Stress in children and young people

Everyone gets stressed at some point in their life, but it affects people differently.

A little stress can be a good thing as it can motivate you to get something done. Stress becomes a problem when you don’t feel you can to cope.

How you might be feeling

You might feel sad or tearful, anxious or worried, angry or unable to concentrate. Sometimes stress makes it hard to eat or sleep properly. You might even get physical pains.

Being stressed for a long time is bad for your health.

Top tips

My name is… Say hello to the things that are stressing you out. Write them down, crossing out anything that’s unlikely to happen.

A problem shared – have a rant, have a cry, thump a cushion. Message a friend or talk to an adult you trust
Go slow – take a walk in the park, load a playlist, or pick up a book
Make a list – list the top 5 most important things you need to do today. Tick them off as you complete each one
Get breathless – you might not feel like it but exercise and sport make a big difference to your wellbeing
Smile – smiling makes other people feel better and changes our own mood too

When to get help

If you’re struggling to cope with feeling anxious and worried, and the things you’re trying yourself are not helping, take a look at the free support services which can help you.

There’s lots of options – including both online and in person support.