Stress is something that all humans experience. It is our body’s natural reaction to changes and  challenges that we encounter. Humans are designed to experience stress, in order to react to it. Stress can be a positive thing and a motivator although, too much stress can become unhealthy and difficult to manage. According to the Cleveland Clinic, “Your body’s autonomic nervous system controls your heart rate, breathing, vision changes and more. Its built-in stress response — the “fight-or-flight response” — helps your body face stressful situations.”

   Stress not only varies per-person, but it is different among the different generations as well. According to Shawna Hugill, “your generation as an example, has social media right? And there’s so much information that follows you home outside of school that I didn’t have to worry about when I was growing up.” Social media has a very strong influence on what teenagers do, think, how they dress and even how they joke with their friends. Generation z specifically, has been very impacted by social media in different ways than past generations were affected. With all these new technological advancements, new generations are introduced to different levels of stress and challenges when engaging in social interactions. This means we must learn new ways to properly manage these things.

   Coping mechanisms are strategies used to adjust to, or tolerate stressful events and ideas. However it is important to fully understand coping mechanisms in order to use them correctly. Coping mechanisms can be used to improve your stress, however they can also negatively impact your stress without you even realizing it. According to Silvi Saxena, “There are two types of coping mechanisms–adaptive (healthy) and maladaptive (unhealthy). Coping with stress can be challenging because worry and overwhelm can cloud judgment and rationality.” Maladaptive coping is a very common unhealthy coping method, and it is important that people understand the difference between adaptive and maladaptive coping methods, in order to identify and reevaluate them. 

   There are many types of coping methods, according to Aubery Bailey, “Coping mechanisms are classified as active or avoidant. Active coping means that you recognize the source of your stress and you are taking steps to change the situation or the way you respond to it. Avoidant coping occurs when you ignore the problem or issue that is causing you stress.” In stressful situations it can be very easy to develop an avoidant, or maladaptive coping mechanism without even being aware of it. Things like therapy or talking to a friend to get their opinion on your coping mechanism can be a very helpful way to realize that it’s unhealthy. It’s important to use the resources available to you, if you feel that you are struggling with stress, or struggling to find a way to cope with it. At Tigard high we have 6 school counselors and one school social worker. There is also the school resource officer, along with the admin in the main office of the school. You can also reach out to other teachers and staff or family members and friends for support.