The Cleveland Clinic defines stress, as "the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response."

States the medical institution, "The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses. Stress is a normal part of life. You can experience stress from your environment, your body, and your thoughts. Even positive life changes such as a promotion, a mortgage, or the birth of a child produce stress."

Everyone experiences stress in their lifetimes, yet it manifests itself differently for each person. The Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. In a recent survey of teens, academic pressure tops their list of stressors: 61 percent say they face a lot of pressure to get good grades. By comparison, 29 percent say they feel pressure to look good; 28 percent to fit in socially; and just 6 percent to drink alcohol.

At the Middle School, our advisory meetings, Health and Wellness curricula, and Developmental Designs circles help us to address, monitor, and alleviate academic pressures our students face, which teens across the country indicate cause unhealthy levels of stress. 

Psych Central, the Internet’s largest and oldest independent mental health online resource, offers these seven tips for helping your child manage stress, including:

1. Stop overscheduling.

2. Make time for play.

3. Make sleep a priority.

4. Teach your kids to listen to their bodies.

5. Manage your own stress.

6. Make mornings calmer.

7. Prepare your kids to deal with mistakes.