Q. How do you handle stress and anxiety when you
start to feel overwhelmed with life?
A. I take a minute and step away from
everything. If I’m stressed with school,
I take a break from studying and plan out a schedule to keep me on track. Writing it out – things I need to get done
and putting it with a time schedule, really helps. Organizing my life in this way helps me to
stay in control and not feel so overwhelmed. Also,
I vent with my friends and get everything off my chest – to people who care
about me – really helps.
A. With life pressure, it’s harder to get
away. So I take time and think about it
and write about it. Writing is an outlet
for whatever is on my mind. You can always
look back and read it and find a lot of answers in your own words.
A. When the pressure of life is
really pounding on me, I typically stop what I’m doing, take a deep breath,
drink a glass of water and go for a walk to clear my mind. Sometimes the best thing you can do is give
your mind a rest. If you’re still
stressed, then I recommend that you have some tea, put on your pajamas and go
to bed early. It’s hard to think with a
clear head when you’re running low on energy.
Q. Have you ever felt depressed? Who did you talk to and how did you handle
it?
A. Absolutely.
I think everyone hits a breaking point at least once in their life. It’s hard to get out because you feel like
you’re good for nothing. Surprisingly,
the best help I had didn’t come from any friends, it came from my parents. They helped me focus on things that brought
my energy level up and took my stress away.
A. When I get sad, I let people close to me know...
and they are all I need sometimes.
Q. What would you tell a teen who is depressed
and feeling the pressure of life, and is either using, or considering using
drugs or alcohol as a way to cope?
A. I would say that as much as it might seem
to be helping…. drinking and drug use are actually going to hurt your
more. Alcohol is a depressant, many
drugs are. You need to find a lasting
release from stress and depression and face the problems instead of seeing a
temporary escape with drugs and alcohol.
A. I would tell them the facts. Drug and alcohol
use is counter-productive and can actually lead to depression. I
would also hare my way of coping – focusing on self-improvement, start exercising more, be
productive and look for ways to make another person’s day better.
