Students like Keziah and Jared are so busy they may not even have time to recognize they're stressed. Keziah I. But school psychologists say they're seeing more stressed-out kids because of academic pressure and our increasingly competitive culture, as well as typical high school pressures like fending off bullies and trying to fit in. In the last five years, school psychologist Dr. Janet Arceneaux has seen students show greater signs of anxiety, depression and health-related problems. It's become such a concern that some school psychologists have begun teaching relaxation techniques in the classroom. You have to grow up immediately.
Students also face intense academic pressure.
A new survey released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Education asked 1,015 teen-agers nationwide to list the top one or two pressures they face. Sometimes students don't even realize they're stressed, but telltale signs are headaches, problems sleeping, stomachaches and even ulcers. Sometimes we have kids who fall through the cracks or who basically crack up because we're not aware of it or we think it can't happen. Changes in eating patterns. Feelings of panic.