OUR LADY OF FATIMA ACADEMY

DAO, CAPIZ
LEARNING MODULE IN PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
2nd Semester-4th QUARTER –MODULE 2
GRADE 11 ST. THOMAS

COPING WITH STRESS IN MIDDLE AND LATE ADOLESCENCE

Defining Stress
Stress is defined as a reaction of the mind and body to a stimulus that disturbs the well-being, state of
calm, or equilibrium of a person. There is a common belief that stress is unhealthy, but discussions among
experts conclude that this is not entirely the case.
There are several points of view about stress.
Stress as Stimulus, Response, and Relational
Aside from the being a reaction (or response), stress is also a stimulus, as well as a relational condition
between persons and the situations they are in (Feist and Rosenberg 2012)
As a stimulus, stress is caused by situations that may be life threatening or life changing, such as
separation, moving into a new home, or having a new job. These situations or events are often called stressors.
Stress as a response is the way the body reacts to challenging situations. This involves the interactions
between the hormones, glands, and nervous system where the adrenal gland drives the production of cortisol or
better known as “stress hormone”. Another response of the body similar to the production of cortisol is the
release of a substance called norepinephrine, which triggers the body’s reaction, such as an increased heart
rate, higher blood pressure, and respiration, to prepare the body for action.
Stress as relational is when a person experiencing stress takes a step back to look at the situation that is
causing the stress, and assesses it. Assessment there means that when the person allows reasoning to prevail and
weigh the relevance or irrelevance of the situation. If the relevance is positive, the person will look at the
situation in a more positive light. If the relevance is negative, this will produce negative emotions that may
lead to stress.
Healthy Stress
Stress that is short and sporadic can propel a person to a necessary action. These type of stress can
motivate, energize, and spur an individual into fruitful action.
Bad Stress can be transformed into good stress depending on how an individual assesses the situation.

Know Your Stressors

External stressors are those that come outside of you like situations, people, and experiences. Internal
stressors are those coming from within you, like thoughts that you have that caused you to feel fearful,
uncertainties about the future, lack of control over situations, and even your personal beliefs, which include
your own expectations.
Here are some samples of possible stressors a high school student faces:
School Demand and Expectations
Quizzes and tests, home works and projects, oral recitation, quarterly and final exams, and grades most
especially, epitomize the kind of stressors adolescents have when it comes to studying.
Selecting a School, College Course, or Career
A high school student who just graduated faces more demanding challenges, and the first of these are the
entrance exams to whatever school or university, and the course that they will choose. Deciding on what course
to take up in college is another stressor that is similar to taking examination.
Separation Anxiety
High school graduation, to some, means a temporary ending or separation from some of their friends.
There is a possible scenario that a best friend might move to another place to study or move to another school.
College Life
The prospect of being by themselves in a new school in college and meeting and adjusting to new people
is another cause of stress for graduating senior students. The unfamiliarity of a new environment can bring
stress to adolescents as they set their foot in college.
Romantic Relationship or the Lack of It
Adolescents have a tendency to feel awkward when they are not in a special relationship with someone.
Somehow, having an intimate relationship is a status symbol that says one is good looking, interesting, and
attractive.
Family Demands and Expectations
To some adolescents, family ties can be a stressors. The adolescent is still learning and yearning for
independence and autonomy, but parents may not be ready to relinquish control over their “baby”. Parental
expectations are difficult to meet, especially if these counter one’s self-identity.

Health Concerns
Health problems may run a gamut of varieties, such as unwanted pregnancy, HIV and other sexually
transmitted diseases, unhealthy lifestyles such as poor eating and sleeping habits that often lead to lifetime
disease, and so on.
Demand of Social Life
In order to become part of a group, the individual has to have common interests with the other members
of the group like being in the honor’s list or having common extracurricular interests such as acting, singing,
dancing, or sports. In some cases, stressful group pressure sets in when an individual is faced with the challenge
to belong and be part of the group by going through some form of ritual, like experimenting with drugs or
alcohol, or even with sex.
Bullying
Being bullied in school can be very stressful and may cause emotional and psychological trauma to the
individual experiencing it. Bullies are around because it is often believed that they have problems either at home
or with themselves, and also need empathy and understanding.

Coping with Stress

Coping is very important mechanism in dealing with stress. It can help in avoiding the damages that
may be brought about by severe or chronic stress to your health and well-being.
Here are some examples as illustrated above:
1. Conduct creative imagery of the problem
2. Seek group or social support
3. Get into relaxation
4. Create a situation where you can feel more relaxed
5. Learn to manage your time
6. Eat properly
 Questionaire
1. It is the way the body reacts to challenging situations, this involves the interactions between the
hormones
2. This is a stress is caused by situations that may be life threatening or life changing, such as separation,
moving into a new home, or having a new job.
3. When a person experiencing stress takes a step back to look at the situation that is causing the stress, and
assessing it, this stress stand as.
4. A substance released by the body which triggers reaction, such as an increased heart rate, higher blood
pressure, and respiration, to prepare the body for action.
5. When the relevance is _____ the person will look at the situation in a more positive way to lessen stress
6. This is defined as a reaction of the mind and body to a stimulus that disturbs the well-being, state of
calm, or equilibrium of a person.
7. It refers to those that come outside of you like situations, people, and experiences.
8. If the relevance is _____ this will produce negative emotions that may lead to stress and even
depression.
9. These type of stress can motivate, energize, and spur an individual into fruitful action.
10. This stressors refers to those coming from within you, like thoughts that you have that caused you to feel
fearful and doubtful of the situation.
11-15 Give atleast 5 Stressors mentioned during the discussion
16-20 Give atleast 5 stress reduction method to cope stress