Stress Management During Adolescence

CHAPTER 16

STRESS MANAGEMENT

16.01 Stress and adolescence

Stress is ubiquitous. The only human who does not have stress is a dead person. We experience stress in all daily life situations, though the degree might vary. However, certain periods of life could be more stressful than the others. Adolescence is one of those periods. During adolescence a significant physical and psychological changes occur, furthermore the expectations on the adolescent by the parents, teachers, friends, society etc. could be quite high. Added to this they have to face certain important examinations during this period. They may get involved in relationships and may face issues due to conflicts with the partner/disapproving adults. All these and other numerous factors

(Lazarus RS, Folkman S. Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. New York: Springer Publishing Company; 1984.)

There are two important aspects in this definition. One is;

“Imbalance between demands and resources”

The other is;

“Pressure exceeds one’s perceived ability to cope”

Stress is a state of arousal (both psychological and physical), which is initiated due to a threat, a change a challenge in the environment.

16.03 Components of a Stress Response

A stress response have the following components.

• Psychosomatic

• Psychological

– Cognitive

– Emotional

• Behavioural

Various features listed under these domains can be considered as signals to identify that a person is in stress (“Stress Signals”)

Psychosomatic Domain

• headache

• stomach ache

• felling exhausted

• felling lifeless

• palpitations

• felling tremulous / had trembling of hands

• felling sleepless / becomes sleepy late

• loss of appetite /desire to eat more

• Rapid breathing

• Muscle tension and aches – Headache, Backache

• Dry mouth

• Bowel and urinary symptoms -need to go to toilet frequently

•

• Strained relationships – home and work

• increased irritability - Irritable with loved ones/co workers

• neglecting leisure, exercise, personal care

• heightened sensitivity to criticism

• signs of tension, such as nail-biting

• difficulty getting to sleep and early morning waking

• becoming withdrawn

16.04 Physiology of stress

Stress reaction is the result of a series of neuro-chemical reactions which are meant for survival. When animals are faced with a threat they have to either fight it or flight. This reaction has a survival value. In order to fight or flight, the body has to be prepared. This is the same thing that happens in us when faced with situations that we are uncomfortable facing with. Our bodies get ready to fight or flight. The underlying neurochemical reactions ultimately results in;

• increased cardiovascular activity o increased heartbeat /heart rate o increased stroke volume o increased cardiac output o Increased blood pressure

• restricted blood flow to the skin

• reduced blood flow to stomach, causing a feeling of 'butterflies'

• increased neurological sweating /perspiration

• Increased blood sugar

• Dilated pupils

• Increase neural excitability

• Startle