*

*is your body response to certain

situations.

*can help you act quickly in an emergency

or help you to meet a deadline.

*also can affect your physical and mental

health, as well as your behavior.

*
*
True or False

*
 All stress is bad.
False, stress reaction in the body
is designed to protect it from
dangerous situations and in small
amounts can increase
performance. It is too much
stress for too long that begins to
impact your mood, functioning
and relationships when you know
you are not managing stress very
well.
 There is nothing you can do
about stress, it happens and
you.
False, there are many ways to learn to
cope with and manage stress, as well
as decrease stress in your life. Basic
lifestyle changes including getting
enough sleep, eating well and regular
exercise can reduce stress and increase
your ability to deal with stress.
No one else has as much stress
as I do, that’s why I’m
overloaded.

False, everyone experiences stress,

some do experience more stress than
others, but it is your ability to manage
and cope with stress that determines
whether you control it, not the amount
of stress.
 Nothing bad can happen to me
from too much stress.
False, too much stress can negatively effect
concentration, problem solving, personal
interactions, and school performance. It
can also lead to physical and mental health
problems including headaches,
stomachaches, anxiety, depression, drug
use and aggression.
 Some amount of stress is
healthy as it can help people to
perform under pressure and
motivate people to do their best;
it can improve a person’s focus,
strength and stamina. Excessive or
long-term stress however can be
physically and mentally harmful.
 There are two types of stressors:
external events (such as conflict,
exams, lack of finances or security, loss,
accidents), and internal events, where
we are able to cause stress to ourselves
by using self-talk like ‘I can’t do this’ or
‘I will look stupid’.
 Stress affects the mind,
body and behavior in many
ways, and everyone experiences
stress differently.
*Signs of stress might include
feeling:
• hostile, angry or irritable
• anxious
• like avoiding people
• moody or frustrated with
things that normally don’t
bother you
• worthless or doubting your
abilities.
*While physical symptoms of
stress might include:
• upset stomach, diarrhea or
indigestion
• headache
• backache
• having a hard time sleeping
• eating more or less than normal
• raised heart rate.
*To promote a healthy approach to dealing with
stress young people benefit from:
• a strong network of supportive friends and
family members
• learning to take control of how they think
about a situation
• a realistic and optimistic attitude and
outlook that accepts challenges as part of life
and sees the funny side of things
• an ability to recognize and deal with
emotions using stress management and
relaxation strategies
• understanding what is going on.
 The more information a
young person has about a
situation, how long it will
last, why it has occurred and
what to expect etc., the
easier it is to cope.
 Improving a young person’s ability
to manage stress also means helping
them to develop their sense of control.
When young people think they lack
control over events in their life they
can feel frustrated, stressed, angry or
overwhelmed. While these reactions
are normal, they don’t help change the
situation – worse, they can be harmful,
both physically and psychologically.
 So, it is very important that young
people realize that while they can’t
control all of the events in their life,
they can control the way they respond
to those events. Young people can
choose how they interpret or think
about events, and this in turn helps
them control how they feel about
them, and consequently make clear
decisions about what actions they take.
 Stress is a normal part of life;
everyone experiences it at some time.
The signs of stress are different for
everyone; as are the triggers for
excessive stress. Excessive or long-term
stress can be physically and mentally
harmful. Your sense of control is your
realistic belief that you have the skills
and ability to cope with the changes
and challenges that will occur in your
life.
 In other words, sense of
control involves young people
taking command of how they think
about the things that happen to
them, which can make them feel
more empowered to deal with
life’s challenges.
*A sense of self-control helps a young person
to:
• speak helpfully to themselves
• have realistic expectations (for themselves
and for others)
• identify and manage emotions
• address problems as they arise
• use relaxation techniques and schedule in
enjoyable activities
• use humour to deal with difficult situations
• seek help when they need it.
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.
Find time to do the things you enjoy.
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.
Keep something humorous on hand, such as a book of jokes.
*What are your
personal ways
in dealing
stress?