What Is Stress?

• What you feel when you are worried or uncomfortable about something

• Can make your body feel bad

• May make you feel angry, frustrated, scared, or afraid

• Can give you a stomachache or a headache.

• May not feel like sleeping or eating

• Might sleep or eat too much

• May feel cranky

• May have trouble paying attention at school

• May have trouble remembering things at home

What Causes Stress?

• Many things can cause stress

• There is good stress and bad stress

  • Good or normal stress might show up when you're called on in class or when you have to give a report.

    • May feel like butterflies in your stomach or you may have sweaty hands

    • Good stress can help you to get things done.

  • Bad stress can happen if the stressful feelings keep going over time.

    • Isn't going to help you

    • Can make you sick

    • May not feel well if you're going through anything that makes you upset every day.

    • Can feel stressed if you're busy all the time

Manage Stress

• Talk about what's bothering you with an adult you trust, like a parent or teacher

• Getting enough sleep

• Eating healthy food

• Consider dropping an activity if you are too busy

• Use relaxation exercises to get rid of stress

• Have a balanced life

• Make good decisions about how to spend your time

Make sure you keep your SELF in mind: Sleep, Exercise, Leisure (something fun), and Food.

If you take care of yourself and get enough sleep and food, and if you exercise and leave time for fun stuff, you'll probably be less stressed out!

Be sure to check out the variety of helpful Emotional Health tools here.