As a young person (pre-teen to young adult, ages 12 to 24), you probably feel stress at times. It could come from your home life, school, community, or all of these.
Everyone is different. What is stressful for you may not be stressful to someone else.
Stress can affect your body and mind. It’s important to notice all the ways you feel stress—your physical (body), mental, and emotional symptoms.
Knowing what causes you stress and how you react can help you manage it.
Causes of stress
Some common causes of stress include:
School and work
- deadlines, tests, projects, and pressure to get good grades
- busy schedules with work and school
Social
- pressure to please parents, teachers, or friends
- peer pressure and teasing
- self-esteem
Family and home- family conflict, divorce, or separation
- cultural differences or expectations
- parents losing their jobs or having money problems
- death or illness in the family
Sex and relationships
- sexual identity and orientation
- dating and relationships
- puberty
Life changes- extra responsibilities of getting older
- planning for and worrying about the future
Safety- bullying or abuse
- aggression or violence
Signs of stress
Stress can show up in different ways in your body, thoughts, or feelings.
Physical signs of stress may include:
- sweating
- headaches
- trouble breathing
- feeling unwell
- nausea or upset stomach
- feeling very tired or exhausted
- sleep changes
- faster heartbeat than usual or trouble breathing
- body aches and tense muscles
Mental signs of stress may include:
- trouble thinking clearly
- being forgetful
- trouble making decisions
- memory problems
- worrying all the time
- thinking about running away
Emotional signs of stress may include:
- feeling very emotional or having trouble managing emotions
- feeling angry
- crying more easily than usual
- feeling irritable or overwhelmed
- feeling depressed or anxious
- losing motivation or interest in things you enjoy
- feeling "numb" or detached
Effects of stress
These behaviours might happen in a person who is stressed:
- using substances such as alcohol, cannabis, or tobacco
- chewing gum constantly
- grinding teeth or biting fingernails
- eating more or less than usual
- being very critical or easily irritated with other people
- spending lots of time on screens: TV, computer, phone, social media, or games
- having trouble getting things done
- taking risks that can have negative consequences
- sleeping too much or too little
- arguing with loved ones
- withdrawing or isolating from others
- avoiding problems or people
Managing stress
It's normal to feel stressed at times, but you can learn healthy ways to cope. You can try some of these tips to manage your stress:
- talk to someone you trust about how you feel
- make time for things that relax or recharge you, like music, art, exercise, or being outdoors
- get enough sleep, eat well, and stay active
- break big problems into smaller, manageable steps
- practise deep breathing, mindfulness, or journalling
- stay connected with supportive friends and family
Problems and challenges can feel overwhelming when you're alone. You don't have to go through stress by yourself.
If you need to talk to someone:
