Youth Communication - Pressure. True Stories by Teens About Stress

Copyright 2012 by Youth Communication

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Pressure : true stories by teens about stress / edited by Al Desetta.

p. cm. (Real teen voices)

Includes index.

ISBN 978-1-57542-412-5 ISBN 1-57542-412-6 1. Stress in adolescence. 2. Stress management for teenagers. I. Desetta, Al.

BF724.3.S86P74 2012

155.5'189042dc23

eBook ISBN: 978-1-57542-656-3

Free Spirit Publishing does not have control over or assume responsibility for author or third-party websites and their content. At the time of this books publication, all facts and figures cited within are the most current available. All telephone numbers, addresses, and website URLs are accurate and active; all publications, organizations, websites, and other resources exist as described in this book; and all have been verified as of May 2012. If you find an error or believe that a resource listed here is not as described, please contact Free Spirit Publishing. Parents, teachers, and other adults: We strongly urge you to monitor childrens use of the Internet.

Photo credits from Dreamstime.com: cover Scol22, p. 5 Sangiorzboy, p. 12 Milosluz, p. 17 Ingrid Balabanova, p. 24 Mashe, p. 30 Antaratma Images, p. 37 Felixcoinc, p. 44 Sergey Peterman, p. 50 Jameswimsel, p. 55 Ingvald Kaldhussater, p. 61 Anna Marie Nemcova, p. 72 Finetti, p. 84 Paul Hakimata, p. 89 Yuri Arcurs, p. 97 Nikolai Sorokin, p. 102 Dmitrijs Dmitrijevs, p. 106 David Gallaher, p. 111 Kayx1984, p. 116 Serban Enache, p. 127 Jamie Wilson, p. 130 Brighthorizons, p. 140 Evolove, p. 143 Justforever, p. 148 Ghubonamin, p. 152 Nicemonkey

Reading Level Grades 9 & up; Interest Level Ages 13 & up;
Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Level Z+

Cover and interior design by Tasha Kenyon

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Ashunte Hunt

Writing poetry helps Ashunte control his anger

Ngan-Fong Huang

Ngan-Fong wants to spend time enjoying herself in the present, instead of constantly worrying about the future

Anonymous

Because her stepmother is overwhelmed, the author has to take on the responsibility of caring for her siblings

Matt Lehrer

Matt feels pressured to get into a good college

Niya Wilson

Niya accepts a friends offer to try yoga for relaxation

Anonymous

By writing and rereading her diary, the author gains a better understanding of herself and how to handle her emotional problems

SaeRom Park

SaeRom writes about the stress of academic demands

Janae Marsh

Janae escapes from her troubled family by reading books

Dnashia Jenkins

When Dnashia runs track, she feels energized and leaves all her problems behind

Eugene Han

Eugenes carefree persona masks the pain of a childhood burdened by adult responsibilities, including an incarcerated mother

Anonymous

The authors aunt introduces her to Buddhist chanting

Megan Cohen

Megan has always been an obsessive thinker and worrier, but when her anxiety threatens her friendships, she decides to consult a psychologist for advice

Martin Smith

Basketball gives Martin a sense of freedom

Chimore Mack

Chimore thought she could be perfect if she just worked a little harder

Jennifer Baum

Jennifer looks at how several teens face stress and at positive ways to reduce it

David A. Rodriguez

Hockey gives David something to be proud of and a way to let off steam

Tanya Owens

With schoolwork piling up, Tanya, a high school junior, needs a chat with her older sister to calm down and set priorities

Emily Orchier

Emily discovers that walking outdoors helps relieve her depression

Abdouramane Barry

Moving to the United States is not the American dream Abdouramane originally imagined it to be

Shant Brown

Shant recommends a range of activitiesincluding writingas a way to battle the blues and negative feelings

Various writers

Teens share their favorite techniques for relieving stress

Otis Hampton

Otis discusses positive ways to stay healthyboth physically and mentally

Caitlin Lemmo and Peter Ramirez

Two teens interview a therapist about the causes of stress, how it affects the body, and what teens can do to relieve it

Jennifer Ramos

Jennifer interviews a social worker for tips on managing stress

A therapist offers advice

F amily, friends, school, and relationshipswhile these can all be sources of support for teens, they can also lead to plenty of stress and conflict. In Pressure , teens describe how stress has affected them and what theyre doing to lead more relaxed and healthy lives.

In Enjoy the Moment, Ngan-Fong Huang has pushed herself relentlessly all her life to achieve academically. But by her senior year in high school, she begins to question her driven approach to life.

Sometimes worrying too much just overwhelms me, she writes. Last term, for instance, I went out of my mind over grades and college applications.

While its important to plan for the future, Ngan-Fong also realizes that life is too stressful when she doesnt enjoy and value the present moment: We should also spend time appreciating what is right before our eyes, since the present is what we have now.

In House of Stress, the author is weighed down by taking on adult responsibilities in the family: I sweep, clean the kitchen, and mop. When my stepsister doesnt help out, I clean the entire house alone. The author also has to babysit her disobedient siblings.

I often feel frustrated and angry at the situation, she writes. I dont want to be the kind of person who blows up, and Im not, but that just leaves me feeling more frustrated.

The writer hopes that when she finally moves out of her house, she wont take all that frustration, anger, and stress with her. Rather, she hopes she takes away the knowledge and ability to handle my responsibilities.

The stories in Pressure show teens engaging in a wide range of activities to release stress in healthy ways. One writer turns to Buddhist chanting to clear her mind. Janae Marsh finds calm and gains perspective by reading. Niya Wilson relaxes by doing yoga. Several others deal with personal problems through writing.

I would open up completely in my diary, says one author. Its almost like my head went from heavy to empty, especially when I wrote about my fathers behavior. When I wrote my angry thoughts, my mind was less stressed. Its like I told someone my feelings and they offered to listen. I didnt feel sad or suicidal anymore.