This generation of students goes through more stress than ever before. Competitive college admissions, make or break finals, standardized testing, etc. Mix these with an uneven sleep schedule and the attempt to maintain a social life, and you've got a bad combination.
More than 52% of Millennials report having lost sleep in the past month due to stress, which is a greater percentage than other generations surveyed. So if it isn't the constant and rigorous hours of studying that keeps a millennial awake, it's the stress itself preventing good rest. Lovely.
One study asked Millennials to rate their stress on a scale of 1-10, 1 being the least stressed and 10 being the most. The average turned out to be a 5.4 which is a .7% increase from the previous generation, Generation X.
So what's the problem?
For one thing, stress has become a trend. Twitter is full of "relatable" and "funny" posts about being too stressed to cope, but what many don't realize is that this is adding to the problem. Making a joke out of crippling stress has led to those who actually need help managing it to be taken less seriously. Tweeting a Gif of a car driving off of a bridge with #finals may be funny, but it adds to the growing problem. Everyone knows you're stressed, most of your Twitter followers are too, please stop glamourizing it. P.s. your memes most likely aren't funny.
Another problem is the lack of resources. When teenagers in this generation become overwhelmed, a quick internet search will result in tips to "drink some tea", "take a break", or "create a schedule". (I'm ashamed to say I wrote an article on stress management). I can attest to the fact that these tips don't work. Teens don't need tea, they need help. Tell me who to call in my area. Tell me how to reach out for help. Tell me my options, not how long to steep and brew.
Millennials, I'm talking to you. Quit adding to the problem, the problem I'm sure you're struggling to deal with. If you can't handle the stress you experience with school, social life, or work, get help. There are resources out there to help you. Your struggles are valid even though you feel as if you don't have it as "bad" as others.
Don't get caught up in the comedy that stress has become.
