COPING WITH STRESS IN

MIDDLE AND LATE

ADOLESCENCE
Late and middle childhood and early adolescence
are filled with transitions that can cause
psychological stress. Degrees of stress
experienced are a function of both emotional
response and coping abilities. Age, gender,
development, temperament, and parental models
affect both susceptibility to stress and
effectiveness of coping mechanisms. Failure to
recognize manifestations of stress, and to assist
with the development of positive coping skills,
causes detrimental effects to the child's mental,
physical, and emotional health
 STRESS
• It is the reaction of the mind and body to stimulus
that causes tension on the well-being and disturbs
the state of calm or equilibrium of a person.

• Stress is now understood as a way of life crisis

affecting any individual regardless of their
developmental stage
 TWO TYPES OF STRESS
ACCORDING TO
PSYCHOLOGIST
• 1. Beneficial stress Stress - can be beneficial
and helpful to individuals when a small and
sporadic amount of stress occur. It became a
motivation for you to work hard and conquer
those conflicts that makes you stressed.
• 2. Destructive stress stress - can be destructive
to both physical and mental health when
excessive amounts of stress sustained over
lengthy period
 THREE (3) VIEWS ABOUT
STRESS

1. Stress as STIMULUS - Caused by

situations (which often called stressors) that
may be life threatening or life changing.
Examples: Car accident, breakup with
boyfriend or girlfriend, and separation from
loved ones.
2. Stress as RESPONSE- This is the aspect of stress
emphasized by Selye, the way the body reacts to
challenging situations. It involves the interactions
between the 6 hormones, glands and nervous system
where adrenal gland drives production of cortisol
(produces energy to an action) and release
norepinephrine (triggers the body’s reaction; increased
heart rate, higher blood pressure,) or better known as
“stress hormone”.
• Prolonged or chronic situations that involved both
cortisol and norepinephrine affect the body to wear
down fast. And that is the reason why is often causes
fatigue, aging, and illness caused by low immune
3. Stress is RELATIONAL- Lazarus and
Folkman's (1984) definition of stress
reflects very clearly this way of thinking.
Assessment here means that when a
person allows reasoning to prevail and
weigh the relevance or irrelevance of
situation. Example of this is a flight delay.
 HEALTHY STRESS
• It can motivate, energize, and produce
fruitful actions.
Examples: Stage performance - stress can
help individual to perform something better, it
can develop and individual.
 STRESSORS OF MIDDLE AND
LATE ADOLESCENTS
1. External Stressors – comes from the outside of
you like certain situations and people.
Example: Major life changes, such as death of a loved
one. Work or school.

2. Internal Stressors – coming from within your

thoughts that caused you to feel fearful about the
future and personal beliefs, which include your own
expectations.
Example: Negative self-talk, Unrealistic expectations
 SOME POSSIBLE SOURCES OF
STRESS FOR TEENAGERS
• 1. School demands (test and homework) and frustrations
• 2. Negative thoughts and feelings About themselves
• 3. Change is their bodies
• 4. Problems with friends and/or peers at school
• 5. Unsafe living environment or neighborhood
• 6. Separation or divorce of parents
• 7. Chronic illness or severe problems in the family
• 8. Death of a loved one
• 9. Moving or changing schools
• 10. Taking on too many activities
• 11. Family financial problems
• 12. Moving to a new home and school
• 13. Dating
• 14. Too high parental and school expectations
STRESS RESPONSES
• The body is a finely tuned machine that
can change quickly to do what we need it
to do, like react to stress.
• The body has two systems – (The
voluntary system does what you want it
to do – walk, talk, move). (The
involuntary system keeps the body
running even without you thinking about it
– breath, sweat, digest).
• Some teens become overloaded with stress and when
it happens, they are not able to manage it well. As
such, the stress leads to anxiety, withdrawal,
aggression, physical illness, or negative coping skills
such as drug or alcohol use. When we sense a
situation as difficult or painful, changes happen in our
minds and bodies to prepare us to respond to the
danger. This is “fight, flight, or freeze” response
includes a faster heart and breathing rate, increased
blood to muscle of arms and legs, cold or clammy
hands and feet, upset stomach and sense of dread.
 “RELAXATION RESPONSE”

• As soon as we determine that a situation is no longer

dangerous, changes will happen in our minds and bodies
which will help us relax and calm down includes decreased
heart and breathing rate and a sense of well-being.

• Teenagers that develop a “relaxation response” and other

stress management skills feel less helpless and have more
choices when responding to stress.
 COPING WITH STRESS
• 1. Exercise and eat regularly.
• 2. Avoid excess caffeine intake which can increase feelings of
anxiety and agitation.
• 3. Avoid illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
• 4. Learn relaxation exercise (abdominal breathing and muscle
relaxation technique).
• 5. Develop assertiveness training skills. For example, state
feelings in polite firm and not overly aggressive or passive
ways: (“I feel angry when you yell at me” “please stop
yelling”).
• 6. Rehearse and practice situations which cause stress. One
example is taking a speech class if talking in front of class
makes you anxious.
• 7. Learn practical coping skills. For example, break a large task
into smaller, more attainable tasks.
• 8. Decrease negative self-talk: challenge negative thoughts
about yourself with alternative neutral or positive thoughts. “My
life will never get better” can be transformed into “I may feel
hopeless now, but my life will probably get better if I work at it
and get some help”.
• 9. Learn to feel good about doing a competent or good enough
job rather than demanding perfection from yourself and others.
• 10. Take a break from stressful situations. Activities, like
listening to music, talking to a friend, drawing, writing, or
spending time with pet, can reduce stress.
• 11. Build a network of friends who help you cope in a positive
way.