Children and adolescents can feel overwhelmed trying to balance their commitments to school, homework, after school activities, family, friendships and personal relationships. They can feel pressured to meet deadlines, feel constantly hurried and overwhelmed by choice. While young people are not immune to the stresses of modern living they are wonderfully receptive to learning relaxation skills and stress management techniques.

A little stress can help us to achieve well in things such as sport, performances or exams. Excessive stress tends to give us a feeling of being out of control and can cause us to lose confidence in our ability to cope with situations, or quite simply make us feel distressed.

Excessive stress can result in physical, emotional and behavioural symptoms.

Physical symptoms include:
Tense muscles, butterflies or nausea, increased heart rate or being aware of your heart beating hard, excessive tiredness, problems sleeping headaches and changes in appetite.

Emotional Symptoms include:
Crying easily, anger, excessive worry, nightmares, withdrawal and irritability

Behavioural Symptoms include:
Trouble concentrating, lack of organization and initiation, verbal and physical aggression, blaming others for your problems

Learning stress management skills and relaxation techniques can help you to feel in control again and relieve those feelings of distress. These skills can be helpful now and for the rest of your life.