You are the future. Wow! That, in and of itself, is pressure. Take time for yourself and don't stress on those words. It isn't easy being a teen in our society today. Our families are being effected by the economy at an alarming rate. What you knew growing up about the safe haven of the home can be destroyed in a moments notice. You need to be prepared to deal with this stress by talking things out with your friends and loved ones. Let your parents and friends know when they have pushed too many buttons. Don't become a statistic of the age.

April 20, 2009 marked the ten year anniversary of the Columbine High School shootings. Unfortunately, you, our children, still suffer many of the same stresses that brought these teens to the point of taking matters into their own hands. Schools across the nation have instituted the "No Tolerance" rule. Things as small as doodles on a piece of paper during a lecture can result in harsh punishment due to the fact that the educators are afraid of what these doodles might produce. This along with daily searches, metal detectors at the doors, and pressure from home to do well on PSAT's and SAT's can overload you, the already maxed out teen.

If you find yourself in this situation, there are a few things you can do to help alleviate the cause of the stress. Violence is never an answer any more than cutting, drugs, sex games of suffocation, or withdrawing into yourself. You can manage the day to day things that bother you by taking a good look at what the stresses are in your life.

Start by looking at your situation at home. Many teens face real stress coming from the inability of parents to communicate effectively with these strange creatures they have produced. The first steps to fixing a stressful situation at home is to open up the lines of communication with your parents. They may seem like aliens at times, but open honest talking will help the situation. You both have to be willing to listen to each side for this to work. If actually talking to them doesn't work, you can start by using technology to work in your favor. A short email or text to mom or dad can sometimes open a closed door.

School is another area where you will feel pressure. You probably have felt the pressure to excel from early childhood and as you approach the time to start looking at your future, these pressures can increase. It is imperative that you express your desires for your future so that not only do your parents, but your teachers and counselors understand what you see in your future. The more they know, the more accepting of the situation they will be when it comes time to take pre-entrance exams or in selecting the right type of college.

Friends and peers can create an immense amount of stress. You need to decide how to handle the drama queen, the sullen, moody boy, and the one who is all up in your Kool-aide. As you all progress at differing stages into young adulthood, take a step back from the ones who create negative vibes in your life. While these people might have been your friends since grade school, if you are already to the point of breaking, stepping back from them can help you cope. Explain to them how their actions make you feel and that you need a time out. You might be surprised at the outcome.

Stress is something that comes in many forms. Everyone has advice on it, but the way you learn to deal with it is what is most important. Open the lines of communication with everyone around you. If they know what they are doing to you, they can then help you to lessen the amount of stress you have to endure. Be sure to remember to listen to their side of things and work to accomplish a compromise in all situations. You won't get everything your way, but it will take a load off your shoulders in the long run.

This article is copyright to lynnechandler at HubPages 2009.