“Just wait till your older, then you’ll know stress”

“If you knew what I’ve been through your anxiety would be wayyy worse”

These two comments I’ve heard most of my life and I’m sure many teenagers have heard those comments too. Comparing one’s stress, anxiety or depression to another’s should never happen. For several reasons; One being, its literally just rude and second, everyone handles things differently. Some people don’t handle anxiety well and some people have ways of coping but that doesn’t mean it’s any less or any more than the next person. The true definition of anxiety from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America(adaa) is that “Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is characterized by persistent and excessive worry about a number of different things.” Symptoms can but not limit to:

• Feeling nervous, irritable, or on edge
• Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
• Having an increased heart rate
• Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation), sweating, and/or trembling
• Feeling weak or tired
• Difficulty concentrating
• Having trouble sleeping
• Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems

Even though these symptoms are listed doesn’t mean its all of them. Each part in the human body reacts differently to something that another person may not react at all too. However there are methods to help from Chatfield Senior High School students and from certified websites, these include:

• “Usually I do the find 5 things around the room: One thing I can smell, touch, hear, feel, look at. It helps with being in control of your environment.” -Savannah Rudnick, a Junior at Chatfield who shared her tip on when she’s feeling panicked and out of control.
• From the ADAA one of their suggestions is to learn and find what triggers your anxiety, knowledge can help extremely to find a pattern and be able to control that pattern.
• Another tip from ADAA is to take deep breaths, do yoga or go on a run. Something that is uniquely yours that you can do without interruption.
• TALK TO PEOPLE, be social. Especially in our world right now connect with people, whether through social media or in person(safely).
• “Be in nature. Go on hikes, camp, do some mountain drives.” -Ashlynn Konold, Junior at Chatfield Senior High School.
• Find something that YOU love. Whether its a sport, a hobby, reading, writing. Anything! Find something that relaxes you in a positive way.
• To find more ways on how to handle anxiety and stress go to:
  • The Anxiety and Depression Association of America
  • Healthline Tips
  • The Anxiety Hotline Number with tips as well
  • Crisis Text Line

Life is a struggle, its a battle but the one thing to remember is that its not about falling or failing. It’s about getting back up and being stronger because of it. All your problems, worries and struggles use them. Use them to strengthen you and motivate you to become better. To learn from your struggles. To live life because if theirs one thing that’s the most important in life is to live it. Live life to the fullest, even when we are in this troubled and very confusing time. If any of you are struggling reach out, Chatfield has many counselors to help and if you don’t feel comfortable there, call a hotline or talk to a friend, family member. Lets go Chargers!!! We can do this!!!!!!