Now that school starting is just around the corner, it's probably a good time to remember some tricks for "de-stressing"! Luckily, we have this awesome article from Snowflake to show us the way. :)

Dealing with Stress
by Snowflake

Last night I couldn't sleep. I was sitting with my mom, watching baseball on TV (a boring yet successful attempt at relaxing). This is the third night in a row that I've had trouble going to sleep, I thought groggily. As my mom and I discussed what was keeping me up, it struck me that a lot was on my mind. Just the thought of dreaded school and seeing people I'd been happy to escape brought tiny waves of nausea to my stomach. Spending too much time with friends was exhausting and emotionally taxing. I was feeling unhappy about my nutrition and my body image. On top of that, the rush of upcoming celebrations was starting to weigh me down. Everything seemed to be coming at me too fast and I felt out of control.

This scenario is a common one with me. I suffer from panic attacks and anxiety, so stress has always been a biggie for me. There are days when it feels like my life is spinning out of control, and when that happens, I'll start spinning out of control, too -having meltdowns, crying, getting angry... it's no fun. But I've come a long way from where I was before. In 1st grade, I started going to see a therapist for anxiety issues and helping me control myself. As a little kid, when I was feeling angry about something, I'd lash out and start hitting and screaming at my parents. After 1st grade, things started to calm down. My medication was helping keep me under control and feeling happy. But in 5th grade, something changed. That spring, I began getting in trouble at school, fighting constantly with my friends and feeling very anxious about going off to overnight camp. Every night, I would lie in bed, shaking and sobbing. At least three nights a week, it progressed to nausea, dizziness, headaches and difficulty breathing. I felt like I was suffocating and trapped inside a box -both physically and emotionally. I couldn't bear to be away from my parents -that meant no sleepovers and having an awful time whenever a babysitter came over. Nothing seemed to help, and, like any humans, my parents were becoming frustrated. When my mom and I described this situation to my therapist, my therapist diagnosed me with panic attacks and put me on a medication to help me calm down when I was panicking. Soon, those late-night attacks became less and less common.

This spring, things started to kick up again when I was dealing with an emotionally abusive "friendship," but by now, the panic symptoms have completely subsided. Today, I still have trouble with anxiety, but I haven't had a panic attack for at least 4 months. Sleepovers gradually became easier for me, and in fact, recently I spent a weekend at my friend's summer house and wasn't homesick or panicky at all. But, I'm not here to tell you all about my amazing feats. The point of my story isn't to show how far I've come, but to share the strategies I used to get here. I want to give you some tips on coping with stress and anxiety.

1. Find an "outlet." How do you let out your feelings? What makes you feel good inside? When I'm feeling stressed, it helps me to write poetry. I have a file on my computer where I save all my poems. I began it in 4th grade and now it is over 70 pages long! A lot of people also like to journal when they're dealing with stress. Journaling can be really helpful because it lets you let out your feelings and put them into words. Everyone has their own "outlet." Whether it's dancing, journaling, poetry, or art, you can find something that's right for you.

2. Exercise! When you exercise, your brain releases endorphins, which are like "feel-good' chemicals. Studies have shown that once they enter your bloodstream, your frame of mind becomes more positive. My favorite stress-relieving sports/physical activities are biking and walking. The other great thing about exercise is all the other health benefits it has, so exercise is like getting a buy-one-get-one-free deal!

3. Listen to calming music. When I was having panic attacks, turning on calming music helped me get to sleep. Research has shown that music really does affect your mood. You can buy CDs with this type of music on the web, in stores, or even in catalogues.

4. Breathe. Breathing is crucial. When I'd panic, my breathing would start to speed up and not even my inhaler would help. In order to relax, you need to breathe. Lie down, close your eyes, and rest your hands on your stomach so you can feel the rhythm of your breathing. If you're at school or in a place where this isn't feasable, you can stay sitting up and just focus hard on each breath. Concentrate on keeping steady, slow breaths. Listen to the pattern.

5. Meditate or do yoga. While I am not the biggest yoga fan, my mom, some of my friends and basically the rest of the stressed-out world find yoga relaxing and calming. If you ask around, you'll be able to find many people willing to vouch for the helpfulness of yoga when you're stressed. Meditating can also help, though it can be more challenging. Both yoga and meditating really channel your energy in a positive way and help your body and mind relax.

6. Do something fun. Play a game, go bowling, bake a cake... when you refocus your mind on something you enjoy, you are able to forget about your stress, even if it's only for a little while, and enjoy the moment.

7. Talk to someone. Share your worries and stresses with someone you care about. Sometimes, while they may not be able to completely comfort you, just getting it out helps, and knowing someone is there for you can make you feel a little bit better.

8. Take a hot bath or shower. Taking a hot bath or shower not only keeps you clean and opens your pores, but can help eliminate stress and calm you down. Sometimes when I want to punch the wall, taking a bubble bath helps me chill for long enough to think everything over.

These are some suggestions for dealing with everyday stress and anxiety. If you're feeling stressed all the time, talk to someone you trust and brainstorm some ideas about how you can feel less stressed. Seeing a therapist, psychiatrist, or psychologist is also extremely helpful -I can vouch for that one! Remember, we all have our bad days, but we can't let stress rule our lives! Good luck!