STRESS
Stress is the response of the
body and mind to unpleasant
or challenging events in life. It
is when you feel tensed,
uncomfortable, or worried
about something.
The imbalance between
the demand from the
environment and the
person’s ability to cope can
trigger feelings of anxiety.
Stress is not always a negative experience
as most people think, it can be also positive.
Positive stress or also known as eustress
promotes growth and accomplishments; it
motivates you to continue working. Stress in
negative situations, which we often associate
with the word “stress”, is distress or the
negative stress.
The cause of stress is called
stressor. Stressors are situations,
which make you feel worried or
anxious. When people talk about
“stress” in life, in reality, they talk
about stressors. Stressors lead to the
body’s stress response.
Stress affects our
health and can be
classified as acute,
cumulative, or chronic.
Acute Stress – is the most
common form, arises from
recent, past, and foreseen
difficulties. It occurs briefly
and appears in bit of thrill.
Cumulative Stress – is a
series of stress that has built
up. Several individuals
ignore the signs early and
end up accumulating them.
Chronic Stress – is a form of
stress that is recurring. It is a
prolonged stress that is
dangerous and can lead to
severe health problems.
STRESSORS
Physical Major life Everyday
surroundings challenges problems
1. Major Life Changes
Most stressors are major life
challenges, especially those affect
family and school life. These
stressful changes threaten one’s
sense of security and self-esteem.
2. Everyday Problems
The minor but frequent everyday
events that cause stress are sometimes
called “hassles”. These stressors can
be losing something, concerns of how
you look and what to wear, or
multitasking.
3. Physical Surroundings
Crowded transportation going to school or
workplace, street walks with foul odors, or
unbearable weather conditions when you
go out are stressors from you surroundings.
Also, experiencing catastrophes like flash
floods, fires, earthquakes, and other
disasters are very stressful to people.
OTHER STRESSORS FOR
ADOLESCENT
1. Deciding for the future
2. Tensions in conflict and disagreements
with members of the family, friends, and
other people
3. Exams, stage performances, auditions,
and tryouts
WHICH OF THESE COMMON REACTIONS
DO YOU EXPERIENCE DURING STRESSFUL
SITUATIONS?
Emotional Signs Behavioral Signs
Physical Signs • Anger • Loss of appetite
• Muscle tension • Irritability • Overeating
• Impatience
• Headache • Drug abuse
• Nervousness
• Pounding heart • Sleep problems
• Forgetfulness
• Shortness of breath • Inability to concentrate • Restlessness
• Increased sweating • Negative thinking • Hurrying and
• Dry mouth • Excessive worrying talking too fast
• Skin rash • Loss of interest • Criticizing others
• Grinding teeth • Self-criticism • Reckless behavior
• Nail biting • Increased crying • Fidgeting
THE GENERAL ADAPTATION
SYNDROME
Once a person senses a stressor,
his/her body goes through the
following stages of General Adaptation
Syndrome (GAS), a theory developed
by Austrian – Canadian Hans Selye.
1. Alarm Stage is the phase
where the brain deciphers
the distress and instantly
deals with it. This is also
known as “fight or flight.”
2. Resistance Stage is the
process where the stress is
being resolved after meeting
its demands then the body
goes back to normal
afterward.
3. Exhaustion Stage develops when
stress recurs until becomes chronic
and reaches this final stage. Stress
level peaks and plateaus then
develop health risks that cause high
blood pressure, stomach, and heart
problems.
HOW CAN STRESS BE
MANAGED?
1. Manage stressors. An important
approach to minimize stress is to
lessen stressors. Stressors cannot
be eliminated but it can be
avoided.
HOW CAN STRESS BE
MANAGED?
2. Rest and sleep. A very helpful
way of reducing stress and
relieving tension is having a good
amount of rest and sleep.
HOW CAN STRESS BE
MANAGED?
3. Exercise. Exercising naturally
relieves the body from the effects of
stress. Exercise has also been known to
help secrete feel-good hormones
called endorphins, which help the
body relax.
HOW CAN STRESS BE
MANAGED?
4. Use relaxation methods in
coping with stress. Numerous
types of relaxation methods can
be done to counter the adverse
effects of stress.
COUNTERPRODUCTIVE
COPING STRATEGIES
Coping is defined as the
“capacity to respond and
recover from something
stressful” (WHO 1999).
Coping is the conscious
response to psychological
stress in an attempt to
balance mental and
emotional conditions.
People use various
coping styles to counter
stress but its effectiveness
depends on the situation
and the individual.
Coping can be adaptive or
maladaptive. Adaptive coping involves
direct confrontation and prevention
of stress while maladaptive coping is a
counterproductive mechanism that
includes the use of alcohol and drugs.
Here are some specific coping strategies
that you can adopt:
1. Humor. Look at the funny side of a
problem.
2. Seek support. In the course of a
stressful event, support from family
or friends keep emotional health
balance.
3. Problem-solving. It is a helpful
mechanism that aims to pinpoint the
source of the problem and determine
solutions.
4. Relaxation. Unwinding events or
calming skills help manage stress and
enhance overall coping.
5. Physical recreation. Regular exercises
like yoga, meditation, and muscle
relaxation are helpful in handling stress.
6. Adjusting expectations. Accepting
different results of situations in life may
help in adjusting the stress associated
with any given change or outcome.
7. Venting. An expressing-type of
coping technique by voicing out
strong sentiments with friends or
family. Moderate venting can be
beneficial but pondering the negative
may end up to edgy relations over
time.
