COPING WITH STRESS IN MIDDLE Unit 2 Lesson 1

AND LATE ADOLESCENCE

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:
Discuss that understanding stress and its sources during
adolescence may help in identifying ways to cope and have a
healthy life;
Identify sources of one’s stresses and illustrate the effects of
stress on one’s system; and
Demonstrate personal ways of coping with stress for healthful
living.
STRESS
defined as a reaction of the mind and body to a
stimulus that disturbs the well-being, state of calm,
or equilibrium of a person
WORDS ASSOCIATED TO STRESS
 Anxiety
 Pressure Potential Result of prolonged
and Unmanaged Stress
 Misery
Devastating
 Strain Burnout
 Desperation Breakdown
 Tension Depression
 Anger
 Panic
 Dejection
GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME
This states that a body under stress generally undergoes
response stages: Alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
Alarm happens when the individual recognizes the threat
Resistance is when the person desires either to confront the
stressor known as ‘Fight’ or to run away from the stressor ‘Flight’
Exhaustion is where body’s resources will be depleted
SOME STRESSORS INCLUDE THE
FOLLOWING:
1. Illness in the family
2. Loss of a loved one
3. Quitting school
4. Divorce/separation
5. Failing in school
6. Getting into trouble
7. Sibling rivalry
8. Hunger
9. Financial constraints
 TYPES OF STRESS
Eustress Distress
•Positive Stress •Negative Stress
RESPONSES OF THE BODY TO EXTREME
EMOTIONS AND STRESS OVERLOAD
Physical Impact
Health Problems
Cognitive Symptoms
Emotional symptoms
Behavioral symptoms
PHYSICAL IMPACT
Increase in the rate and Butterflies in one’s stomach
depth of breathing
Goosebumps
Blood becomes more
concentrated Cold sweat
Heart and pulse rate Dry mouth
increases Adrenaline rush
Senses become extremely
keen
COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS
1. Memory problems
2. Inability to concentrate
3. Poor judgment
4. Seeing only the negative
5. Anxious or racing thoughts
6. Constant worrying
HEALTH PROBLEMS
1. Pain of any kind 6. Weight problems
2. Heart disease 7. Auto immune diseases
3. Digestive problems 8. Skin conditions (eczema)
4. Sleep problems
5. Depression
EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS
1. Moodiness
2. Irritability or short temper
3. Agitation, inability to relax
4. Feeling overwhelmed
5. Sense of loneliness and isolation
6. Depression or general unhappiness
 BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS
1. Eating more or less
2. Sleeping too much or too little
3. Isolating yourself from others
4. Procrastinating or neglecting responsibilities
5. Using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax
6. Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)
WAYS OF COPING
Aggressive Reaction
Withdrawal Reaction
Compromise Reaction
1. AGGRESSIVE REACTION
This is a response to a certain stimulus in a harmful
or unpleasant manner.
The act has the intent of hurting or causing pain to
something or someone else.
It can be verbal or through the use of words or
non-verbal through assault on a person or his
possession.
DISPLACED AGGRESSION
directing the aggressive act towards another person or to
the objects that is causing the stress or maybe the cause of
frustration
SCAPEGOATING
is an aggressive behavior where one blames another
person or objects for his failures or fault
FREE-FLOATING ANGER
an aggressive response which is prolonged as a sign of
extreme anger
SUICIDE
an aggressive response which is
self-destructive as a result of hatred
on oneself or to another which
resulted to extreme frustration, an
aggression that is directed to the self
2. WITHDRAWAL REACTION
This response to stress involves the use of defense
mechanisms which subsequently protects the ego or
the self from further pain usually caused by those
significant people surrounding an individual.
DENIAL
refusing to accept an external reality to protect
the self, an unconscious way to resolve emotional
conflict.
DISPLACEMENT
shifting one’s aggression towards
something or someone that is a lot
weaker and uncompromising
INTELLECTUALIZATION
use of reasoning to effectively avoid confrontation
with an emotional stress thereby protecting the self
REGRESSION
in the face of hurts, we use an ‘imagined time
machine’ to revert to a more pleasant past where
we are more safe and secure
REPRESSION/SUPRESSION
defense mechanisms where
one pushes the unwanted
thoughts onto the unconscious
which however may manifests
in the future unknowingly
FANTASY
utilizing imagination as a way to
escape from life’s real problems and
stress
REACTION FORMATION
a defense mechanism in
which unacceptable
emotions are being
replaced by its opposite to
prevent rejection from
others
RATIONALIZATION
providing a logical justification for a decision made or
an act earlier performed to make an excuse for a
mistake or erratic decision done thereby preventing
ridicule from others
PROJECTION
attributing one’s fault or negative emotions onto
others to express the sentiment though not
recognizing it
SUBLIMATION
refocusing or rechanneling
one’s energy to something
more acceptable and
productive
3. COMPROMISE REACTION
a strategy to resolve an emotional stressor by
devising ways to achieve a better state for both
parties involved.
It may possibly lead to acceptance that may result
to peaceful co-existence.
KEEP STRESS UNDER CONTROL
o UNDERSTAND the CAUSES of STRESS
o ANALYZE your STRESS FACTORS and WRITE them down
o DEAL with the STRESSORS
o LEARN to WORK UNDER PRESSURE or UNUSUAL CONDITIONS
 TIPS TO DO WHEN UNDER PRESSURE
o Stop for a moment and take a few deep breaths
o DO a relaxing exercise. Swing your hands at your sides and stretch
o Take a “power nap.” Lie down and totally relax for a few minutes
o Find time to do things you enjoy
o Leave your study area for a while to take a brisk walk
o Find a quiet place to read a magazine or novel during break or at lunch
o If possible, look at some peaceful images such as forest, beaches, and
others. These images can initiate a relaxation response
o Look up
o Keep something humorous on hand such as a book of jokes.