Understanding Stressors and Coping Mechanisms in Teens

Stress

Natural response to pressure from challenges.

Stressors

Stimuli causing feelings of stress.

Eustress

Positive stress that motivates and focuses energy.

Distress

Negative stress causing anxiety and concern.

Acute Stressors

Immediate threats or pressures causing stress.

Chronic Stressors

Long-term stress from ongoing challenges.

Episodic Stressors

Frequent acute stress episodes.

Mental Disorders

Conditions affecting mental health, prevalent in teens.

Depression

Leading cause of illness among adolescents.

Anxiety Disorders

Common mental health issues in teenagers.

Behavioral Disorders

Disruptive behaviors impacting daily functioning.

Suicide

Fourth leading cause of death in 15-19 year-olds.

Healthy Sleep Patterns

Regular sleep habits promoting mental well-being.

Coping Skills

Strategies to manage stress and emotions.

Problem-Solving Skills

Abilities to find solutions to challenges.

Interpersonal Skills

Skills for effective communication and relationships.

Protective Environments

Supportive settings promoting mental health.

American Psychological Association

Conducted survey on teen stress levels.

World Health Organization

Reported on global adolescent mental health issues.

Physical Sensations

Bodily responses contributing to stress perception.

Social Resources

Support systems available to individuals.

Lazarus' Definition of Stress

Perception of demands exceeding available resources.

Episodic Stress

Frequent disturbances causing constant worry and confusion.

Chronic Stress

Long-lasting stress from unresolved difficult circumstances.

Fight or Flight Response

Physiological reaction to perceived threats or stress.

Physiological Arousal

Physical symptoms like headaches and hypertension.

Defense Mechanisms

Psychological strategies to protect against anxiety.

Compensation

Overachieving in one area to offset failures elsewhere.

Denial

Refusal to acknowledge reality to avoid anxiety.

Displacement

Redirecting feelings to a substitute target.

Introjection

Internalizing others' standards and beliefs.

Projection

Attributing one's own thoughts to others.

Rationalization

Justifying unacceptable behavior with logical explanations.

Reaction Formation

Expressing opposite feelings to hide true emotions.

Regression

Reverting to earlier developmental stages under stress.

Suppression

Consciously avoiding thoughts of unpleasant memories.

Repression

Unconsciously blocking unpleasant thoughts from awareness.

Sublimation

Transforming unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable actions.

PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from traumatic experiences.

Health Concerns

Issues affecting physical well-being and stress levels.

Relationship Problems

Difficulties in personal relationships causing stress.

Money Problems

Financial issues leading to chronic stress.

Family Problems

Conflicts within family contributing to stress.

Traumatic Events

Significant incidents causing long-term psychological effects.

Altruism

Goodwill act satisfying internal needs through helping others.

Conversion

Anxiety transformed into physical complaints like paralysis.

Fantasy

Creating a make-believe world instead of reality.

Humor

Finding funny aspects to endure uncontrollable situations.

Humility

Lowering self-importance and focusing on others.

Intellectualization

Viewing emotionally charged issues in cold, rational terms.

Coping

Efforts to manage or endure stressors effectively.

Problem-focused coping

Strategies aimed at altering the stress-causing problem.

Emotion-focused coping

Regulating emotional responses to stressors instead of altering them.

Avoidance strategies

Avoiding stress by withdrawing or engaging in distractions.

Task-oriented strategy

Immediate actions taken to improve stressful situations.

Emotion regulation

Alleviating emotional distress related to stressors.

Reframing

Changing perception of issues to reduce negative emotions.

Strong faith

Belief in God providing emotional support during stress.

Sense of self-worth

Personal value aiding in emotional coping.

Gardening

Activity used to avoid stressful situations.

Listening to music

Distraction technique to cope with stress.

Watching drama series

Engaging in entertainment to escape stress.

Coping mechanisms

Unconscious strategies used to manage stress.

Folkman and Moskowitz

Defined coping as managing emotional and stress responses.

Lazarus and Folkman

Distinguished problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies.

Avoidance coping

Withdrawing from stressors instead of confronting them.