Healthhome - Teens

Teen stress

Teens dealing with stress may feel overwhelmed, angry, and impatient with themselves as well as those around them. They may feel that they are being unfairly judged, and they often cry or get upset about trivial things. Stress can also make teens sick. It is believed that stress is the cause of up to 90% of all illness. Learning to deal with stress as early as possible is key to living an enjoyable life.

What does stress feel like?

Stress is our body’s reaction to our changing environment. Stress is not pressure to perform, personal problems, or illness; these things are stressors, and stress is our reaction to them. Stress isn’t a bad thing. Without stress, life would be boring and seem meaningless. Stress can be the excited feeling we get when getting ready to go on a date or throw a party. Basically, any event that causes us to have a physical reaction is a stressor. The problems occur when we get overstressed to the point of experiencing distress.

Symptoms of stress:

· headaches, stomach aches

· sweating

· diarrhea

· sleeplessness

· increased heart rate

· rapid breathing

How common is stress in teens?

Everyone experiences stress, and most will experience distress from time to time. Stress tolerance is the amount of stress that a person can handle before the “happy” messengers Serotonin, Noradrenalin, and Dopamine in the brain begin to stop working. A person’s stress tolerance may be genetically predetermined, and it is believed that 10% of the population has an inherited low stress tolerance.

Stress Relief Tips

There are lots of ways that a teen can cope with stress. It is very important for teens to learn to assess their stress levels and realize that they are getting out of control. When this happens, finding ways to relieve stress is essential. Some ways of coping with stress include

· defining sleeping hours and maintaining a regular sleep schedule

· taking breaks during stressful activities

· saying “no” more often to obligations

· avoiding making major changes in one’s life during high stress periods

· eating a healthy diet low in sugar and high in fiber

· regular exercise at least 3 times a week for a minimum of 20 minutes

· taking time off from work and school activities

Teen Anorexia

What Is Anorexia?

Anorexia is an eating disorder where people starve themselves. Anorexia usually begins in young people around the onset of puberty. Individuals suffering from anorexia have extreme weight loss. Weight loss is usually 15%below the person's normal body weight. People suffering from anorexia are very skinny but are convinced that they are overweight. Weight loss is obtained by many ways. Some of the common techniques used are excessive exercise, intake of laxatives and not eating.

Anorexics have an intense fear of becoming fat. Their dieting habits develop from this fear. Anorexia mainly affects adolescent girls.

People with anorexia continue to think they are overweight even after they become extremely thin, are very ill or near death. Often they will develop strange eating habits such as refusing to eat in front of other people. Sometimes the individuals will prepare big meals for others while refusing to eat any of it.The disorder is thought to be most common among people of higher socioeconomic classes and people involved in activities where thinness is especially looked upon, such as dancing, theater, and distance running .

A personal story about struggling with anorexia.

A Family Member has an Eating Disorder

If you have a family member that with an Eating Disorder, they need a lot of support. Suggest that your family member see an eating disorder expert. Be prepared for denial, resistance, and even anger. A doctor and/or a counselor can help them battle their eating disorder.

Symptoms of Anorexia

There are many symptoms for anorexia, some individuals may not experience all of they symptoms. The symptoms include: Body weight that is inconsistent with age, build and height (usually 15% below normal weight).

Some other symptoms of anorexia are:

Loss of at least 3 consecutive menstrual periods (in women).
Not wanting or refusing to eat in public
Anxiety
Weakness
Brittle skin
Shortness of breath
Obsessiveness about calorie intake

Bulimia

What is Bulimia?

Bulimia, also called bulimia nervosa, is a psychological eating disorder. Bulimia is characterized by episodes of binge-eating followed by inappropriate methods of weight control (purging). Inappropriate methods of weight control include vomiting, fasting, enemas, excessive use of laxatives and diuretics, or compulsive exercising. Excessive shape and weight concerns are also characteristics of bulimia. A binge is an episode where an individual eats a much larger amount of food than most people would in a similar situation. Binge eating is not a response to intense hunger. It is usually a response to depression, stress, or self esteem issues. During the binge episode, the individual experiences a loss of control. However, the sense of a loss of control is also followed by a short-lived calmness. The calmness is often followed by self-loathing. The cycle of overeating and purging usually becomes an obsession and is repeated often.

Bulimia was only diagnosed as its own eating disorder in the 1980s.

People with bulimia can look perfectly normal. Most of them are of normal weight, and some may be overweight. Women with bulimia tend to be high achievers.

Symptoms of Bulimia

Some of the most common symptoms of bulimia are:

· Eating uncontrollably

· Purging

· Strict dieting

· Fasting

· Vigorous exercise

· Vomiting or abusing laxatives or diuretics in an attempt to lose weight.

· Vomiting blood

· Using the bathroom frequently after meals.

· Preoccupation with body weight

· Depression or mood swings. Feeling out of control.

· Swollen glands in neck and face

· Heartburn,

· Bloating,

· Indigestion,

· Constipation

· Irregular periods

· Dental problems

· sore throat

· Weakness

· Exhaustion

· Bloodshot eyes

What Causes Bulimia?

There is currently no definite known cause of bulimia. Researchers believe it begins with dissatisfaction of the person's body and extreme concern with body size and shape. Usually individuals suffering from bulimia have low self-esteem, feelings of helplessness and a fear of becoming fat