Stressing About School

Stress, a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. No matter how hard we try to avoid stress, it always seems to catch up with us. Some stress is good for the body but too much is crippling. Between the homework, classes, sports practices, and clubs that students participate in they don’t have much downtime to relax and destress. Stress in students have been linked to mental illnesses, physical injuries and a sense of pressure.

Stress in students can cause other mental illnesses. The illnesses can range from anxiety to depression or far worse. Even though some stress is good, students get too much of it. Stress in students has been connected to withdrawal, aggression, risky behavior and substance abuse. In response to stress, the brain releases dopamine which combats the stressful situations. Depending on the situation the dopamine release can vary which isn’t healthy. “Changes in dopamine levels are seen in schizophrenia, depression and other mental disorders.” Effects of high dopamine levels are being paranoid, suspicious personality, and withdrawal from social situations. Stress in students can mental illnesses.

Just like mental illnesses stress can cause physical harm. Physical stress is just as serious as mental stress. Some examples of physical stress are headaches, dry mouth, frequent illnesses (colds), panic attacks, and many more. “I’ve had to take a break from work for a while because I was so stressed,” says a stressful student of Wilmington Schools, “I’ve had upper shoulder pains and I even cried due to the amount of stress I was facing.” Even though stress battles with mental health, it is also a physical battle as well.

Stress can be more pressure than you think. Students have enough on their minds and then stress puts that extra pressure on them to be perfect.  “Students are put in a position of feeling they must not stop. They are not given a sense of support. They are put in an environment where they are not accepted for themselves but only for what they are going to achieve. All this builds stress.” The stress students feel about always having to be perfect to achieve the highest grade they can possibly get is taking a toll. So much pressure is put on them through their parents and through the idea of going to a good college to get a good job they become consumed by the stress. Even though they attempt to achieve that perfection, students don’t care if they have a stress beak down in the process. Students are put through pressure that is unfathomable.

Stress takes a physical, mental and emotional toll, but it is fixable. Students can take some breaks off from their work and maybe take a nap and go back to it later. They can take walks and move their body to reduce the stress that has built up. Also students should talk to their teachers about the stress they have been feeling lately, so the teacher will understand if the work is not completed or even if it is not their best work. Also schools could make the day less stressful by adding a free block so the students have more of a break. With a free period the students will be able to do whatever work they need to finish which will give them some time at home after school. Stress in students has been linked to mental and physical illnesses, and also is the sense of pressure, but it is fixable with a little effort.

By Chris Iliades, MD | Medically Reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH. "Stress May Trigger Mental Illness and Depression In Teens." EverydayHealth.com. 29 Apr. 2013. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.

By Maintaining Good Eating Habits through Your Education and Training, You're More Likely to Continue on a Healthy Path throughout Your Career. Eat Five or Six Small Meals a Day, Drink Plenty of Water and Be Conscious of Choosing Whole Foods, with an Emphasis on Fresh Vegetables, Fruits and Whole Grains. "5 Tips to Deal With Nursing School Stress." NursingLink. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.

Feature, Daniel J. DeNoonWebMD. "Children & School Anxiety, Stress Management." WebMD. WebMD. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.

"Good Stress, Bad Stress - ULifeline." Good Stress, Bad Stress - ULifeline. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.

Tait, Peter. "'Causes of Growing Mental Health Problems Sit Largely within Schools'" The Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.

"What Are the Effects of Too Much Dopamine?" LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 16 Aug. 2013. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.