There are many life events that can be viewed as stressful. Examples of these include being involved in, or witnessing an accident, being a victim of, or witnessing abuse or violence, or having someone close to you die. Any stressful event can affect your emotions.

When a stressful event occurs, it is normal to feel some level of stress, anxiety, sadness or fear. It can take time for you to adjust to changes and return to a normal routine.

You may want to check out the Stress fact sheet.

What can I do? It is important for you to find a healthy way to deal with your feelings before they become overwhelming. Here are some tips that may be helpful:

• Keep a diary or journal. It may be useful for you to keep a diary or journal where you can write down your feelings, as well as keep a record of any other activities or events which you’ve experienced.

• Talk to someone. Bottling your thoughts inside you can oftentimes make your reactions worse. It may be helpful to talk to a friend, family member or someone else you trust about the event and your feelings. Another option is for you to share your feelings with someone who was involved in the event.



Acknowledgement: This fact sheet was originally developed by youth and staff at ReachOut.com, a website that helps teens get through tough times.