Truly, some worry is essential since it motivates children to perform better and keeps them on the guard. For any performance-related activity, there is an optimal amount of stress that drives them into action. This worry constitutes good stress or ‘Eustress’. It is stress that provides them with focus and gives a “spirited edge” that helps one to think quickly and clearly and express thought in ways that will profit communication. But on the other hand, if it escalates to an abnormally high level, it interferes with performance and constitutes ‘Distress.’

Everything in this world seems smooth as long as things are going on their pre-destined track. When children set out in this world to pave their own way, there is bound to be resistance. And this leads to restlessness, apprehension, fear and anxiety. Anything that they love, things that matter to them; and are important to them, make them worry (what an irony!). And worry is quite an unpleasant emotion. They enter a vicious cycle initiated by their changing hormones, and worsened by peer pressure and their developing identity.

Childhood sows the seeds while teenage sprouts twigs of identity. Responsiveness to emotions, personality buildup, habit formation and problem solving abilities get defined. Though it may seem easy, the situation can sometimes get chancy if not dealt with appropriately. Children feel that they are innately capable of making the right decisions; which may not be everlastingly true. They tend to do defy a lot of what is told to them. This results in the development of negative identity. They end themselves up in an emotional mess and become a source of trouble to everyone around them.

Any event that demands the body to raise a fight usually qualifies as a stressor. The mind uses psychological defenses to fight these stressors. Sometimes these defenses suffice; at others they are insufficient and take a toll on the child’s system in totality. The stressed mind urges one to transiently suspend rational thinking, leading to denial of reality and brings in pessimism. This causes the damaging tetrad of negative perceptions, negative thoughts, emotions and behaviors that eventually result in self-damaging lifestyles. The mind gets cluttered, they cannot think straight, get angry and upset, become violent, feel depressed and in extreme cases may be driven to suicide too. It takes a good deal of determination and strength to face life’s demands with composure.

Criticism drives improvement and directs betterment. Everyone has self-preserving instincts; we all need positive reinforcers; nobody awaits negative remarks. Children need support and guidance, which should be offered in a constructive manner so that they deal with their crisis effectively and emerge as stronger, mature, positive and more responsible individuals.

Stress is an inseparable part of day-to-day existence. It is not possible to change the situation in most cases; however, changing oneself is a feasible and suitable option. Use of adaptive coping strategies (problem solving approaches; instead of being fatalistic and blaming the world for your woes), yoga, meditation, cognitive reconstruction; all can promote a healthy, positive and stress free existence. It is essential to keep up optimism, constructive outlook and belief in betterment. Teens are responsible for their own sanity. We aim to empower teenagers while at school with positive coping strategies to understand normative crisis and deal with life responsibly, paving way for mature and settled adulthood.