I don’t know about you, but lately it feels like life comes at us in HD – fast, loud, and non-stop. School assignments pile up like there’s no tomorrow, group chats never stop buzzing, and every time you open social media there’s another reminder that someone else is “doing better.” It’s like you’re expected to ace your grades, look perfect, have a social life, and still somehow get eight hours of sleep.
I’ve been there – the heart racing, the overthinking, the “I just need to hide under my blanket forever” feeling. So, here’s how I’ve learned to deal with anxiety when the pressure is real.
First, Admit It’s Real
Anxiety isn’t “being dramatic.” It’s not “just stress.” It’s your mind and body saying, Hey, I’m overloaded.
And that’s okay to admit. The sooner you stop pretending you’re fine, the sooner you can actually take steps to feel better.
Unfollow the Pressure
One thing that changed my life? Curating my feed.
If you’re following people or accounts that make you feel like you’re not enough – mute them. Replace them with creators who post real, messy, relatable stuff.
Right now, more teens are switching to “Finstas” (fake Instagram accounts) or private spam accounts where they can be themselves without the pressure of being perfect. It’s a low-key trend, but it’s healthier than constantly performing online.
Take “Mini Escapes”
Sometimes you can’t take a full-on vacation from life, but you can create little breaks:
- Put your phone on airplane mode for 30 minutes.
- Go outside and listen to your music.
- Watch something funny and dumb (I have a folder of TikToks that instantly make me laugh).
These mini escapes help you reset without completely disappearing from the world.
Learn to Say No
We’re taught to say yes to everything – every club, every hangout, every favor. But burnout happens when you never protect your time. Saying “I can’t right now” doesn’t make you a bad friend or a lazy person. It makes you human.
Try the Trends That Actually Help
Not every “mental health trend” online is worth your time, but here are some that are actually helping people:
- Digital Detox Days: One day a week where you stay off socials completely.
- Study With Me Streams: Live study sessions on YouTube/TikTok that make homework feel less lonely.
- Soft Journaling: Not super aesthetic, just brain-dumping your thoughts without pressure to make it pretty.
Talk to Someone (Seriously)
You don’t have to carry all of it in your head. Talk to a friend, a family member, a school counselor. I know, sometimes you feel like they won’t “get it,” but it’s worth trying. Even one honest conversation can feel like dropping a heavy backpack you’ve been carrying all day.
Life right now is a lot. School is competitive, social media is addictive, and the pressure to “have it all together” is constant. But you’re allowed to set boundaries, unplug, and just exist without achieving anything for a while.
Anxiety doesn’t mean you’re weak – it means you’re human in a world that’s moving way too fast. And maybe, just maybe, slowing down is the most rebellious thing we can do.
