Impact of Daily Stress on Youth and How to Cope with It

Abstract

Life is filled with a never-ending array of challenges, some of which according to Edlin and Golanty (2012) present themselves as obstacles to accomplishing necessary daily tasks or life goals. Also, experiences have shown that other challenges provide opportunities for positive and unplanned life changes. Some other writers have also explained that life requires constant adjustment, be they major or minor, to our ever-changing environment and selves (Byer and Shainberg, 2011). Generally speaking, each day presents us with new opportunities and challenges. Maintaining our physical and mental health requires countless adjustments, and how successfully we adapt depends largely on how we view our challenges. Those who enjoy positive emotional health see most changes as interesting, exciting, and as offering opportunities. These people can cope with even the more unfortunate changes in their lives.

When confronted with a particular challenge, we may experience negative feelings in the form of anxiety, sadness, depression, anger, or fear that may cause such symptoms as sleeplessness, gastrointestinal upset, headache, or muscular tension. These symptoms signal a disruption in our state of psychobiological balance and our stress response. Usually, this disruption is brief, for our well-being is restored when we find ways to meet the challenge. Most of the time, confronting and resolving a challenge becomes a positive growth experience. Other times, however, disruption in mind-body harmony is prolonged or severe, and we are said to be "under
stress" or "stressed out". Prolonged, unresolved stress situations can contribute to the development of several kinds of stress-related disorders.