Coping with Stress in
Middle and Late
Adolescence
Personal Development
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 (Masih & Gulrez, 2006)
affecting any individual regardless of
their developmental stage (Banerjee &
Chatterjee, 2016).
Stress According Psychologist
• Beneficial Stress
• Destructive Stress
Three (3) Views about Stress
Stress as STIMULUS
Stress as RESPONSE
Stress as RELATIONAL
Healthy Stress
It can motivate,
energize, and
produce fruitful
actions.
Two sources of Stress
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
includes:
1. School demands (test and homework) and frustrations
2. Negative thoughts and feelings about themselves
3. Change in their bodies
4. Problems with friends and/or peers at school
5. Unsafe living environment or neighborhood
Some possible sources of stress for teenagers
includes:
6. Separation or divorce of parents
7. Chronic illness or sever problems in the family
8. Death of a loved one
9. Moving or changing schools
10. Taking on too many activities
Some possible sources of stress for teenagers
includes:
11. Family financial problems
12. Moving to new home and school
13. Dating
14. Too high parental and school expectations
15. Sports and extracurricular activities
Some possible sources of stress for teenagers
includes:
16. Job Hunting
17. Social backwardness
18. Too many things to do
19. Not achieving something that you really wanted
20. Thinking about future
Some possible sources of stress for teenagers
includes:
21. Dealing with sexual feelings
22. Worrying about neighborhood or world problems
23. Feeling guilty
Fight
• Aggressiveness
• Toughness of body
• Stomp, kick
Stress Responses • Anger, rage
• Knot in stomach, nausea, vomiting
Flight
• Restless legs and feet
• Feeling trapped
• Anxiety/ adrenaline
• Wide eyes
• Tense
Freeze
• Feeling numb
• Heart pounding
• Sense of dread
• Pale skin
• Holding breath/ restricted breathing
Teens can handle stress with the following behaviors
and techniques:
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”)
Teens can handle stress with the following behaviors
and techniques:
6. Rehearse and practice situations which cause stress.
7. Learn practical coping skills
8. Decrease negative self-talk: challenge negative thoughts about yourself with alternative
neutral or positive thoughts.
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.
11. Build a network of friends who help you cope in a positive way.
