Dear Dish-It: I'm So Stressed!

How To Handle Stress

Dear Dish-It,

I’m not uber popular but I’m not a loser at school, either. Let’s just say I’m the average girl who likes to stay out of trouble. Well, that all changed when I started Grade 7. There are so many projects, book reports … plus all my rotary homework! Then there’s this guy who likes my best friend, which really sucks :( And the sad part is that I’m not even in high school yet! If I can’t handle all this love, homework and stress now, how will I handle it in Grade 8?!? Please, please help!

so confusing!!

Dear so confusing,

Sounds like you’ve got a lot of stuff on your plate and it’s really stressing you out! It’s totally normally, though – pretty much everyone gets stressed now and then. The difference is that different people handle stress in many different ways. Here are five steps you can take when you’re feeling stressed or overwhelmed that should help you deal with the feeling and relax.

Step 1: Get Support

Reach out to the people who care about you. Talk to your mom or dad, a school counselor or a coach. And don't forget about your friends. They might be worried about the same test or have some good advice for you.

Step 2: Don’t Freak Out!

It's easy to let your feelings go wild when you're upset. Notice your feelings and name them; for example, "I am so angry!" And say or think about why you feel that way. Then, find a way to calm down and get past the upset feelings and find a way to express them. Do breathing exercises, listen to music, write in a journal, play with a pet, go for a walk or a bike ride, or do whatever helps you shift to a better mood.

Step 3: Don’t Take It Out On Yourself

Sometimes when kids are stressed and upset they take it out on themselves. That's not a good idea. Remember that there are always people to help you. Don't take it out on yourself. Be good to yourself and ask for the helping hand or pat on the back that you need to get you through a tough situation.

Step 4: Try To Solve The Problem

After you're calm and have support from adults and friends, it's time to get down to business. You need to figure out what the problem is. Even if you can't solve all of it, maybe you can begin by solving a piece of it.

Step 5: Stay Positive & Know It’s Gonna Get Better Soon

It may not seem like it when you're in the middle a stressful situation, but stress does go away, often when you figure out the problem and start working on solving it.

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