Dealing With Stress

Did you know May is Mental Health Awareness Month? But what exactly is mental health? Well, it's how you think, feel and act when faced with a problem. If you don't respond well to it, then you could get stressed out, so Kidzworld is here to help you out!

Stress - What Is Stress?

Stress is that feeling you get when you're really worried about something. We're not talking about a wave of worry that lasts for a few minutes. This is the kind of worry that bugs you for hours, or even days, and builds up to the point where your head hurts. It makes you feel frustrated, scared, cranky or angry. You may lose your appetite and have insomnia - or you might eat and sleep much more than usual. Stressing out so much will eventually make you sick with headaches or stomachaches, and lead to serious problems like depression and heart disease. But not all stress is bad for you. The good kind keeps your body and mind alert and can even boost performance levels, like when you're presenting a science project to your class or sprinting to the finish line.

Stress - What Causes Stress?

You know when your dad is sweatin' over the bills, or your mom's in a bad mood cuz her car broke down on the way home? They're stressed out! But adults aren't the only ones who feel stress. There are lots of things in your life that can stress you out - being loaded down with homework, taking a test that you didn't study for, hearing your parents argue, facing a bully in school or walking up to the guy/girl of your dreams to ask them out - yes, even the butterflies in your stomach are stress!

Stress - Ways to De-Stress

If you're seriously stressin', check out these quick and easy ways to unwind and de-stress!

Get involved in sports and extra-curricular activities to keep you relaxed and physically fit.

Try to get at least eight hours of sleep every night.

Eat a healthy, balanced diet that includes all the food groups.

Talk it out with your close friends, family members or teachers. It'll make you feel better, and they may be able to give you advice and help you solve your problem.

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