Family Stress

For most people, they grow up surrounded by family whether it is parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and/or grandparents. Some people may see them as life-long relationships that have its ups and downs. With any relationship come issues that can may not necessarily be ignored. One issue is how family life can create considerable stress on someone. "Stress is a feeling that is created when we react to particular events. It is the body's way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness" (Dowshen). Therefore, any event that may deal with family can be considered added stress on someone.

While growing up, family is there to help guide you in the right direction. With this guidance, the family has certain expectations for loved one. This usually starts off with getting good grades because parents see a correlation between good grades and doing well in life. Parents may have good intentions but end up adding to their children's stress. "For example, high-achieving parents often have great expectations for their children, who may lack their parents' motivation or capabilities. Parents who push their children to excel in sports or who enroll their children in too many activities may also cause unnecessary stress and frustration if their children don't share their goals" (Bushnell). Then parents start having expectations about their relationships and other things in life like what kind of job a person should have, where to live, and/ how free time is spent. Sometimes families do not realize that they are not the only ones in life who have expectations. These people can be teachers, coaches, and/or significant others. All these outside pressures are stressful enough and added with family expectations can considerably stress a person out.

Family also causes stress because they are constantly around you growing up. They can not truly be avoided and most of the time your family members maybe be sensitive, very domineering, and/ or bump heads with you. These people can not be avoided because they are usually around on a daily basis. One study performed by the Nemours Foundations found that "kids said that they were stressed out the most by: grades, school and homework (36%); family (32%); and friends, peers, gossip, and teasing (21%)" (Lyness). This poll shows that the in their daily life family