What do you mean you're stressed?

I have had a wicked case of writers block this week. Not because I have run out of things to say - an impossibility many who know me might suggest - but simply because I have had a bit of a stressful few days. It is so amazing that such a basic physiological reaction can have such a far reaching impact. If you are an adolescent though, stress has a completely different meaning both physically and emotionally.

Why would this be? Well, it could have something to do with emmigration. Emmigration is a nice way of saying that back in the day once you hit adolescence you were out the door! It was time to brave the world and seek new tribes, new hunting grounds and new experiences. While this can be easily related to risk taking in adolescence, the flip side is that you also had to be prepared for new threats. Say hello to a heightened stress response.

Adrenarche is the fancy term for the maturing of the adrenal gland and it occurs during adolescence. At the same time, the HPA or stress axis (which includes the adrenal gland) becomes more responsive compared to childhood. Part of this extra responsive stress reaction is geared towards social interactions which makes sense when you realise that if you emmigrate, you have to find a whole new social group. However, our stress system can also be triggered by other physical and social factors. And stress is totally personal - what triggers off a physical response in one person might have no observable affect in another.

One aspect of adolescent life that is often dismissed as being a bit silly is the social structure - who is on top and who is not. Social hierarchies have been shown to be important in the stress response - whether you are a baboon, a monkey or a public servant, where you are in the social schema can cause you to be more or less stressed. And the top is definitely the spot to be.

So lets consider this from the point of view of an adolescents world. What are some of the best places to experience social stress and social hierarchies? How about school, exams, sports and work? Great, someone really thought that all the way through. Add into that heightened emotional responses to girlfriends or boyfriends and poor eating habits, and you have a bit of a stressful environment both emotionally and physically.

So what are some of the signs that you aren't handling stress?
*Sugar or salt cravings can be a sign
*Loss of appetite
*Difficulty sleeping
*Brain fog and lack of concentration
*Headaches, stomach aches or general muscle tension
*Random crying or the feeling of wanting to cry
*Feeling on edge or generally anxious
*Not wanting to do the things you always enjoyed or stepping back from friends


How can you help to manage stress during adolescence naturally? Once again, the same common sense rules apply.
1) Watch the stimulating drinks - caffeine, gurana and soft drinks can all add to the stress on the body
2)Eat good food regularly. If you can't identify the ingredients or if the top ingredient is sugar, it's not your friend.
3) Make sure you get enough sleep (see our previous post)
4)Exercise regularly (Castle Hill is calling)
5) Take time out for fun and socialising
6) Cut back the extra curricular activities if you feel you need to
7)Learn a relaxation technique (deep breathing will serve you well your whole life and is a great serotonin boost)
8)"This too shall pass" - no matter how big it is, it will eventually be over. Still, give yourself some time to deal.

There is a great story about two friends who wake up while camping to find a lion about to eat them. One of the friends bends down to put on his shoes. The second friend says "What are you doing? You can't outrun that lion". The first one says "I don't have to outrun it, I just have to outrun you". So you see, it makes sense to have someone else help you when you're feeling stressed. Because you never know just how helpful and lifesaving it could be - for you ;)