Sometimes it’s easy to look at classmates, strangers, and influencers and think everyone else has it figured out. But we all have challenges to overcome.
Sleep is essential for physical and emotional well-being. You should aim to get 8 to 10 hours a night.
Exercise:
Physical activity can do wonders for your sense of well-being. You don’t have to run a marathon to see results. Anything that gets you up and moving works.
Talk it out:
Talking about stressful situations with a trusted adult can help you put things in perspective.
Make time for fun:
Find time to do the things that bring you joy.
Get outside:
Spending time in nature can relieve stress and improve your overall well-being. Nature doesn't mean far away; walking on the beach or strolling through Franceschi Park totally counts as spending time in nature.
Write about it:
Research has found that expressing yourself in writing can help reduce mental distress. Bonus points for writing about positive feelings, like the things you're grateful for
Unhealthy
ways to deal with stress
Drinking too much:
While alcohol may relieve stress momentarily, consistent overindulgence can lead to negative health consequences.
Taking drugs:
Drugs do not solve the problem or improve your body’s stress response. Severe health or legal consequences can occur from taking drugs.
Smoking or vaping:
On one hand, smoking can create a short-term calming effect. On the other, using tobacco increases stress levels in the body, harms the respiratory system, and contributes to serious illnesses.
Overeating:
Comfort eating and overeating can lead to guilt and shame, weight gain, and obesity-related illnesses.
Withdrawing from loved ones:
Isolation negatively affects mood and outlook. Spending time with supportive friends and family is important.
Taking stress out on others:
Lashing out at others negatively impacts relationships.
Screen time:
Spending too much time doom scrolling or comparing yourself to folks you see on social media can increase stress levels.
Risk factors for youth high-risk substance use
Over 20 million Americans (aged 12 and older) have a substance misuse problem. Trigger factors can include:
Family history of substance use
Favorable family attitudes toward the behavior
Poor parenting
Parental substance use
Family rejection of sexual orientation or gender identity
Association with delinquent or substance-using peers
Lack of school connectedness
Low academic achievement
Childhood sexual abuse
Mental health issues
What can you do?
Know the signs of
substance abuse
Teens struggling with mental health disorders will often turn to alcohol and drugs as coping mechanisms. Some of the signs and symptoms to look for when identifying substance misuse include:
Loss of interest in hobbies and activities (video games, skateboarding, art, etc.)
Hanging out with different friends or purposely avoiding old friends
Spending a lot of time alone
Missing curfew or disregarding house rules
Bad grades or poor attendance in school
Squinty eyes, dilated or pinpointed pupils, red eyes
An overwhelming smell of perfume, cologne, mouthwash, etc., masking another smell
Finding drug paraphernalia in their room or car
Disinterest in taking care of their appearance or hygiene
Mental:
Capacity for knowledge, insight, confidence
Emotional:
Highs and lows of emotions, feelings
Social:
Connection and community
Professional:
Roles at work, career goals
Physical:
All that contributes to how our body feels/functions
