11 Warning Signs that You're Under Too Much Stress

Everyone has some stress, and not all stress is bad. But if some or all of these signs describe you, you may be on stress overload.

1. Having more trouble with teachers.
2. Needing a lot of sleep - or not sleeping well.
3. Wanting to eat all the time - or never eating.
4. Headaches, stomachaches, colds, infections, sore muscles.
5. Escapist behavior - overdoing one thing (TV, music, studying, sleeping, Web surfing) and ignoring other things.
6. Withdrawing from friends and family.
7. Crying for no apparent reason.
8. Feeling like an idiot.
9. Feeling restless and anxious; worrying all the time.
10. Feeling like everything is out of control - like you're out of control.
11. Depression, sadness, crabbiness, the blahs.

Ways to Manage Stress

Stress is a physical response to something going on in your life - school pressures, social pressures, or the physical, emotional, and mental changes and challenges of being a teen. Try these tips to relieve, reduce, or even prevent stress.

1. Be active
2. Eat right
3. Avoid caffeine
4. Get enough sleep
5. Express your feelings
6. Laugh it up
7. Know how to relax
8. Get organized
9. Simplify
10. Build strong relationships
11. Be a planner

Stress Relief Games

There are tons of games that are fun, but are also designed to relieve stress! Choose a stress relieving game to play today!

1. Play cards (you can play solitaire online or with a deck by yourself)
2. Although a Rubik's Cube might be frustrating, it helps to focus your mind on something other than what is bugging you.
3. Play with a slinky.
4. Do a crossword puzzle....or check out this great online puzzle site.
5. Sudoku puzzles and chess.
6. Darts
7. Computer games.
8. Have fun playing a group game that will make you laugh like Twister.
   

Holidays: 5 ways to stay healthy for the holidays

Read this article. Then, have a discussion about holiday stressors that your students experience. Have students create a plan to help reduce stress during the holiday season.