(Mar. 10, 2011) -- Eyes are plastered upon the computer screen and fingers struggle to keep typing. There’s an essay due for English, a project for biology, and a speech in history. In the midst of all these assignments, you realize that this week there are a few more basketball practices than usual in order to prepare for a very important game.

As thoughts are racing in your head, your heart starts beating faster, you’re gasping for air and you’re dreading taking so much upon yourself. Feeling so rundown, your confidence has faded into thin air as you’re overwhelmed with anxiety and stress. You think to yourself, “How am I going to finish everything and come out of this with my sanity intact?”

Sometimes, teens take upon themselves too many responsibilities than they can really handle. Teens in today’s society are overwhelmed with all the pressures that come from school, extracurricular activities, family, friends and most importantly, themselves. “[Dealing with day to day stress is a] little more difficult and just knowing that I am not the only one who has to worry about school and life outside of school makes me stress less,” senior Anahit Sahakyan said. “If others can do it, then so can I.” Sahakyan feels that she’s often overwhelmed with the heavy workload and the fact that there aren’t enough hours in a day to complete it.

In the article, “Stress Management for Teens 101,” Jen Leland writes that stress is “a silent epidemic among today’s youth.” Leland’s idea doesn’t strike far from home, as May slowly approaches many juniors and seniors are busy preparing for the AP exams. “I think this time of the year, when AP tests are coming, college decisions are arriving, and senioritis is kicking in, seniors have a tougher time juggling everything which causes many of us to panic,” senior Saro Mazmanian said.

According to Leland, since a teenager’s body and mind are still developing, they can’t cope with stress like adults do. “Maybe we don’t have as much stress as adults do, but stress is still stress and it affects a person no matter what age he or she is,” Sahakyan said.

As in Sahakyan’s case, most of the time, stress may arise from situations which we don’t necessarily have much control over.“My stress for right now is trying to figure out the future,” Sahakyan said. “I am constantly confused and have no idea what to do in college, let alone for the rest of my life.”

Students report their own methods to cope with their stress. When overwhelmed to keep up with the high demands of school, activities, work and family, it’s always important to take time for oneself. “I go to the gym and it’s a great place to forget about everything else and just focus on myself and my health,” Sahakyan said. Junior Jessica Palacios has her plate full, juggling her time between four AP classes and working at her mom’s bookstore. She often feels it’s difficult to get to organize everything and have enough to finish all her tasks. In situations like these, Mazmanian has the best plan: “Breathing helps and scheduling your time wisely, leaving time for friends and family.”

There isn’t a pill you can take to make all your problems and stress go away. Sometimes, taking things a step at a time may be a simple solution. “I just try to take a few steps back and just focus on what I have to do right now and think day to day instead of have my mind constantly on the future,” Sahakyan said. “ Living day to day and not going too far ahead brings a little peace.”