Being a teen can be stressful! You might feel pressure to get good grades, fit in with a group, or make a sports team. Or maybe your home life stresses you out. Everybody has some stress. But too much stress, or allowing stress to build up, is unhealthy.

• Talk it out. Vent to a friend or a trusted adult to blow off steam.
• Work it out. Playing sports, fast walking, or dancing can lower your stress level.
• Write it out. Express your feelings in a journal, or through music or art.
• Play it out. Have fun doing something you love.
• Laugh it out. Watch a funny movie or read cartoons.
• Chill it out. Kick back and relax, catch up on sleep, or read.

Teen tip to blow off steam:

1. Close your eyes.
2. Take a deep breath through your nose, slowly and quietly.
3. Hold it for a few seconds.
4. Let it out, quickly and noisily through your mouth. Imagine that you are blowing away a worry or problem that you have.
5. Do this several times.

Is your stress out of control? Check any of these that describe you.

• I feel down, edgy, guilty, and/or tired.
• I have headaches and/or stomachaches.
• I have trouble sleeping.
• I worry about my body and how it's changing.
• I laugh out loud and/or cry for no reason.
• I want to be alone all the time.
• I am not able to see the positive side of things.
• I don't enjoy doing the things that I used to enjoy.
• I have too many things to do, but not enough time to get things done.

If these feelings do not go away after trying the tips above, talk to your parent or guardian, a school counselor, or another trusted adult.

(Source: www.hhs.gov)

Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Program
Strong Memorial Hospital
315 Science Parkway
Rochester, NY 14620
Inpatient Services: (585) 279-9200
Partial Hospitalization: (585) 279-7850
Outpatient Services: (585) 279-7800
Web site: www.urmc.rochester.edu
Hospital patient unit serves children, adolescents, and family in need of psychiatric care by providing a medically-supervised secure setting. Visiting patient services include group and individual therapy and
medication assessment and treatment.

Compeer of Livingston County

1 Genesee St.

Avon, NY 14414

(585) 226-8220

Fax: (585) 226-8256

Contact: Barb Mestler

Email: compeerliv@juno.com

Not-for-profit organization that matches volunteers in supportive friendships with Livingston County adults receiving mental health treatment. Flexible, fun opportunities available.

DePaul - Operation Friendship

110 Court St. Suite 1
Geneseo, NY 14454
(585) 243-3083
Email: EOBrien@depaul.org

Web site: www.Depaul.org

Contact: Elleen O'Brien
Supports independent and productive lives for people recovering from mental illness. Helps members to become more independent, improve vocational skills, develop leadership abilities, function more effectively in the community.

DePaul Problem Gamblers Program

339 East Ave., Suite 303

Rochester, NY 14604

(585) 426-8000

Fax: (585) 423-0821

Web site: www.nydas.org

Contact: Ray Scott, Program Director

Email: rscott@depaul.org

Counseling services for gamblers and their loved ones.