STRESS

NATURE OF STRESS & TYPES OF STRESS

In the PAST WEEK, have you felt...

STRAINED?
In the PAST WEEK, have you felt...

Swamped by
RESPONSIBILITIES?
In the PAST WEEK, have you felt...

The odds were

AGAINST you?
In the PAST WEEK, have you felt...

You COULDN’T
cope?
In the PAST WEEK, have you felt...

like just GIVING

UP?
STRESS
is the body’s response to anything that
makes us feel threatened or pressured. It
is caused by any kind of demand, to which
we must adapt, adjust, or respond. It is the
body’s automatic way of reacting to
changes, challenges, and demands placed
on us.
NATURE OF STRESS
Stress is not a factor that resides in the
individual or the environment, instead it is
embedded in an ongoing process that
involves individuals transacting with their
social and cultural environments.
TYPES OF
STRESS
Physical and Environmental
Psychological
Social
PHYSICAL & ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS
It demands that change the state of our body. We feel
strained when we overexert ourselves physically, lack a
nutritious diet, suffer an injury, or fail to get enough
sleep. Environmental stresses are aspects of our
surroundings that are often unavoidable such as air
pollution, crowding, noise, heat of the summer, winter
cold, etc. Another group of environmental stresses are
catastrophic events or disasters such as fire,
earthquake, floods, etc.
PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS
These are stresses that we generate ourselves
in our minds and are unique to the person
experiencing them. These are internal sources of
stress. Some of the important sources of
psychological stress are frustrations, conflicts,
internal and social pressures, etc. We worry
about problems, feel anxiety, or become
depressed.
SOCIAL STRESS
These are induced externally and result from our
interaction with other people. Social events like death or
illness in the family, strained relationships, trouble with
neighbors are some examples of social stresses. These
social stresses vary widely from person to person.
Attending parties may be stressful for a person who likes
to spend quiet evenings at home while an outgoing
person may find staying at home in the evenings
stressful.
Symptoms of
Stress
Emotional
Physical
Behavioral
EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS
becoming easily agitated, frustrated, and
moody
Feeling overwhelmed, like you are losing
control or need to take control.
Having difficulty relaxing and quieting your mind.
Low self-esteem, lonely, worthless, and
depressed.
Avoiding others.
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
Insomnia – lack of sleep
Low energy
Headaches
Nervousness and shaking, ringing in the ear,
cold or sweaty hands and feet
Upset stomach, including diarrhea,
constipation, and nausea
COGNITIVE SYMPTOMS
Forgetfulness and disorganisation.
Poor judgment
Racing thoughts
Inability to focus
Being pessimistic
Increased use of alcohol, smoke, and drugs.
Procrastinanting and Backlogging
THE IMPORTANCE
OF AFFIRMATION
Young people continue to venture self-discovery in
their adolescence, which can be both stressful and
anxiety-provoking. It is very important to guide them
in this transition stage (Australian Institute of
Professional Counselors, ND).
Affirmation through positive feedback will help a lot. We
have to see and appreciate the beauty of giving positive
feedback as our way to help each other cope with the
struggle of being an adolescent. In fact, feedback is
considered to be a vital discourse of effective learning.
Young people improve their self-confidence, self-
awareness, and enthusiasm about how he or she
behaves when favorably perceived by others.
OPEN AND CONSTRUCTIVE COMMUNICATION
WITH OTHER
It is an important step to self-awareness. It will help
students freely express their appreciation of their
classmates. It is as well a good avenue for students
to come up with reconciliation. Genuinė gestures of
affirmation that they appreciate, care and value
each other will strengthen their bond not just as
classmates but as good friends.
“Experiencing stress is
inevitable, but [if] managed
well, stress can promote
emotional and intellectual
growth and resilience as we
age,” says Johns Hopkins
stress management expert
Frances Callahan, LCSW-C.
“More smiling, less
worrying. More
compassion, less
judgment. More
blessed, less stressed.
More love, less hate.”
-Roy Bennett