You can experience stress when a challenge stretches your ability, or when you believe it is beyond your ability to manage.

Stress isn’t always bad. A level of challenge and stress is required for people to perform at their best, such as in an exam, in sport or when performing in public.

But, when high levels of stress become overwhelming or continue for an extended time it can become a problem. High levels of stress affect your wellbeing – social, emotional, psychological, and physical. So, managing stress is important for maintaining your wellbeing.

People will experience different levels of stress for different reasons at different times in different ways.

Causes of stress can include:

• feeling unsafe

• bullying or peer-group pressure

• family problems

• experiencing change

• school results

• thinking negatively about yourself

• feeling as though you have no control

• a traumatic event

Sometimes the things that cause you stress are out of your control – so, there’s no use sweating over it.

When you experience stress, your body can activate a response to protect you from danger. Your heart rate, breathing rate and blood pressure can all increase. You may feel anxious, flustered, hot and sweaty. This is okay for a quick response to danger (like running away), but it can become a problem if it persists over a longer period of time.

Understanding what causes you stress and how you respond to it can assist you to manage stress by:

• adopting a positive attitude

• doing things that make you happy

• exercising regularly

• getting enough sleep

• eating well

• connecting with people

Sometimes stress can feel overwhelming, and you may need to seek support. You can do this by:

• talking to a family member, trusted friend, or teacher

• speaking with your Doctor

• contacting Kids Helpline or headspace

So, what causes you stress?

On a scale of 1-10 – how well do you manage stress?

How could you to increase your ability to manage stress better?