Coping with Stress in Middle
and Late Adolescence
Modul
e5
One of the Webster's definitions
describes it as an,
"Emotional factor that causes bodily or
mental tension."
A practical way of defining stress is
the feeling one gets from prolonged,
pent-up emotions. If the emotions you
experience are pleasant and desirable
- joy. Elation, ecstasy, delight you
usually feel free to let them show.
A practical way of defining
stress is the feeling one gets
from prolonged, pent-up
emotions. If the emotions
you experience are pleasant
and desirable - joy. elation,
ecstasy, delight you usually
They are not suppressed.
Therefore, positive emotions do
not usually cause stress. Negative
emotions, on the other hand, are
more often held inside. They are
hidden. You suffer quietly and you
experience stress. Do not confuse
positive situations with positive
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF
STRESS
Just as there is great variety in the
range of emotions you might
experience, there are many
possible manifestations of stress in
your private life and in your
working life. Here are some words
that describe the emotions
associated (as cause and effect)
with stress.
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF
STRESS
Anxiety Desperation
Pressure Tention
Misery Anger
Strain Panic
Dejection
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF
STRESS
Prolonged stress can be devastating;
burnout, breakdown, and depression
are some of the potential results of
long-term, unmanaged stress. By
wearing a mask, you may expect to hide
stress caused by problems in your
personal life and not let them influence
your performance on the job. This will
probably not work. The more you try to
hold your emotions in, the greater the
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF STRESS
Here are the meanings of the words
you listed, explained in a simple
way:
Anxiety: A feeling of worry, nervousness,
or unease, often about something that
might happen in the future.
Pressure: A feeling of being weighed
down or burdened, like there are too
many things to do or too much
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF STRESS
Misery: A state of great unhappiness
or suffering.
Strain: A feeling of being stretched
thin or overloaded, like you're trying
to do too much at once.
Desperation: A feeling of hopelessness
and a strong need for something, often
when you feel like there's no other
option.
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF STRESS
Tension: A feeling of tightness or
stress, often in your muscles or your
mind.
Anger: A strong feeling of
displeasure or hostility, often
caused by something unfair or
frustrating.
CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF STRESS
Panic: A sudden feeling of intense
fear or anxiety, often accompanied
by physical symptoms like a racing
heart or difficulty breathing.
Dejection: A feeling of
sadness or discouragement,
often after a disappointment
EVERY DAY FRUSTRATION
CAUSE STRESS BUILD-UP
A series of stressful and frustrating
experiences throughout the day can
cause you to lie awake at night in an
emotional turmoil - unable to get needed
rest. You face the next day with less
emotional and physical stamina. After
another stressful day and another night
without rest, you may have even less
emotional strength and stability.
PROBLEMS IN OUR PERSONAL LIFE
CAN BE DEVASTATING
Surviving the normal, everyday stress described
above can be difficult. But far more serious and
painful circumstances can create long-term stress.
More serious stressful circumstances may include
separation from loved ones, personal illness, or
illness of a loved one, death of someone you care
about, or conflict with a spouse or close friend.
Other major causes of stress are problems with
drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, care of
children and elderly relatives, chronic mental
PROBLEMS IN OUR PERSONAL LIFE
CAN BE DEVASTATING
Managing your personal finances can be another
stressful experience. This can be a problem no
matter what your income level, but it is especially
difficult if you must support a family and do not
earn enough to live comfortably. Unpaid bills,
unwise use of credit, and budget limitations can
make life difficult.
A COMMON CAUSE OF STRESS IS DEALING
WITH LIFE'S TRANSITIONS
This is especially true when a person must cope with too
many transitions all at once. For example, Ellen has just
completed a program in fashion merchandising. She is eager
to get started on her new job. Her mother is ill and requires
care. Her father died a few months ago. Ellen's new job
requires that she relocate to a town 100 miles from home.
The move, a new career, and a change in family relationships
may cause excessive stress for her. Too many changes have
arrived at the same time.
STRESS
RESPONSE
Your stress response is the collection of
physiological changes that occur when you face a
perceived threat when you face situations where
you feel the demands outweigh your resources to
successfully cope. These situations are known as
stressors.
When your stress response is triggered, a series of
changes occur within your body. They include:
Redirection of blood away from extremities and
• The release of cortisol and other hormones,
which bring other short- and long-term
changes.
The stress response is intended to give you a
burst of energy so you're able to fight off
attackers or run away from them effectively.
This helped our ancestors, who faced
numerous physical threats, to stay safe.
However, now our threats tend to be less
physical and more associated with our way
of life-a challenge to our status, a demand
for performance, etc. In addition to giving
us a set of changes that may not match our
needs as well (it might be more effective
for us to have a burst of mental clarity or
wisdom than a burst of physical strength,
for example), the stress response can
actually cause harm if it leads to a state of
chronic stress that is, if our stress response
is triggered, and then our body doesn't go
back to its normal state via the relaxation
response.
KEEP STRESS UNDER
There are many effective ways to handle stress.
CONTROL
Of course, you can't avoid stress-in fact, you
wouldn't want to avoid all stress, because you'd
never grow. However, you can manage your life
so that you survive the emotional down times
without allowing stress to engulf you. Also, you
can work to eliminate controllable stress
factors, such as running late or not getting
enough sleep. But when stress is constant or too
great, your wisest option is to find ways to
reduce or control it. You need not, and should
not, live your life in emotional stress and
Deal with the
Develop Stressors
techniques to deal with the causes of
stress. The longer you avoid dealing with the
stress factors, the more the stress will build up. If
tension comes because you have put off an
unfinished task, restructure your priorities so you
can get the task that you have been avoiding out
of the way and off your mind.
Learn to Work under Pressure or Unusual
Conditions
When you can't reduce the stressors, you need to
manage your stress response. Almost everyone, at
least at some point, has to meet deadlines, keep
several jobs going at once, resolve problems that
come up, and do extra work when necessary.
However, when the pressure mounts, you can
relieve it. Relaxation is key-but most people must
train themselves to relax when the pressure is on.
Some tips to relax when
under pressure are the
following:
• Stop for a moment (especially when you feel your
muscles tightening up) and take a few deep breaths.
•Do a relaxing exercise. Swing your hands at your sides
and stretch.
•Take a "power nap." Lie down and totally relax for a
few minutes.
Some tips to relax when under
pressure are the following:
•Leave your study area for a while to take a brisk walk.
•Find a quiet place to read a magazine or novel during
break or at lunch.
•If possible, look at some peaceful images such as
forests, beaches, etc.
•These images can initiate a relaxation response.
•Look up.
“By implementing proper
stress management
techniques, we can
maintain emotional and
physical balance to live a
healthier, happier life.”
THANK YOU
