Teen stress is very common among the adolescents today.

According to a 2002 local high school survey : of 815 students that participated, 70 percent said they were "stressed out".

Just being a teenager can be very stressful. There is so much going on and so many changes happening all at once! Some causes of teen stress are: school work load, poor self image, problems with friends, peer pressure, not fitting in, parents divorcing, death of a loved one, moving or changing schools, taking on too many activities at once, problems at home, and feeling lonely.

Signs of Teen Stress:

1. Feeling down, on edge, guilty or tired

2. Having headaches, stomach aches, trouble sleeping

3. Wanting to be alone all the time

4. Not enjoying activities you used to enjoy

5. Feeling resentful of others

6. Feeling like you have too many things you have to do

Teen stress can lead to more serious problems. Struggling with major teen stress and low self-esteem issues can lead to more serious problems such as teen eating disorders, hurting yourself, depression, alcohol abuse and drug abuse, and even suicide.