Student Stress: An Ongoing Epidemic

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The United States is a country focused on bettering an opponent, but some people aren’t cut out for the constant competition. Those members of society seem to be left in the dust and expected to fend for themselves. Because of the pressures being placed on Americans, it is almost natural to constantly search for a sense of comfort and relaxation. A variety of coping methods have been published in books and articles by psychiatrists, but the audience in which they are written for is rapidly expanding to younger generations. People too often make the assumption that damaging amounts of stress do not surface until college and early adulthood, but studies over the past five years show that stress takes an overwhelming toll on high school students. High school students were surveyed about what negative effects they experience when they feel overwhelmed, both in school and at home. “40% of students say they [lost] interest in school and learning” altogether and “35% said they participated less in extracurricular” activities (Powell). Extracirriculars are an essential part of a teenagers high school expirience, but if students cannot handle the high expectations academically, they will not voluntarily add more to their agenda, even if it means giving up something they were once passionate about. There is not enough time for extracurriculars when workloads take up both the days and nights of most high school students. The rumor that once college starts, students should be prepared for sleepless, coffee fueled nights is losing validity; those nights begin in high school. “73% of students [lose sleep due to the high stress levels]” in school. Whether they are losing sleep from anxiety to complete their work or if they actually sacrifice ... ... middle of paper ... ... rather than the best years of their lives. Works Cited Borba, Michele. "15 Serious Facts about High School Stress." 15 Serious Facts about High School Stress. 21 Feb. 2012. Web. 11 May 2014. Maestripieri, Dario. "Gender Differences in Responses to Stress." Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, LLC, 17 Mar. 2012. Web. 11 May 2014. "Managing Stress: A Guide for College Students." University Health Center. University Health Center, 5 May 2014. Web. 13 May 2014. Minkewicz, Robyn, and Kathryn Minkewicz. "How Stress Can Effect Academics in Multiple Grade Levels." Telephone interview. 12 May 2014. Powell, Kathryn. "Stressed and Obsessed Part 5: The Effects of Stress on Student Life | Online Gargoyle." Gargoyle RSS. 3 May 2013. Web. 11 May 2014. Sifferlin, Alexandra. "The Most Stressed-Out Generation? Young Adults | TIME.com." Time. Time, 7 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 May 2014.

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