How to help your student reduce stress

This is a guest post written by our friends at Genuine Care Health and Wellness Center.  Dr. Amey J. Muzumdar founded Genuine Care Health and Wellness Center from his love for life and health. His extensive training and certification has enabled him to become a specialist in Wellness Education. He has performed numerous educational talks about minimizing stress, reducing chronic pain and improving posture. He was born in Hinsdale and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Masters in Science in Clinical Exercise Physiology.

Talk to the average high school student today, and you’re likely to hear about stress. Between pressure for good grades and participation on social media, there’s a lot more on teenagers’ minds today than just having fun with friends. According to USA Today more than one out of four teens deals with “extreme stress” during the school year, and one out of three expect stress to get worse in the coming year.

These anxious and overwhelming feelings figure to continue in college, too, when the stakes get higher and issues such as finding a job or paying student loans become important. So, how does stress impact the lives of these students? What can they do about it? If you’re looking to help a stressed high schooler, what can you do? Here’s a look.

Why Stress Is a Serious Issue

You probably don’t need to be told, at least in terms of health, that stress is a big problem. This is true of adults, and it’s also true of high school students. While a small amount of stress may be normal, ongoing stress negatively affects both the body and the mind. In fact, according to the American Psychological Association, persistent stress can cause anxiety, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system and greater susceptibility to diseases such as obesity, depression and heart disease. Students who are under a great deal of pressure will typically cope in unhealthy ways, too, beginning negative patterns that can last a lifetime.

What You Can Do About It    

Whether you are a student looking for healthier stress-management strategies or a concerned parent wanting to help your child, one of the best things you can do to combat school-related stress is learn about natural stress relief. Thankfully, there are a number of strategies and lifestyle changes you can implement to improve your health, from exercise to relaxing social activities. By working some of these strategic coping mechanisms into your lifestyle, you’ll be better able to handle life’s stress and take back your overall health.

Ready to learn more about natural stress relief? Check out the handy infographic below, which provides suggestions such as meditation, exercise, dietary changes, journaling and more!