High school can be very difficult when struggling with anxiety and depression. “The average high school student today has the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950’s,” said Robert L. Leahy Ph.D. of the website psychology today.
“More than a quarter of teens say they experience ‘extreme stress’ (27%),” said Sharon Jayson of “USA Today”. Anxiety and depression is a serious thing to deal with. Mental disorders are a hard thing to cope with.
The causes of anxiety and depression in a student’s life can be from many results of school pressure to do better, feeling unworthy of what they have, tests, failing, personal drama.
These are some things students can do to help or help cope with anxiety and depression. You can listen to music. “Music therapy has been used for centuries, as a way to restore energy, improve mood, and even help the body heal more naturally,” said Suzanne Boothby of the healthline website. Some students of Loy Norrix High School use this method to get rid of stress.
“Music is a way to escape everything, a way to block everything out,” said junior Donovan Sarno.
Talking out feelings help out getting some advice you could get from a friend, family member or whoever you go to, to talk out your feelings.
Reading a good book helps take someone’s mind off of their problems. “The act of reading actually can reconfigure brain networks. This means that not only are we able to escape from our problems while reading, it also increases compassion to another’s suffering,” said Tracy Shawn of the Psych Central online. Reading taps into their imagination pulling them into the story.
“Reading helps me take my mind off of whatever I’m going through and put myself in the story and distract myself,” said junior Jesus Zuniga.
Writing out feelings can help by placing out your emotions on paper or in a notebook where you aren’t compressing those feelings.
Exercise helps a lot also. Running, or going to the gym gets your heart beating and makes you feel better about yourself and you are making a healthy choice.
Letting your emotions out instead of bottling them up is so much better for you.
“Crying is something that helps me feel relieved, like a weight has been lifted off my chest,” said sophomore Ally Mcalister.
Crying or even taking deep breaths help in a long run.
“The main benefit of crying is catharsis, or a purging or purification of your feelings through emotional release. When you cry, you can let go of the tension and sadness and other emotions that have been causing you pain,” said Dennis Thompson Jr. of the website everyday health.
Finding something to smile about helps when feeling down.
“Stop holding on to what hurts and make room for what feels good and smile,” said junior Kayleigh Dyer.
Knowing something good can happen in your life, can help you in a long run. Smiling during hard times helps. “It turns out that the simple act of smiling sends a message to your brain that you’re happy, and when you’re happy, your body pumps out all kinds of feel-good endorphins,” said Jennipher Walters of Sparkpeople online.
Lastly you can make a list. It can be about anything you way. Favorite words, positive things, ideas for a book you might want to write, maybe songs you like or want to listen to. Writing down these things or anything takes your mind off of your situation and may even inspire you.