Common Triggers of Teen Stress
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STRESS Stress is a psychological reaction to pressure situations caused by various environmental factors. These situations come from different ambients such as school, work, extracurricular activities, and social pressure in family and circles of friends. Stress also occurs on an internal level because of uncertainty about the future. It is an instinct response of the body and mind to protect the individual from emotional or physical pressure in extreme or dangerous situations.
EFFECTS Stress is not always harmful as it generates an efficient response to life challenges. And people need some level of stress to comply with a deadline, finish projects, or be on time for work or school. However, adolescence is a critical period because it affects the transition from childhood to young adulthood and has relevant implications for the development of behaviors and the onset of various health problems throughout the rest of an individual’s life.
Harmful Stress
The symptoms of stress can be classified into two groups: physical and psychological. These symptoms are independent of age or stage of development.
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
Stress can affect different body systems, generating symptoms associated with the Central Nervous System. And the most common reaction is increased blood flow to the brain, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure. They affect respiration, increase renal activity, reduce salivation, and increase glandular secretions and muscle tension. Therefore, stressful situations generate other physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and sleep disturbances that cause alterations in the body (gastrointestinal problems).
SYMPTOMS Psychological symptomatology is commonly associated with increased tension, anxiety, lack of emotional control, and loss of self-esteem. Also, stress leads to nervousness, irritability, decreased interest in essential life tasks, or poor concentration. These symptoms are followed by inattention, short-term and long-term memory impairment, loss of critical thinking skills, and depression. Finally, stress can harm the bio-psycho-social health of adolescents. As we mentioned above, they may involve gastrointestinal diseases, emotional disorders, family problems, and impaired social relationships. In the biological aspect, various studies have shown that chronic stress causes rapid cellular aging and triggers changes in the body that can aggravate pre-existing diseases.
For further information, call your trusted professionals on Pineville pediatrics or your Ballantyne Pediatrician.
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