Everybody gets stressed from time to time. Different people feel stress in different ways. Some ways of dealing with stress—like screaming or hitting someone—don't solve much. But other ways, like talking to someone you trust, can lead you to solve your problem or at least feel better.
Try taking these four steps next time you are stressed:
Get support. When you need help, communicate with the people who care about you. Talk to trusted adults, such as your parents or other relatives. And don't forget about your friends. They might have had similar problems, such as dealing with a test, or the death of a beloved pet.
Don't take it out on yourself. Sometimes when kids are stressed and upset they take it out on themselves. Oh, dear, that's not a good idea. Remember that there are always people to help you. Don't take it out on yourself. Ask for a helping hand to get you through the tough situation.
Try to solve the problem. After you're calm and you have support from adults and friends, it's time to get down to business. You need to figure out what the problem is. Even if you can't solve it all, you can solve a piece of it.
Be positive. Most stress is temporary. Remember stress does go away, especially when you figure out the problem and start working on solving it.
These steps aren't magic, but they do work. And if you can stay positive as you make your way through a tough time, you'll help yourself feel better even faster. Ah, it feels so good when the stress is gone.
