stress.” He adds, “Navigating the intense social world of middle and high school can [also] be difficult for many.”

Common stressors for teens involve family matters, school, and social anxiety. An article in Healthline, titled “Causes of Stress” discusses the leading causes of stress in America. Author Andrea Baird writes, “According to the American Philological Association, as of 2011, it is estimated that 70 percent of Americans experience significant stress related to their work.”

Another study directed by the APA indicates, “Teens are at risk of a variety of physical and emotional ills and potentially shorter lifespans than their elders if they don’t act to reverse their current trajectory of chronic illness, poor health and shorter lifespans.”

Stress takes a toll on your behavior, health, and mental health. If unmanaged, stress can lead to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. In the article, “Stress Symptoms,” from the Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, the Mayo Clinic Staff notes, “You may think illness is to blame for that nagging headache, your frequent insomnia or your decreased productivity at work. But stress may actually be the culprit.”

Mr. Thompson says, “Major stress over a long period of time can weaken our immune systems, cause sleep and appetite problems, negatively affect our relationships and ability to do good work, and lead to larger problems such as anxiety and depressive disorders.”

However, Mr. Thompson claims that small amounts of stress in our lives can be beneficial. “Good stress, which is not overwhelming, can motivate us to do our best and even has certain health benefits,” he says.

Many students at Williston seek help in coping with stress. Mr. Thompson says, “Over the years, I’ve noticed that stress levels at Williston tend to go up just prior to assessment periods, during the first half of senior year as college applications are being worked on, [and] during the winter months.” Mr. Thompson adds that the winter months can be a common stressor at Williston because “there is little light and lots of cold, snowy weather.”

The tight-packed schedules at Williston often lead to stress. However, there are ways in which students can cope with stress in order to lead happier, healthier lives. Whether it be exercise, meditation, or sleep, managing stress is crucial.