Your response to stress is somewhat hereditary. We all have differences in our genes that control the HPA axis, meaning that some of us never have a strong response to a threat, while others have a full-fledged response to even a minor threat. (Sound like anyone you know?) But that hereditary predisposition can be altered at any time by extreme stresses. With major stresses early in life, your response becomes stronger, making you better able to handle future stresses. We see an example of this with our response to something called heat shock. When exposed to extreme heat, all animals, including humans, learn to adapt to the temperature so they can respond to it the next time they encounter it. It's the biological basis of the mantra that what doesn't kill us does indeed make us stronger. There are plenty of other techniques that can help minimize the internal damage caused by the pressures from the external world.
Teen Perspective: Stress and Depression
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Dr. Kathleen Hall , Preventive Medicine, answeredSee All 2 AnswersResearch shows us that breathing techniques affects us by altering the pH of the blood, or changing blood pressure. You can train your body’s reaction when you are experiencing stress to lower the production of stress hormones. Slow deep breathing stimulates the parasympathetic system, this is the system that calms our mind and body. Deep breathing puts the brakes on the stress response. -
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Deepak Chopra , Alternative & Complementary Medicine, answered
You don't need drugs to relieve stress -- you just have to know how to quiet your mind. In this video, Dr. Deepak Chopra offers a quick and easy stress-relieving meditation routine. -
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Prof. Elissa Epel, PhD, MS , Integrative Medicine, answeredSee All 3 Answers
Stress can wreak havoc on your health. Developing stress relief and prevention strategies can help, says Elissa Epel, PhD, associate professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. In this video, she shares tips. strategies, Elissa Epel, help, toxic, psychology, tips, stress relief, stress management, WisePatient, stress response
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Raychelle C. Lohmann, MS, LPC , Psychology, answeredFirst of all you are not alone. There are people who want to help you, reach out to them. Counseling is a great way to help you learn to work through your emotions and cope with the traumatic experience. Trained professionals can assist you with the healing process.
Here are some other resources you may want to check out.
Rape Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN) http://www.rainn.org/
Childhelp: http://www.childhelp.org/pages/hotline-home Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-CHILD
“But Who Should I Tell?” Questions and Answers About Seeking Help After Sexual Abuse (2011) (PDF) A guide for children and teens that discusses whether or not to tell anyone and who to go to for help; lists other resources for support. http://www.nctsn.org/products/who-should-i-tell-questions-and-answers-about-seeking-help-after-sexual-abuse
It’s Never Your Fault: The Truth about Sexual Abuse (2010) (PDF) A guide for teens that identifies common myths about sexual assault and then presents the facts. Includes resources for where to go for help. http://www.nctsn.org/products/its-never-your-fault-truth-about-sexual-abuse
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It happens without regard to social or economic status and it is never the child's fault. If you are a teen who has been abused, find a professional who will help you deal with any unresolved issues. Those issues can impact your physical and mental health, even your ability to parent your children. Research shows that Adverse Childhood Events (ACE) increases the risk of obesity, suicide, chronic diseases, etc. Making sure you have resolved the impact of that experience, quite aside from any legal undertaking, is really important for you and your future. -
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Dr. Vicki L. Berkus, MD , Psychiatry, answeredI wish there was a simple answer because each person is different. I usually hear that the patient is feeling overwhelmed in various areas of their life. It may involve a change of life situation like going from Jr. high to high school or transitioning to college. There may be a family crisis like a divorce or a death. Change is also difficult so a move, having to make new friends, feeling different can cause behaviors to change. Some people are more sensitive to the problems listed above and feel the only way to deal with their feelings is to engage in restricting, binging or purging food. The best way to get answers is to contact a therapist or a psychiatrist who is familiar with eating disorders and get an assessment.
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Dr. Vicki L. Berkus, MD , Psychiatry, answeredThe signs of an eating disorder include a change in behavior around food. The patient may avoid eating with others, start to isolate, start to fear "getting fat" or have a distorted idea of what their body looks like. They may weigh themselves several times/day and what the scale says can affect their food intake, exercise or socialization. Their thoughts can become filled with negative comments around their body or themselves. They will wear bulky clothing to hide their body and tend to pull away from friends and family. There can also be a constant comparing their body to others.
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Dr. Vicki L. Berkus, MD , Psychiatry, answeredI would start by using "I" statements and just describe the behavior you are seeing. " When I see your weight going down, or when you isolate from me, I feel ____________." If your friend is open to talking about it, then offer to help her get help either from a counselor at school or her parents. If she is not willing to get help and you are afraid that she will continue to starve or hurt herself, I would encourage you to go to her parents for help. She may be angry but realize that she may not be able to make good decisions for herself if she is "starving" her brain.