HOW STUDENTS COPE WITH STRESS

by Tiffany Tran

In a 2023 article, Chief Data Scientist & Head of Content at Research.com, Imed Bouchrika said normal stress rates for adults were 3.8 while teens rated their stress at a score of 5.8. There can be many different causes of stress such as school, work, family, or even the pandemic. When these issues are pushed aside or bottled up, it can lead to other problems in the future. Bouchrika also wrote, out of ten teens in the U.S., seven named anxiety and depression as a problem among peers in their community. With statistics clearly showing teens are facing stress, there are different coping methods that can suit one’s own personal feelings.

Qiu Qiao Liu (c/o 2026) said, “I’ve felt stressed when I had no one to talk to or when I was alone by myself. I’d feel really lonely and I just think of things I regret or I did bad.” She said she copes with stress by crying. She said that, after crying, she feels like the things that made her stressed weren’t as important as she originally thought. Hanshan Zhou (c/o 2026) listens to music to help relax herself and relieve her stress.

She said, “When I have a bad grade and am under a lot of pressure, my family may notice and worry.” She added, “Listening to music is not the only way. There are many other ways I will use to reduce stress such as eating delicious food, going out for a walk to see the scenery, just doing everything that can make me feel happy.”

Stress was identified in sports, performance, and social functioning. While some may use sports as a coping method, it also can be stressful depending on the person. Perry Lam (c/o 2026) said, “As a tennis player, I have felt stress quite a lot, off court, in court, in a match, or even to my coach.” To cope, he said, “I ask someone older, wise, and knowledgeable about how I would cope with my stress.”

Students do not have to cope with stress alone. There are adults who can help, like parents, teachers and counselors. Art teacher Kristi Auyong said she feels many students have different struggles in life and it can be difficult for the students to handle alone.

She said, “I usually try to talk to them to see what’s bothering them and help find solutions to help them feel better.”

When they need extra help, she reaches out to their counselors or teachers to create a plan to give the student more help and support.

While teachers help students cope with stress, how did they cope with stress themselves as a student? Auyong said, “When I was a student, I used to let stress get to me because I didn’t know how to handle it, but what I found helpful was talking to a friend. Now, I work out, journal, and talk to loved ones whenever I feel stressed out.”

So the next time you are stressed, maybe one of these coping methods can help release your stress. Also know that you should never have to deal with stress alone. An article written by American Psychological Association said, “If you’re feeling stressed and don’t have anyone to rely on, psychologists can help. Also there are many other people who you could talk to like parents, relatives, friends, teachers, counselors, or any other trusted adults.