During high school, the constant pressure can cause a problem much larger than shopping for the right prom dress or passing a test: constant stress. Stress is the feeling of anxiety that can cause tension, lack of sleep, headaches, and emotional distress.  Many high school students fall victim to the pressing issue of stress, and the even bigger problem of how to manage it.

When talking about the causes of her stress, junior Amber Solomon responded with, “The schoolwork and the people that I meet at school because my AP classes, especially US History [are stressful].”

Stress is a common occurrence among teenagers, and is nothing to worry about. However, too much of it is never good for anyone and can cause problems with both physical and mental health. The best way to solve the pressure of stress is to simply find ways to relieve it. Tips to relieve stress work differently for everyone, but each person can have particular ways they prefer to relax and de-stress themselves.

One way that stress can be relieved is through the participation in a tranquil hobby. Something that can calms and soothes can help to relieve stress. Many people turn to things such as reading, painting, sports, running, dancing, and other recreational activities to relieve stress. By doing something enjoyable, it can help to dismiss the negative feelings inside.

“When I’m stresses about school sometimes it’s good to step away from the schoolwork and watch TV to take your mind off of things,” said sophomore, Christina Ratcliff.

Another thing that can help cooling down is taking a small nap. Often, high school students tend to get less sleep from extra homework, and early wake ups. One of the biggest causes of stress can be sleep, as the body cannot function properly without the right amount of it. Taking a small nap can relieve the mind of stress and give it the proper rest it needs to face problems.

A tip to relieve stress can also be to spend time with friends or family. Taking time off to have fun and not focus on stress can be the best thing to relieve it. Spending time with, and being around people you love is the best medicine for a frazzled mind. A few minutes of laughing, shopping, or even watching a movie can really help.

Surprisingly, eating a small amount of comfort food can help to relive stress as well. Don’t mistake this for eating junk food whenever a stressful thought hits. Simply drinking something like tea, which is known to calm, or even something like a favorite sandwich or snack can help. Chocolate actually is known for its abilities to cause happiness in the eater, great for a small stress relief every now and then.

“Comfort food helps me relax,” said an anonymous junior, “because it’s your favorite food and when you have something you like, you enjoy it.”

If none of these things can help at all, it’s probably best to talk to family about the stress felt. Sometimes talking it out can help, and if not, talking to a professional may begin to clear the tension away.

Stress is a tedious thing and can come when least wanted. However it is never good to let it have its way and consume the mind. A simple step like this can de-stress, and helps to create a more peaceful mind and life.