School’s In, Pressure’s On. Here’s How to Cope With It.

If reading, writing and arithmetic feels a lot like sweaty palms, compounding stress and constant worry, you’re not alone.
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With a new school year is around the corner, that means stricter schedules, longer to-do lists and the daily anxiety of “fitting in.” From making the grades to making friends, school can bring a whole lot of pressure along with it – and all that takes a toll, not just on your academic success but on your mental health as well. According to the National Education Administration, today’s high school and college students are more anxious than ever, and 70 percent of you report that anxiety and depression are major problems among your peers.

So how do you deal with a new academic year that all but promises to exacerbate these feelings? Coping with pressure – from your peers, your parents and teachers and even from yourself – in a healthy way isn’t exactly second nature. You’re wired with the desire to succeed, to please and, of course, to fit in and be liked. That’s why it’s important to learn now to deal with the pressure that will inevitably come when that first-period bell rings.

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