High Life A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : What Do You Do When You’re Stressed to Kill?

Under pressure.

You may suffer from test anxiety, and even thinking about college applications often puts you in a panic. Everybody but you has a date for the prom that’s only days away, and no matter what you do, your parents just don’t understand.

With so many stress factors in your life, Hot Topics wonders, “How do you show stress and what do you do to relieve it?”

“I show stress at the dinner table. I eat when I’m under pressure.”

Derek Sagun, 18,

senior, Cypress

“I walk around the house aimlessly and bang my head against the wall. Sometimes I take my brother and throw him against the wall or I throw food at him.”

Stephanie Ton, 15,

freshman, Katella

“I show stress by blocking out everything and then crying later, when I am alone.”

Julie Curtis, 17,

junior, Bolsa Grande

“I twist my hair with my fingers. To relieve it, I have to be alone and I have to draw.”

Lauri Seamark, 18,

senior, El Toro

“I chew the top of my pen until it breaks in half.”

Amy Richards, 15,

freshman, Santa Margarita

“My eyes get tired, my face looks abnormal, and I dress really sloppy. Nothing matches, and all the colors are uncoordinated. To relieve it, I just go home and sleep all night.”

Sandy Phan, 16,

senior, Los Alamitos

“If the tension reaches me, I allow it to flow over me and through me until I identify it and shut it down.”

Michael Palencar, 17,

senior, Costa Mesa

“I show stress in several different ways. One might be facial expressions or body language. If I’m really stressed, I’ll blow up and yell. But I guess that’s normal.”

Bryan Nelson, 15,

sophomore, Cypress

“I am real edgy when I’m stressed out. I dance to relieve stress.”

Mike Robbins, 15,

sophomore, Bolsa Grande

“I take a bubble bath with lots of bubbles. I can tell when I need one when I’m short-tempered. I don’t talk with people, I’m no longer outgoing and I’m touchy.”

Alyson Glines, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“I get nervous and I get stomachaches. To relieve it, I talk to someone about it--my mom, dad or God.”

Tami Graham, 17,

senior, El Toro

“I go into my room and listen to the Spanish-speaking station on my radio or I talk on the phone.”

Kady Johnson, 15,

freshman, Santa Margarita

“Frowning, dark expressions appear on my face as signs of stress. Also, I get unusually quiet and withdrawn. To relieve it, I read or go to the movies.”

Chi Le, 17,

senior, Costa Mesa

“Time is the only thing that can relieve stress. Whenever I’m under too much pressure, I look forward to the weekends. Then I can relax and not worry. There are times, though, when a weekend is not enough. When stress gets this bad, the only way to relieve it is to take a long vacation.”

Jonathan Leghart, 16,

sophomore, Cypress

“Sometimes I get sick after a stressful situation. I relieve it by putting it off.”

Robert Brady, 16,

sophomore, Katella

“I don’t really show it. People say I just turn quiet and ignore the stress. And to relieve it, I listen to a tape--loud!”

Kris Martin, 17,

junior, Bolsa Grande

“I do everything fast. I go home and listen to Guns N’ Roses really loud. He (Axl Rose) screams and it’s really good stress music.”

Tiffani Chin, 16,

sophomore, El Toro

“When I’m stressed I get really rude, and to relieve it I listen to Metallica and clean my room with a vengeance.”

Kristina Ruiz, 14,

freshman, Santa Margarita

“I become very quiet and nervous. I don’t overcome stress until whatever I have to do is over.”

Jean Coman, 15,

sophomore, Costa Mesa

“I show stress by snapping at people. I relieve it by rolling my head until I am relaxed.”

Tim Muraly, 18,

senior, Bolsa Grande

“I become less accurate at whatever I do, or I get kind of crazy as I look for the humor in the situation. Humor and music are my two main stress relievers. I’ll sit at the piano and play or listen to music.”

Paul Evans, 17,

junior, El Toro

“I show stress by releasing it in outbursts of frustration. To relieve stress, I get away from it by doing something I enjoy, or by taking walks or bike rides to think and concentrate on the source of the stress.”

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Steve Foster, 17,

senior, Mater Dei

“I usually keep it bottled inside. I don’t relieve it. I just stress out until it’s over. I stressed out during college applications.”

Wendy Wu, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“I run to the refrigerator, open the door and stand there looking at food while hyperventilating.”

Dory B. Good, 15,

sophomore, Santa Margarita

“I show my stress in anger and depression. When I feel stressed, I sleep all day. I try to avoid that by getting to the root of the problem.”

Cheryl Silverstein, 16,

junior, Cypress

“I find myself losing control of what’s going on and not knowing what to do. I usually relieve it by sitting in a quiet place and just relaxing.”

James Barrett, 16,

sophomore, Katella

“I show stress by taking it out on my little brother. To relieve it, I watch TV or listen to my radio.”

Samanta Kelley, 15,

freshman, Bolsa Grande

“I run around a lot and I talk when I’m stressed. To relieve it, I get myself organized and get whatever I have to do done.”

Alina Demeter, 17,

senior, Los Alamitos

“I get mad when I’m frustrated. The only way I calm down is if I just leave whatever is stressing me out for later.”

Duane Nguyen, 15,

junior, Costa Mesa

“I usually show stress by a severe change in my attitude. I relieve it by taking a long breath and thinking of possible ways to overcome my problem.”

Jaren Freed, 16,

sophomore, Katella

Next Week’s Hot Topic:

What is your biggest achievement?

Hot Topic responses gathered by Brandi Winemiller (Bolsa Grande), Cindy Nguyen (Costa Mesa), Blythe Latimer (Cypress), Dawn Stone (El Toro), Amy Johnson (Katella), Jennifer Vineyard (Los Alamitos) and Suzanne Zamoyski (Santa Margarita).