Coping with stress and anxiety among teens

Most people see the beginning of life once a baby is born. The process of human development slowly unfolds when that infant grows into a cute little toddler --- “learning the ropes” of speech, walking, eating, and playing. Parents, naturally, add Band-Aid and disinfectants to their grocery list as their children begin to take a more daring, active role at home and in play school. After a few years, that baby is expected to be ready for school. As any parent would say, time flies so fast and before they know it --- the little kid they used to take and fetch from the community kindergarten is now a young man or young lady in high school. In high school, these young people experience new things. They discover new emotions and ways of thinking. Naturally, they have to endure the awkward situation of no longer being kids yet still far from being adults. Most teenagers wonder how being a teen can be so fun yet to full of anxiety. And for most high schoolers, nothing can be more fun and anxiety-filled than have their first serious relationship.



Social and personal relationships are very important to teenagers. At the same time, relationships are among the top issues that cause the stress and anxiety. Problems in their relationships, made worse by their difficulties at home and in school, can sometimes be so serious that it affects their ability to be happy and well-adjusted individuals.



Given this situation, every teenager should somehow be taught how to cope with stress and anxiety --- especially if it's about a boy-girl situation. In a romantic relationship, it is but normal to have petty quarrels and even serious fights that could lead to a cool-off or a total break-up. For adults, these situations may seem to petty or even downright laughable. But for these teenagers, their relationship with their first boyfriend or first girlfriend really do mean the world to them. The newly discovered passion that is almost beyond control can consume most of the daytime thoughts of a teen with raging hormones. Episodes of romantic affirmation, jealousy, and self-doubt takes the teenager on an emotional roller coaster. But aside from love issues, teenagers are preoccupied with their need to have a sense of belonging...the frustration of “not being understood”...and the need to have their own self-identity.



For teens, is done through several ways. To get by through high school, these young people try different things to cope with their stress and anxiety. For the rebels, a beer bash and a night of partying would suffice. The alcohol, loud music, and dancing are considered good enough diversions or means of coping with anxiety. For the “straight A” students, more hours at the library may just do the trick. The books offer not only additional information they can incorporate into their essays and research papers. Books are also an excellent escape from all the stress and anxiety of being unpopular and branded as “geeks.” For the jocks, stress and anxiety are also inescapable facts during basketball championship season.



Being young and inexperienced, young people tend to see life not as a process of learning. The spirit-driven youth take each day as it is --- trying to stuff their entire life into 24 hours of laughter, adventure, and, yes, hours of self-grooming. But on those days that they find little to laugh about or very few things to be inspired about, teenagers are forced to look at themselves face-to-face in a mirror. They revel in the thought that they have outgrown those days when they were too dependent on their parents and elder siblings. Still, they grow apprehensive about what the future has in store for them.



Some who adjust well just accept the fact that adolescence is but part of natural human development. There is no escaping youth --- with all its joys and troubles. For those who have learned the art of coping with stress and anxiety, learning more about life is a truly exciting experience that is worth all the bruises and heartaches.

Coping with anxiety through martial arts

“To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the highest skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest skill.” -- Sun Tzu, The Art of War



A lot has been said about martial arts. There's a lot punching, kicking, and wrestling involved — all considered as systems and tools of brutal force. This notion or preconceptions about the martial arts were developed, in a large measure, due to films and movies that depicted the combative arts as a means of inflicting violence. But in reality, the true aim of martial arts is quite exactly the opposite. At the core of every fighting philosophy are the values of valor, chivalry, nobility, self-control, and self-sacrifice. This art form is not just about fighting, combat, or self-defense. Martial arts philosophy stresses that people should live in peace and harmony. It also emphasizes respect for self and others, compassion, and a high regard for physical and moral excellence. In its purest form, the martial arts is practiced to achieve strength and enlightenment of the mind, body, and spirit.



For thousands of years, different people from different cultures have practiced and propagated their own system of martial arts. These unique forms of self-defense and philosophies include the following:

· Karate (empty hand)

· Muay Thai (Thai boxing or kick-boxing)

· Tae Kwon Do (foot hand way)

· Wing Chun (forever spring)

· Silat (to fend off)

· Aikido (the way of harmonious spirit)

· Judo (gentle, soft way)

· Yaw-yan (dance of death)

· Jeet Kune Do (way of the intercepting fist)

· Jiu-jitsu (the soft, pliable method)



Spiritual Benefits



True achievement in martial arts is not gaining the force and skill to smash bricks, cement blocks, baseball bats, and blocks of ice. Neither is it the privilege of wearing different colors of belts nor the prestige of winning sparring championship titles or tournament trophies. The real value of martial arts is in helping individuals harness their natural physical strength and innate goodness of character.

The power within— the elevation of the spirit and the mind. The spiritual side of the martial arts is not religious in any sense but more closely related to the practice of ethics and philosophy. Spirituality in the martial arts is manifested in several training methods and techniques which includes breathing and relaxation drills. According to experts, these drills may help reduce stress and anxiety. Engaging in martial arts also helps people in their battle against emotional, physical, and mental stress and ailments. The deep breathing exercises, similar to the techniques of yoga, produce a calming effect on a martial artist. The inhalation of oxygen and the concentration involved in meditative execution of martial arts routines serve to relax the body and provide “stillness” in the mind during practice. In many martial arts schools, the promotion not only centers of the defensive aspects but also for the benefits of martial arts in coping with anxiety. Long-time martial arts practitioners attest that physical training has helped them deal with depression, insomnia, high blood pressure, and other related illness. To some degree, one can even “shout away” both stress and anxiety during a punching or kicking exercise.



Mental Benefits



Today, martial arts therapy is used as an unconventional treatment for children or adults with social anxiety disorders. Also known as social phobia, this condition refers to excessive, long-lasting anxiety due to various fears, worries and apprehensions. In general, people with social anxiety disorder have an intense fear of being judged or ridiculed by others. People with this condition may often be found in isolation or may only have very few friends. Through martial arts training, people with anxieties may be taught to improve their social skills at the same time as they learn self-defense. These individuals are also taught to develop self-respect and respect for others. By attending self-defense classes, people with anxieties slowly gain confidence and develop healthy relationships with other people in and outside the class. Regular martial arts practice not only provides skills in self-defense. More importantly, it restores or improves the self-image of the practitioner.



Some precautions in practicing martial arts



In general, the martial arts is an excellent means to achieve physical fitness and spiritual health. But if it is practiced carelessly or without proper instruction, the physical activities and routines involved in martial arts training may cause harm or injury. Certain very strenuous movements may put a high stress on the muscles and joints. It is also very important to give special attention to stretching. Stretching regularly to maintain or increase flexibility helps lower the risk of injuries.



Indeed, the martial arts has a deep meaning and philosophy. It is a centuries-old way of training a fighter --- how not to fight, which is a paradox in the art and science of combat. These days, it is now one of the most popular means to attain physical health and to control stress and anxiety. But just like everything else in life, martial arts can be used either for good or for bad. For the serious practitioner, determining the proper and safe ways of training is as important as gaining the true, philosophical aims of the martial arts.

Anxiety? No need to worry.

Reflexes go awry, bodily reactions prove to be dysfunctional, and behavior patterns seems meandering – a blend of these unusual occurrences and, by no doubt, you're having anxiety attacks. Anxiety is characterized to be continuous – and often times poignant - fears and worries that tends to interfere with normal human behavior or activities. Anxiety, as proven medically, though may seem to be inconsequential, may cause severe problems like alcoholism and low self-esteem. These complications, as studies prove, may lead to lethal consequences.



Though anxiety, or its possible repercussions, may pose to be lethal, studies show it's curable in nature and responds to treatment well. Medical breakthroughs and scientific researches offers a wide array of answers that ranges from anxiety treatment to coping with anxiety.



Anxiety treatments can be done through medications such as anti-anxiety drug, anti-depressants, and beta-blockers. Anti-anxiety drugs are prescribed for brief relief against anxiety attacks and it is also used to hamper anxiety's severe effects. Anti-depressants give the brain a boost to let it combat mind-paralyzing effect of anxiety. Beta-blockers, which are fondly used by performers to deal with stage fright and “weak” knees, are good combatants against physical symptoms of anxiety.



These may seem to be the positive contribution of anxiety treatments through medications but medical people wary in too much dependence on it. Anxiety medications can promote drug dependence and, with this, incalculable possible adverse effects are not had to imagine. They also advise people to take precaution by consulting their regular physician or family doctor.



Herbal medication alternatives and other natural forms of anxiety-curing regimen are also encouraged as forms of anxiety treatment. CBT or Cognitive Brain Therapy is one of the leading anxiety treatments. If a person is suffering from anxiety problems, CBT will help that individual to identify and overcome the traumatic experiences and notions that inhibits the individual from working through his fears. Constant exposure with this therapy would help you acquire certain skills that will strengthen your sense of emotional equilibrium and thus, you gain control over of your anxiety dilemma.



Coping with anxiety, however, is not that easy as it sounds. The tricky part here is that you must allow yourself to get ahead of the dilemma when in fact you did not manage to circumvent it. With this, medical professionals enjoin individuals to earnestly seek and religiously abide by a doctor's advice. The practical and medical based pieces of advice will help an individual navigate properly the in's and out's of anxiety dilemma.



They also encourage those relatives of those who are coping with anxiety to offer relentless support and multitudinous amount of patience understanding that this state of recovery is vital for them. Extending extra care and effort just to let them know that they are not alone in this battle. This is very important to know because one major manifestation of anxiety is seclusion.



Coping with anxiety, also, as said by doctors, has no “sure fire” formula. It takes careful planning and constant follow-up to be able to really give the best support and care for people coping with anxiety.



With this, let us put in our minds that, anxiety can be treated and it does respond accordingly to treatments. No matter how critical problem may be, just say, “Anxiety? no need to worry.”

Anatomy of an anxiety attack

Anxiety attacks are normal body reaction - mechanisms of coping - against different stressors and distressing predicaments. In other words, these are chemical, physical and emotional reactions that provoke fear, fear or shock. These reactions also cause a "fight or flight" response. Based on scientific studies, people automatically react to stress or stress induction activities making a stance of confrontation or a decision to avoid stress.



Pressure can come from an emotional problem in a relationship at home, demanding deadlines and tasks in the Office, the fear of next test, or the cry of a winning performance of the game in a championship game. All of these can be constant anguish of product and anxiety attacks even if a person is not able to effectively deal with stress. A person who is suffering an anxiety attack often experience a sensation of numbness or tingling, shortness of breath, dizziness, increased palpitations, chronic sweating, chills, hot flashes and nausea.



Extreme anxiety levels can cause serious harmful effects on the physical and mental health. Anxiety can really hinder or negatively affect a person's daily activities. Apart from the possibility of leaving a person physically weak and emotionally depressed, anxiety can also cause a person loses the ability to make a rational decision. It is not uncommon to hear of cases of people with severe anxiety who have lost their jobs and not in their relations. For these people who have been victims of anxiety attacks, life has become a mere matter of survival - without happiness, fulfillment, and health.



Some people can cope with depression and anxiety. But for a significant number of people who don't have the ability to deal with stress and anxiety, the only way to recover your life is to undergo therapy and, if necessary, medication for anxiety. These anxiety medications, if accompanied by therapy carried out by professionals, offer relief and possibly permanent protection of the debilitating effects of tension and serious emotional distress. Anxiety medications often vary in the dosage and desired effects. However, what is common between these anti-anxiety medications is the ability of these drugs to suppress waves of chemical and emotional unnecessary. Control these chemical and emotional tension increases allows a person with anxiety to recover a sense of peace and tranquility.



Anxiety medications, also known as anxiolytics, are prescribed to treat various symptoms of anxiety. For example, Bensodiazepines are prescribed to treat the short-term and anxiety disabling effects. These medicines are to take effect in the central nervous system of a person which is the reason why there is a certain degree of sedation in a patient with medication.

Non-bensodiazepines, however, are used to control the level of serotonin in the body. Serotonin is essential for the body to regulate temperature, mood, anger, sleep, vomiting, sexuality and appetite. Although they have shown to be less effective than the bensodiazepines, the effect of this type of regular serotonin anti-anxiety drug also helps a person to achieve a State of relaxation.



While these medications provide relief, people still must practice caution a little before taking anti-anxiety medications. These medications may not totally remove all symptoms of anxiety. Of course, these medications cannot solve an emotional or psychological problem that is really the origin or the source of attacks of anxiety of a person.