Do you sometimes feel a great burden, pressure, or as we all call it, 'stress'? It's actually very normal to feel that way. Not only you, but also small children, young people, adults, we all feel this mental stress at one time or another in our lives. But there is something very important that you may not know. That is, this mental stress, or stress, is not always bad, something harmful to us. Isn't it amazing? Sometimes this stress is the very thing that helps us.
How can you protect yourself from stress?
Can you imagine that this stress can also help protect you? Yes, it's true. Simply put, as soon as your brain senses some danger or risk, it immediately sends an 'alert' to your body and mind, a signal to prepare. This is what we call mental pressure or stress.
Imagine this. You are crossing the road. Suddenly, you see a car coming at you at a fast pace around a bend. That's when the stress hormones in your body are activated. These hormones help you react quickly to that dangerous moment. These stress hormones give you extra energy, better focus, the ability to concentrate, and speed. Your eyes widen, allowing you to see your surroundings better. Your mind becomes more alert and sharp. Your full attention is focused on the approaching danger. Your heart beats faster because you need to send more oxygen to your muscles. Your breathing rate also increases. All of this happens because of the 'stress alert' your body gives you. That's how you escape from that speeding car, run away, and get to a safe place. That's enough, isn't it?
Once you reach a safe place, your brain turns off the 'stress alert'. Your body also stops producing those `(stress hormones). When these hormones stop flowing, your body and mind return to a normal, stress-free state. You calm down. Then you look both ways and cross the road carefully.
Another name for this immediate preparedness response in your body is the 'fight-flight-or-freeze response' . This is because stress prepares you to either face the problem (fight), run away from it (flight), or freeze if you can't do anything about it. This is a natural defense mechanism that helps us survive.
How can stress help you face a big, important event?
Imagine that you have to participate in a school sports competition, or you have to be on a team, maybe you have to sing a song on stage, perform a dance, or give a speech in front of a class. These things are not life-threatening like jumping off a bridge. But times like these can bring us a lot of pressure, a lot of 'stress'. You must have felt the same way, right?
In times like these, your heart rate may increase due to the aforementioned ``stress hormones.'' You may feel like your hands and legs are starting to shake. You may feel like butterflies are flying around in your stomach, or something strange. We sometimes call it 'stomach ache.'' But you don't need to be afraid or stop what you're doing just because you feel these physical symptoms.
Try to see these physical changes as an 'energy boost.' This is a signal to you, 'Okay, now get ready, focus, get to work.'
Think of it like saying 'Ready... Set... Go!' before you start running. This is your body getting 'ready' for you.
If you feel like the pressure, or stress, you're feeling is too much, try these things:
- Take a slow, deep breath in.
- Then exhale completely.
- Tell yourself, "I can do this!"
- Put aside some of your fears and gather your courage.
- Imagine that you are standing firmly, with your feet firmly planted on the ground.
- Take another slow, deep breath and let it out.
- Then, face that challenge to the best of your ability.
As you start facing challenges, you will find that your stress levels gradually decrease. Although facing big challenges like these can be stressful at first, as you get used to them, you become more skilled at dealing with them. Each time, your stress levels decrease and your self-confidence increases.
How stress helps you prepare better
Let's say you have an important exam, test, or some big event coming up in a few days. It's normal to feel a little pressure and stress at a time like that. In fact, it can be a good thing. How do you know?
This little stress reminds you, 'Okay, now I need to study, I need to prepare for this, I need to practice.' Think about it, if you didn't have any worries, would you study as hard? Would you practice? Maybe not, right? So this little stress is like a little push for you. When you're well prepared, the stress you feel when the big day comes is much less. You feel a lot of peace, a sense of certainty, a sense of 'I'm ready for this.'
But here too, there is something we need to understand. That is, what happens if this stress, or pressure, becomes too much. If you feel too much pressure, fear, or anxiety even when thinking about an exam, it is harmful to you. Such excessive stress can even cause you to avoid preparing for it. You may think, 'Oh, I can't do this, it's too hard,' and stop studying and practicing. Then you will not be able to perform to your best.
If you are constantly feeling anxious, worried, or worried about something that is coming up, it is important to talk to an adult you trust about this. This could be your mom, dad, a teacher, or another adult you care about. They can teach you ways to reduce this stress. This will make it easier for you to face exams, tests, or any other big challenges in life.
What types of stress should we be careful about and pay attention to?
We've been talking about the types of stress that can be beneficial to us in some way, or that will subside after a while. But there are some types of stress that cause long-term problems that are difficult for us to control. We need to be very careful about this type of stress.
For example, some people are bullied at school or elsewhere. Others may be affected by a serious illness, injury, or serious accident that has a long-term impact. Some children may have parents who are separated or have constant arguments and conflicts at home. The death of a loved one, a sudden trauma, or some form of abuse can also cause excessive, long-term stress. Some people may feel unsafe in their environment, or that no one accepts them. They may also be stressed by violence in their family, in society, or in the media.
The stress caused by these reasons does not go away as quickly as the stress that subsides after an exam or a competition. What happens here is that your body continues to secrete those `(stress hormones)`, even at low levels. Because the problem persists, you may feel stressed and depressed most of the day. This is very tiring for you both physically and mentally.
Remember, it can be difficult for you to deal with this kind of long-term stress on your own. It's not your fault.
To get rid of this kind of stress, you definitely need support. Also, you need help solving the problem that is causing this stress.
If you are experiencing this kind of persistent, unbearable stress, the most important thing is to talk it over with an adult you trust and feel comfortable talking to. That is the first and most important step in finding relief from your stress and getting help for the problem that is causing it.
What is the most important thing we want to take home from this story? (Take-Home Message)
Okay, so I think you now have a good idea of what we've been talking about for so long, 'stress'. There are a few important things we need to remember from this story:
- Stress is normal: We all feel stress at different times in our lives. Don't feel bad about it.
- Not all stress is bad: Sometimes stress helps us avoid dangers, face big challenges, and prepare us better. It's like an 'alert system' in our body.
- Quantity matters: While a little stress is beneficial, too much stress, especially long-term stress, is harmful to our body and mind.
- Be aware of chronic stress: If you are constantly feeling stressed due to a problem (e.g. bullying, family problems, illness), don't ignore it.
- Don't be afraid to ask for help: If you're feeling overwhelmed by stress, don't suffer alone. Be sure to talk to an adult you trust (a parent, teacher, or trusted adult). If necessary, you can also seek medical advice or counseling. Remember, you're not alone.
So, stress is a part of our lives. The important thing is to learn to manage it properly and ask for help when needed. Have a good day!
` Mental stress, stress, tension, children's mental health, stress management, stress hormones, fight-flight-freeze
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