Feeling Stressed?

• Families
• Siblings
• Divorce
• Death
• School

• Friends
• Sports
• Chemicals
• Adults
• Homework

• Drugs/Alcohol
• Illness
• Money
• Tests

• Lack of concentration
• Sweats
• Difficulty sleeping
• Bad dreams
• Stomachaches

• Eating more/less
• Low motivation
• Jittery
• Muscle Aches
• Difficulty making decisions

• Headaches
• Nail Biting
• Depression

1. Exercise and Stretching – take care of your body, endorphins often elicit positive emotion and stretching increases bloodflow which is calming
2. Nutrition – sugars and caffeine can actually increase stress
3. Journal – writing down concerns and thoughts can help to clear your head and also help you to make sense of your stress
4. Bother List - list your worries to get them off your mind and tear it up or keep it to look at later
5. Listening to music - positive sounds and words are helpful
6. Aromatherapy – pleasant stimulation of all your senses
7. Pursuing hobbies – being productive while doing something you love
8. Playing with pets – animals can provide comforting attention

Sometimes when a person experiences stress for a long period of time and they have difficulty coping, the stress can lead to more serious concerns. Because of this possibility, it is important for you to recognize the difference between “normal stress” and an issue that might be more serious. If you experience the symptoms listed below it may be helpful to consult with a counselor:

• Anxiety that is uncomfortable and lasts more than a month including insomnia, irritability, restlessness, inability to concentrate, nervousness, and fearfulness.
• Anxiety attacks with chest pain, discomfort, trembling, shaking, dizziness, nausea, fear of going crazy or losing control, hot or cold flashes.
• Feelings of depression that last for more than a couple weeks, like sadness, hopelessness, crying spells, loss of interest in activities you usually enjoy, low self-esteem, or fatigue.