In the words of a victim of stress, it can be defined as a lively circumstance in which people face constraints, opportunities or loss of something they desire and for which the consequence is both unpredictable as well as crucial. Stress is a natural response of the body to challenging situations or events. It can be triggered by anything that upset the balance of ones lives, such as work pressure, relationship problems, financial worries, academic challenges, etc. When subjected to stress, the body releases a hormone called cortisol, which helps to deal with the perceived threat or danger. However, if stress persists for a prolonged period, it can have negative effects on the physical and mental health of a person.
There are several reasons why stress has become a common problem among youngsters. Firstly, today’s youngsters face more pressure to succeed than ever before. They have to compete in a fast-paced, highly competitive world where success is often measured in terms of academic performance, career advancement, and social status. This pressure leads to anxiety, self-doubt, and low-esteem, which in turn contributes to stress. Secondly, Social media and technology have made it easier to stay connected with others, but they have also increased the pressure to be perfect. Youngsters are bombarded with images of their peers leading seemingly perfect lives, which can make them feel inadequate and increase their stress levels. Thirdly, the pandemic has had a significant impact on the mental health of youngsters. Many have lost their jobs or are still struggling to find work.
Stress can affect anyone, anywhere. However some place may be more stressful than others like workplaces that demand long working hours, highproductivity, and intense competition can be particularly stressful. Stress can occur at any time in any person, but it is particularly common among youngsters .The age group of 18-35 is a time when people are transmitting from adolescence to adulthood, and they face many challenges during this period.From completing their education to finding job, building relationships, and starting a family, there are many stressors that can impact the mental health of youngsters.
Stress can manifest in different ways, depending on the individual. Some common symptoms of stress include anxiety, depression, irritability, mood swings, sleep disturbances, forgetfulness, frequent aches, lack of focus, and muscle tension. If left untreated, stress can lead to more severe mental health problems such as panic disorder, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder.
When feeling stressed a natural, human reaction is try to cope by doing things such as avoiding situations , worrying excessively, smoking or drinking too much , over eating or under eating. Unfortunately, while these strategies can give some short-term relief from stress or illusion of the same, they tend to make matters worse in the longer term. There are other strategies that can be more helpful, both in short term and especially not cause more problems than they solve in the short term.
Since every individual has a unique response to stress there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to managing it. To manage stress, it is essential to identify triggers and take steps to reduce or eliminate them. These can include like practicing mindfulness , getting regular exercise, getting enough sleep and seeking support from family and friends, changing our attitude: If it is not possible to change the situation , try changing how you approach it’, and also accept the things you cannot change as some sources of stress are unavoidable and cannot be changed. Acceptance does not mean you have to love it, like it or want it but it is about making room for imperfection rather than consistently fighting against it.
(Author is College lecturer. Email: [email protected])
