UNIT 5:

Encountering
Stress as Part of
Adolescence
“It’s not stress that kills us; it’s
our reaction to it.”

- Hans Selye
They say that growing up as an
adolescent is one of the best years in
a person’s life. To some extent, it can
be true but not without much effort
on being able to handle the changes
and challenges that come with it.
Stress is part of your life, and it
cannot be avoided or ignored.
Knowing how to deal with it will make
you stronger and more able to face
your years as an adult in the future.
Learning Targets
In this unit, you should be able to:

● discuss that understanding stress and its sources

during adolescence may

help in identifying ways to cope and have a healthful

life;

● identify sources of one’s stress and illustrate the

effect of stress on one’s

system; and

● demonstrate personal ways of coping with stress for

healthful living.
Lesson 1:
Sources of
Stress and
Its Effects
One would commonly hear adults say that you have
nothing to be stressed about at this age since you
are young and have not faced the harsh realities of
the world. However, studies show that you at this
age experience stress patterned to those of adults.
You face many challenges that may have long-term
effects if not acknowledged and understood well.
What are your
sources of stress?
Jumpstart
Recall one of the most stressful situations you have ever
experienced. Think about what made it very stressful. What
made you say you were under stress? What did you do
when you were in this situation? What have you become
and what have you learned about yourself after the
experience?
Share your experience with the class. Why do you feel stress
even at a young age?
Stress
Stress, as defined by Selye, is the non-specific
response of the body to any demand. It is your body’s
reaction to certain pressure or challenge or situation
– whether physical, mental or emotional. This
stimulus that triggers the body to respond is called a
stressor.
 Stress is positive or helpful when your response
to a stimulus is that one which makes you more
alert, more productive and more motivated. In
some cases, stress heightens your senses and
increases your strength and stamina which can
then allow you to “fight or flee” from potential
dangers to keep yourself from harm.
 When stress pushes you to rise to a challenge,
you become more focused, more energetic, and
even more efficient and creative. When you can
accomplish a task due to this positive stress,
you become more confident in facing future
stressful situations that you may encounter.
PAUSE FOR A THOUGHT

What situation do you consider as

positive stress? as negative stress?
Are you aware of your tipping point
when it comes to stress?
Kinds of Stress
Acute - most common and short-term only.
Episodic Acute - persistent acute stress.
Chronic - most damaging type with long-
term effects.
Adolescence is a period that is marked by
many challenges and changes. It is no
surprise then that you may encounter
stress as you cope and try to get through
these difficulties. Stress is an undeniable
part of your growing up years.
Prefrontal Cortex
is the part of the brain that is known for its functions
in decision-making, being able to adapt and be
flexible to new situations, making judgments,
organizing and planning, goal-setting, and controlling
impulses.
Sources of Adolescent’s Stress
1.Social Pressures.
2.Family Pressure.
3.Academic Pressure.
4.Self-Doubt.
Lesson 2:
Coping
Techniques
You face a lot of stress on a daily basis as part of
growing up. Understanding why it happens and what
causes it is just half of the battle. The more crucial
part of the process is to know how to manage it
effectively to be able to get through it and deal with
stressful situations successfully in the future. How
can you cope with the stress you encounter?
 Long-Term Effects of Stress
Musculoskeletal System. When your body encounters stress, the common reflex is for
muscles to tighten up and feel tense. Once the stressful situation is overcome, the muscles
then relax and go back to its original state.
Respiratory System. It is common for a person under stress to experience difficulty in
breathing. It can sometimes trigger asthma or panic attacks. However, constant exposure to a
stressful situation can worsen lung problems.
Cardiovascular System. Under stress, your heart rate increases, as well as your blood
pressure and levels of stress hormones. However, if you continuously experiences constant
stress, your coronary arteries may swell which can lead to a heart attack.
Endocrine System. The brain produces the hormone cortisol and the adrenal glands near the
kidneys produce epinephrine as a response to stress. When this happens, the liver produces
more glucose (blood sugar) for energy, to help you react to the stress.
Digestive System. People under stress may experience an increase
in appetite or a loss of it. If continuously exposed to stress, this may
eventually lead to obesity or its extreme, which is malnutrition.
Reproductive System. Continuous stress may harm the male
reproductive system by affecting the testosterone and sperm
production which may eventually cause impotence or erectile
dysfunction.
Other Physical Problems. In general, the constant presence of
stress does not benefit you. Aside from worsening skin conditions,
hair loss and a yet-to-be-proven vulnerability to cancer, chronic
stress also take a toll on your immune system.
 Coping Strategies
Manage your time. The feeling of being overwhelmed with tasks can be addressed by
managing your time wisely. One must learn to set goals, standards, and limits when planning
your days and weeks.
Talk it out. When you are feeling at a loss or overwhelmed with life, it is always best to let it
out and talk to someone you can trust and who you know can give you sound advice.
Laugh. Enjoy yourself and have a good laugh. Studies have shown that laughter relieves stress
by stimulating your organs, soothing tension in your body and just making you feel relaxed all
over.
Rest. Learn to listen to your body and give it the rest it needs. Take a break because you need
it. Sleep allows you to recharge and gives you a better chance at accomplishing your goals
because you can function well.
Move. Exercise not only takes your mind of stress, but it also gives you a positive feeling all
over.
Be positive. Dealing with stress is mostly an internal battle, and so it
is important to train yourself to think positively. It can be a matter of
perspective at times, which means that one must try to see the good
things in challenging situations.
Meditate. Studies have shown that meditating at the beginning,
during, and at the end of the day have positive results in helping you
manage stress.