Recognize Stress Resulting from Pressure
It can be very dangerous when pressure and expectations become overwhelming.  There are many links between intense stress and health problems like Anorexia and Bulimia, as well as mental health issues that can lead to suicide.  These are some trouble signs of depression, anxiety or stress:

• Sadness or extreme seriousness
• Pessimism, boredom and a lack of facial or vocal expression 
• Having a clingy personality or being very cold and rejecting comfort. 
• Extreme restlessness 
• A preference for repetitive and self-comforting activities done alone, instead of interacting with others 
• Continually complaining of aches and pains that are nonspecific. 
• Extremely confrontational, but typically feels like a victim in every situation
• Restlessness, agitation and tension (shown by chewing or picking at skin, or constantly rocking, especially a school age child)
• Poor sleeping habits

Take the Pressure Off of Yourself and Others
A study by professor, Dr. John Dunn, at the University of Alberta, found that unhealthy perfectionism (as a result of pressure from outside sources) was more common in certain types of people. College students were surveyed. Those who reported high personal standards, low perceived parental, teacher and coach pressure and with low concern over mistakes seemed the most well adjusted when it came to living up to expectations, and avoiding stress.

To take the pressure off yourself, just like them, by trying the following:

1. Praise yourself and others.  Try not to criticize unless it will be helpful and constructive.  Accept praise as easily as you believe criticism.  The negative stuff is always easier to believe, but that doesn’t make it true.  You are living up to expectations just by trying to achieve your goals.  The only way to fail is to quit.

2. Agree with your parents to keep rules simple and to a minimum.  Understand what they expect of you and what you need to do to accomplish it.  More things will get done if the number of tasks you must perform or the difficulty of being able to do what is expected does not overwhelm you.  Also, your parent, coach or teacher should know that you need a life outside of the scheduled tasks and goals that they want you to achieve.

3. Try to think of reasonable consequences, if the task does not get completed or the goal is not achieved.  This way, if you should fall short, you will not punish yourself or be punished by others too severely.  This will cut down on the amount of stress and pressure that you feel and will make it easier to focus on the goal.

4. Workouts help to work things out.  When you are exercising and your adrenaline is pumping, your mind will be clear and it will relieve pressure.  Thinking clearly will help you to reach your high goals and expectations.  Also, limit your caffeine intake to decrease anxiety.

5. Maintain perspective and a sense of humor.  Keep the mood light and you will breathe easier.

6. Be a good role model.  If someone else is looking to you to set a good example, then you will be more likely to live up to your expectations and the expectations of others.  Being a role model to someone is a huge inspiration for achieving what you are capable of.  Best of all, you will always have someone to remind you of your limitations and show you that people look up to you in spite of them.

7. Break down your tasks.  To make your load more manageable or to look at your goals in a less complicated way try to break down your upcoming project at work or school, the process of applying to colleges, or a household chore into a step-by-step plan.

Set Realistic Goals
You haven’t had the experience that the adults around you have had.  What seems insignificant to someone, who has been through the same thing, may be very upsetting and stressful to you.  He or she may also expect you to live up to your highest potential in every situation.

From time to time, there are outside factors that can affect your performance and keep you from doing your best.  Everyone goes through a time like this and it is completely normal.  But, when it comes to others, people often forget that these rough times exist.  Express your limitations and the concerns outside of the immediate task that you are facing.

Get others to understand them and the pressure will be released.  When the pressure is off, you should be able to live up to expectations.  In the meantime, set small goals on the way to a large goal that will prepare you for the pressure that may come and give you the motivation to see it through.  These little goals should be significant in what they accomplish (like a community service or being a mentor), but they should allow you to balance your work and play time.

No goal is realistic if it does not leave time for you to relax!