When stressors need more than we have the resources to handle (support, time, money, energy, skills, health, etc.), we experience any combination of anxiety and depression symptoms. This can feel fast-paced, with racing thoughts, heart, breathing, and body, even to panic. We can’t sleep or eat. Our nervous system gets ‘stuck’ in fight or flight mode we’re only designed to be in temporarily.

On the other hand, we can respond to overwhelming stress by slowing down. We can feel flat or empty, confused, overwhelmed with sadness, and doubt in ourselves and our ability to move forward. Our sleep and eating patterns change. Unless we’ve lost appetite, we definitely want comfort foods. And if we were exercising, it’s likely to be a chore if we can even do it at all.   Symptoms may appear with some variation in adolescents, but there will be generally noticeable outward signs.

If you’ve gotten locked into a state that doesn’t feel right, you can do something about it.