Stress-Headache-Temperature

[rike123]

Hi everyone,
I'm 15, and I have just started a new school. I generally feel very stressed about school and my social life. In the last two weeks my school stress has been increasing, and I constantly have headaches, and a temperature. I don't know what to do about that, I have tried staying at home for a day, but it has just made me feel even more stressed, as I missed lessons and had a lot to catch up on.
Do you think me feeling sick comes from the stress? Do you have any advice on how to reduce school stress?
Thank you so much for your help :)

[rike123]

Thank you everyone! I will try those things :)

[Foggy2]

I agree with the above posts in reducing stress, as I think this is your cause as well.  However can you tell me if you ever received the Meningitis vaccine?  It is usually given to people around your age or slightly younger (it may vary from country to country).  You may need to ask your mother to find out the answer.  Let us know.  Thanks.

[ZzzzzzBaffled]

Be kind to yourself.It does appear to be stress.you are human and it is normal to feel anxious about starting a new school.Give yourself time and you will begin to relax the more you go.
Most people would feel stressed under the circumstances.proberly most of the school were stressing about going back to school.
Gradually you will begin to enjoy it,but in the meantime eat healthy be sure to drink plenty ,do take regular excercise These thing do help.
When you are home from school,get your mind off your worries by enjoying a hobby you like .most of all try to switch off these negative thoughts about yourself,think about the good things you are experiencing at school.
Talk to someone you trust about your worries ,everyone has been through it,there is no shame.is there a welfare or school nurse you can talk to,That's what they are there for.

[gymdandee]

Poor nutrition and unhealthy eating habits can increase a student’s stress level, according to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. Foods that can increase stress levels in students include those that are high in fat, caffeine, sugar and refined carbohydrates, which is the case with many types of convenience, processed and fast foods. Examples of stress-inducing foods are sodas, energy drinks, donuts, candy bars, processed snack foods, white bread, and French fries. A healthy diet that helps to reduce stress includes foods that are low in fat and high in fiber and complex carbohydrates. Such foods include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and lean proteins.
Next time you’re at the end of your rope, unwrap a stick of gum. According to studies, chewing gum lowers anxiety and eases stress. Some researchers think the rhythmic act of chewing may improve blood flow to your brain, while others believe the smell and taste help you relax.
Certain scents like lavender may soothe. In one study, nurses who pinned small vials of lavender oil to their clothes felt their stress ease, while nurses who didn’t felt more stressed. Lavender may intensify the effect of some painkillers and anti-anxiety medications, so if you’re taking either, check with your doctor before use.
Music can help you calm down. In one study, people had lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol when they listened to a recording of Latin choral music before doing something stressful (like doing math out loud or giving a speech) than when they listened to a recording of rippling water.
Feeling less stressed is as close as your next breath. Focusing on your breath curbs your body’s “fight or flight” reaction to pressure or fear, and it pulls your attention away from negative thoughts. Sit comfortably in a quiet place. Breathe in slowly through your nose, letting your chest and lower belly rise and your abdomen expand. Breathe out just as slowly, repeating a word or phrase that helps you relax. To reap the most benefit, repeat for at least 10 minutes.
We all have a constant stream of thoughts running through our heads, and sometimes what we tell ourselves isn’t so nice. Staying positive and using compassionate self-talk will help you calm down and get a better grip on the situation. Talk to yourself in the same gentle, encouraging way you’d help a friend in need. “Everything will be OK,” for instance, or "I'll figure out how to handle this"
Righting down your thoughts can be a great emotional outlet. Once they're on paper, you can start working out a plan to resolve them. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer pen and notebook, a phone app, or a file on your laptop. The important thing is that you’re honest about your feelings.
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, seek out a friend. Have a friend who’s dealing with the same worries as you? Even more reason to open up. You'll both feel less alone.
When you work up a sweat, you improve your mood, clear your head, and take a break from whatever is stressing you out. Whether you like a long walk or an intense workout, you’ll feel better afterward.

[jemma116]

If you are having raised temperatures, it is likely that you may have a bacterial or viral infection and it may be worth making an appointment to see your doctor to rule this out.  

As you are having constant headaches with a raised temperature, you may have a sinus problem and steam inhalations will help to unblock any congestion that could be the cause of the headaches.  If your doctor suspects that it is a bacterial infection, he will prescribe you with a course of antibiotics.

For a steam inhalation, boil up a kettleful of water (taking care not to get scalded) and pour this into a bowl.  Put some Vick, olbas oil or some menthol drops into the hot water.  Bend your head over the bowl and cover your head and the bowl with a towel.  Breathe in the steam through your nose and out through your mouth.  It can be a little overpowering to begin with so you will probably find that you will need to get your head away from under the towel.  Do this for about 10 minutes or until you have had enough.  Another alternative is to put some of the oils I mentioned onto a handkerchief and breathe that.

For the stress situation and I presume it is that you have lots of work to do as well as homework, I suggest that you write a list to prioritise the things that require doing urgently and concentrate on that first.  If you plan things out, it may help you to deal with things better rather than to have it on your mind all the time and worry about it.

If you have a viral or bacterial infection, these things will make you feel unwell.  When we are unwell, we do not cope with things the way when we are fine.  

If there is problems with school work, you could discuss this privately with your class teacher to see if they can help you in any way or give you a time extension to complete a particular project.

Make sure that you have a good night's sleep, eat a healthy and well balanced diet and cut down on junk food, cakes and biscuits and lemonades.  Eat more fruit and vegetables and make sure that you drink plenty (milk,  water) so that you do not become dehydrated and get the minerals and vitamins your growing body needs.

Make time to enjoy yourself and have fun with your friends and other leisure pursuits that you enjoy.

Keep a diary of how you feel.  No doubt being 15 you will have menstrual cycles and you may find that about a week before you are due for a period you may get premenstrual symptoms, like mood swings, headaches, pain in your tummy or back.  This is all very normal.  Evening primrose oil supplements may help to lessen these symptoms as well as eating a healthy and well balanced diet and cutting out junk and processed foods.

First off, make an appointment to see your doctor to rule out any viral or bacterial infection.  If you are constantly tired also mention this to your doctor as it is not uncommon for young people to have anaemia (lack of iron in the blood).

wishing you all the best.