PerDev.-Lesson-5

Unit 2: Aspects of Personal Development

Lesson 5: Coping with Stress in Middle and Late Adolescence

Understanding Stress

• Definition: Body's way of reacting to any demand or challenge.

• Types of Stress:

  • Eustress:

    • Positive stress that motivates individuals to continue working toward goals.

  • Distress:

    • Negative stress that occurs when challenges become overwhelming.

Stressors

• Definition: Anything that makes a person feel worried or anxious; the source of stress.

Types of Stressors

1. State of overload:

   • Occurs when the individual can no longer adapt to stressors.

2. Incompatible tendencies:

   • Conflicting emotions or goals that create stress.

3. Uncontrollable stressors:

   • Situations beyond an individual's control.

Categories of Stressors

1. Physical Stressors:

   • Example: Crowding, isolation, pollutants, or toxic elements in the environment.

2. Psychological Stressors:

   • One's mental and emotional reactivity, inner thoughts, and feelings.

3. Catalysmic Events:

   • Sudden stressors that impact a large number of people.

   • Examples:

     • Natural disasters (typhoons, earthquakes).

     • Man-made troubles (terrorist attacks, wars).

4. Personal Stressors:

   • Any event causing stress to the individual, which can be positive (starting school) or negative (death of a loved one).

5. Background Stressors:

   • Daily hassles like waking up early or dealing with everyday noise.

Mental Health Problems

1. Depression

• Emotional disorder characterized by negativity about oneself.

• Related factors include:

  • Poor self-image and body image.

  • Parental separation or unavailability.

  • Peer rejection.

2. Eating Disorders

• Associated with significant weight loss and negative body perception.

  • Anorexia Nervosa:

    • Intense fear of gaining weight; persistence in becoming thin.

  • Bulimia Nervosa:

    • Involves binge eating followed by purging methods (vomiting, laxatives).

3. Anxiety

• Excessive worrying about future events, manifesting into various disorders.

  • Types of Anxiety Disorders:

    • Separation Anxiety Disorder:

      • Common in children when separated from parents; fear of harm coming to parents.

    • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD):

      • Symptoms include tense muscles, trouble sleeping, and fatigue.

    • Social Phobia:

      • Characterized by sweating, blushing, and sensitivity to criticism.

    • Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

      • Involves obsessions (intrusive thoughts) and compulsions (rituals).

    • Panic Disorder:

      • Symptoms include intense fear, difficulty breathing, and dizziness.

    • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):

      • Features include hypervigilance and nightmares.

Sources of Teenage Stress

• School pressure and career decisions.

• Issues with dating and friendships.

• Social pressures, family conflicts, and crammed schedules.

Different Types of Stress

1. Acute Stress:

   • Most common and short-term stress.

   • Symptoms include emotional distress and muscular problems.

2. Episodic Acute Stress:

   • Frequent episodes of acute stress; characterized by a constant state of rush or irritability.

3. Chronic Stress:

   • Long-term stress that can destroy mental and physical health; linked to feelings of hopelessness and severe health outcomes.

Signs an Adolescent is Overloaded

• Increased headaches, stomachaches, and muscle pain.

• Withdrawal from social interactions and activities.

• Heightened irritability and emotional responses.

• Changes in eating and sleeping habits; difficulties in concentration.

How to Cope with Stress

Coping Mechanisms

• Definition: Making efforts to manage or tolerate challenges leading to stress.

  • Problem-Focused Coping:

    • Altering the situation to reduce stress (e.g., seeking help for academic issues).

  • Emotion-Focused Coping:

    • Regulating emotions and maintaining a positive outlook (e.g., recognizing true friends).

  • Defensive Coping:

    • Distorting reality to deny stressors (e.g., minimizing the impact of poor grades).

Healthy Ways to Deal with Stress

• Talk It Out:

  • Reach out to trusted individuals for support.

• Positive Self-Talk:

  • Use affirmations to calm and control stress.

• Balance Life:

  • Prioritize school but also schedule time for enjoyment.

• Physical Activity:

  • Engage in daily exercise as a stress reliever.

• Focus on Changeable Factors:

  • Take control of situations you can influence.

• Set Boundaries:

  • Avoid overcommitting and learn to say no.