November in the Wellness Center

Hello Cowboys and Cowboy Parents,

Welcome to November.  Hoping you all are safe from the recent Tick Canyon Fire.  Canyon High School cares deeply for our cowboys and we are here to help in any way we can.  We realize many of our families have been negatively impacted by the wildfire and need support in getting eminent needs met.   Please reach out us if you need ANYTHING during this difficult time. Please contact Sarah Gilberts at ext. 151 in the Caring 4 Cowboys Wellness Center.   As a result of numerous families struggling with the aftermath of the fire, we are asking for help in supporting these Cowboy families in need. Please help us rally and support family victims of the fire through the donation of gift cards.

Gift cards of need include- Grocery, gas, restaurant, food delivery, clothing store. Any and all support helps families who’ve been severely impacted. Please drop off your generous contributions at the Front Office or Caring 4 Cowboys Wellness Center.  Any and all support is greatly appreciated.

Usually around October-November, teen stress is on the rise and is quite apparent by parents, school staff and counselors.  According to the data collected by American Psychological Association for the Stress in America Survey, adolescents identify that their stress levels are not healthy and that they also underestimate the impact stress has on their mental and physical health..  As documented in the survey, most teens report the most common sources of stress are school (83 percent), applications for college, ruminating thoughts of getting into a reputable college (69 percent), thoughts of life after high school and financial concerns for their family (65 percent). Consequently, many teens report sleep becoming impacted due to not being able to shut off their brain and lying awake at night.  Some report overeating, eating unhealthy foods and skipping meals.  Due to the increase in psychological stress, mood is undeniably impacted.  Forty percent of teens report feeling irritable and their frustration tolerance to be very low.  All teens experience some amount of stress and some stress can even be healthy. However, many teens struggle with significant stress levels that impact learning, relationships, concentration, sleep and management of adaptive functioning.  Stress can manifest in different ways, and some symptoms of stress mimic normal adolescent behavior.  As a result, stress can sneak up on teens.  It’s important to know what to look for when it comes to stress:

• Physical changes: Teens under stress are more likely to get sick more often and complain of headaches, stomachaches and other psychosomatic aches and pains. Healthy sleep hygiene becomes impacted. Keep an eye out for shifts in eating patterns.
• Emotional changes: Teen might appear agitated or easily frustrated and have a lower tolerance to cope and deal with everyday situations. Furthermore, teens might appear anxious and/or depressed or present more withdrawn to family and/or friends.
• Cognitive changes: When stress impacts the body, cognitive functioning decreases. You might notice decreased concentration, forgetfulness, indeciveness and what appears like carelessness.

Please reach out to the Wellness Center if you need a place to vent.  We understand that there is a lot of expectations during this time of year and we want you to know you can access the Wellness Center at any time during school hours.  Scan the QR code posted around campus to schedule a counseling session or come in before school, brunch or lunch to vent, de-stress or join us in various activities offered to help manage your stress in healthy ways. Take a look at our calendar of events to find ways to help you de-stress.