MODULE 6

(For 4days Sept.21-24, 2020)

COPING WITH STRESS IN MIDDLE AND LATE ADOLESCENCE

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of the module, the learners will able to:
1.) Discuss that understanding stress and its sources during adolescence may help in
identifying ways to cope and have a healthy life.
2.) Identify sources of one’s stress and illustrate the effect of stress on one’s system.
3.) Demonstrate personal ways of coping with stress for healthful living.
__________________________________________________________________________
Activity: Answer first this question. Write your answer on the space provided.
1.) What do you know about stress?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
READING: DEFINING STRESS
Stress define 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.
Psychologists have agreed that small and sporadic amounts of stress can be helpful and
beneficial to individuals, while excessive amounts of stress sustained over a lengthy period
can be destructive to both physical and mental health.
Three views in understanding stress:
1.) Stress as 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.
2.) Stress as a Response – 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”. Prolonged or
chronic situation that involve both cortisol and norepinephrine will eventually affect the body to
wear down fast. This is the reason why prolonged or chronic stress often causes fatigue, aging,
and illness caused by low immune system.
3.) 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 here 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. An example of this is a flight delay. A positive relevance to this will have the person
thinking this is one situation he has no control of, and there may be a purpose or reason
why it is happening. A negative relevance will produce agitation and impatience, blaming
the airline or whoever is responsible for the delay, which may result in lost opportunities.
Healthy stress:
There are certain types of stress that can benefit a person. Stress that is short and
sporadic can propel a person to a necessary action. These types can motivate, energize, and
spur an individual into fruitful action. For example, speaking in front of an audience is a
healthy type of stress as it pushes the speaker to prepare and be an effective speaker.
Stage performers are also under stress while performing, and this same stress may bring out
their best performances. Other types of healthy stress can propel the competing individual
to perform better.
Bad stress can be performed into good stress depending on how an individual
assesses the situation. Adolescent students, who are in constant stressful situations
particularly related to schoolwork and relationships, should learn some coping mechanisms
to assist them in their development toward a healthy adult life.

ACTIVITY: Answer the following questions on the space provided.

1.) Share a personal experience about a stressful situation you were in and what kind of
mechanism helped you manage the situation.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2.) If you see someone who is stressed out and needs help, what do you do?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3.) Explain the three views on stress as a stimulus, response and relational.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4.) List some ways on how a person can cope with stress.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

READING: KNOW YOUR STRESSOR

Two sources of stressors identified by The Mayo Clinic in the United States:

1.) External stressor – are those that come outside of you like situations, people, and
experiences.
2.) Internal stressor – are those coming from within you, like thoughts that you have that
caused you to feel fearful, uncertainties about future, lack of control over situations, and
even your personal beliefs, which include your own expectations.

Here are some samples of possible stressor of middle and late adolescents.

1.) School Demands and Expectations – quizzes and tests, homework’s and projects, oral
recitation, quarterly and final exams, and grades most especially epitomize the kind of
stressors adolescents have when it comes to studying. Although grades are not the only
gauge of what one has learned, it is what the educational system relies on when trying to
measure one’s learning capacity.

2.) Selecting a School, College Course or Career – related to the first stressor mentioned is
the situation of what will happen after graduated. 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 like taking an entrance examination.
3.) 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. Technology might ease the pain
of separation by simple going online, texting or calling to get instant connection with
someone who is sorely missed.
4.) 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.
5.) Romantic Relationships or the Lack of it – adolescents tend 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.
6.) Family Demands and Expectations – to some adolescents, family ties can be a stressor.
The adolescent is still learning and yearning for independence and autonomy, but parent’s
may not be ready to relinquish control over their “baby”. This is why conflict sets in.
7.) Health concerns – to some adolescents, health may be a problem. Health problem 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 diseases and so on.
8.) Demands of Social Life – there is a common thinking among adolescents that it is
embarrassing to be alone. That is why they need to belong is significantly important for
adolescents. Forming groups or joining one makes an adolescent feel safe and secure
because to belong to a social group is an affirmation that they are acceptable to others.
9.) Bullying – being bullied in school can be incredibly stressful and may cause emotional
and psychological trauma to the individual experiencing it.
ACTIVITY: Answer the following question on the space provided
1.) If you are being bullied in the school, how you will deal to it?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2.) How does one become a part of a social group?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3.) Parental expectations are difficult to meet, especially if this counter one’s self-identity.
What options does an adolescent have in dealing with this?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
READING: COPING WITH STRESS
By now you have learned that stress can either be good or bad, depending on how
this is affecting you and how you are allowing it to affect you. What is important is to know
what stresses you and identifying your stress situations or stressors. Once you have
identified these, check your body tense, are you sleepless? It is important to acknowledge
these reactions and any feelings or emotions that arise within you. Avoid going into denial
by saying you are okay when you are not.
Coping is particularly important mechanism in dealing with stress. It can help in
avoiding the damages that may be brought about by acute or chronic stress to your health
and well-being. Coping can be problem-focused, when remedies or solutions are thought off
to change the situation to lessen the stress, or emotion-focused, when the objective is to
lessen the emotional impact caused by the stressful situation.
 Coping may also be a combination of both problem-focused and emotional-focused
remedies. Here are some examples as illustrated above:
1.) Conduct a creative imagery of the problem – look at the stressor as a relational situation
where you can assess and change the way you look at the stressful situation.
2.) Seek group or social support – talk to people you know and trust, surround yourself with
friends who can offer you sincere understanding and empathy. Talk to an adult and share
your thoughts and feelings.
3.) Get into relaxation activities - like breathing exercises, regular physical exercise,
meditation yoga, self-hypnosis, reading a good book, or listening to relaxing music.
4.) Create a situation where you can feel more relaxed – like a quiet environment or a
comfortable position and project a passive attitude toward the stressor.
5.) Learn to manage your time – analyze how much time you are spending for studying, for
being online, for texting or calling, for watching TV, and see where for studying or doing
homework but you spend one hour for studying or doing homework but you spend two
hours watching TV and four hours visiting social networking sites, then you can immediately
tell that there is definitely an imbalance in your priorities and time management. As
student, your priority is your studies.
6.) Proper Nutrition – eat properly by selecting nutritious, healthy food. Eat regularly and
avoid skipping meals.
 In addition to the coping mechanisms suggested above, you may also wish to do the
following:
1.) Seek spiritual growth through prayer and meditation.
2.) Have a worthwhile hobby like cross-stitching, singing, dancing, drawing, or collecting
items.
3.) Watch a movie with friends.
4.) Have a nice, quiet walk with a member of your family after dinner.
5.) If the stressor is one of your expectations, assess it and see if it doable and realistic or
not.
6.) Believe in yourself that you are strong and courageous that you are capable of
overcoming the challenges that you are facing and that any stressful will bring out the best
in you and will make you stronger.

ACTIVITY: Answer the following question. Write your answer on the space provided.

1.) Identify other ways that can help you in coping with stress.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2.) How do stress or stressors help a person in identifying ways to cope?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3.) Make a script about a role-playing session using the following situation. Make sure that
the stressors are clearly identified and how the character on your script are affecting each
other. Conclude the situation by selecting a coping mechanism to be adopted by the main
character.

a.) arguing with parents over the choice of career or course in college
b.) bullying in school
c.) peer pressure in a group
d.) breaking off from a relationship
e.) choosing a college course or career

Note: Show your creativeness in making script.

REFLECTION:

1.) What happen when a person experiences chronic and severe stress? What possible
things can happen to this person if this situation continues over a long period of time?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

REFERENCE:
Ricardo Rubio Santos First Edition Personal Development (Rex book)
Curriculum teachers guide
www.youtube.com

Prepared by:
Karen Grace N. Salatan (Teacher)
Global Technical School of Zamboanga