Warwick High School

51 Copeland Lane  •  Newport News, VA 23601  •  Phone: (757) 591-4700  •  Fax: (757) 596-7415

IB World School

GUIDANCE ADVICE

STRESS

WHAT IS STRESS?

Stress is a part of everyday life. As high school students, you may experience stress meeting academic demands, adjusting to high school life, or developing new friendships. The stress you experience is not necessarily harmful. Mild forms of stress can act as a motivator and energizer. However, if your stress is too high, medical and social problems can result.

Although we tend to think of stress as caused by external events, events in themselves are not stressful. Rather, it is the way in which we interpret and react to events that makes them stressful. People differ dramatically in the type of events they interpret as stressful, and the way in which they respond to stress. For example, speaking in public can be stressful for some people and relaxing for others.

SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

There are several signs and symptoms that you may notice when you are experiencing stress. These signs and symptoms fall into four categories: Feelings, Thoughts, Behaviors, and Physiology. When you are under stress, you may experience one or more of the following:

FEELINGS

  1. Anxious
  2. Scared
  3. Irritable
  4. Moody

THOUGHTS

  1. Low self-esteem
  2. Fear of Failure
  3. Inability to concentrate
  4. Easily embarrassed
  5. Worrying about the future
  6. Preoccupation with thoughts/tasks
  7. Forgetfulness

BEHAVIOR

  1. Stuttering and other speech difficulties
  2. Crying for no apparent reason
  3. Acting impulsively
  4. Easily startled
  5. Laughing in a high pitched and nervous tone of voice
  6. Grinding your teeth
  7. Increasing smoking
  8. Increasing use of drugs and alcohol
  9. Being accident prone
  10. Losing your appetite or overeating

PHYSIOLOGICAL

  1. Perspiration/sweaty hands
  2. Increased heart beat
  3. Trembling
  4. Nervous ticks
  5. Dryness of throat and mouth
  6. Tiring easily
  7. Urinating frequently
  8. Sleeping problems
  9. Diarrhea/indigestion/vomiting
  10. Butterflies in stomach
  11. Headaches
  12. Premenstrual tension
  13. Pain in neck and/or lower back
  14. Loss of appetite or overeating
  15. Susceptibility to illness

CAUSES OF STRESS

Both positive and negative events in one's life can be stressful However, major life changes are the greatest stress for most people. They place the greatest demand on resources for coping.

Major Life Changes that can be Stressful

  1. Geographic mobility
  2. Graduating from high school/Going to college
  3. New job
  4. Marriage
  5. Pregnancy
  6. New life style
  7. Divorce
  8. Death of a loved one
  9. Laid off/fired from your job

Environmental Events that can be Stressful

  1. Time pressure
  2. Competition
  3. Financial problems
  4. Noise
  5. Disappointments

STRESS MANAGEMENT

  • Feeling good about ourselves can be an effective buffer against stress
  • Eliminate unnecessary worries. Most worries are either passed on to us by another or conjured up in our imagination.
     

GET PHYSICAL

  1. Relax neck and shoulders
  2. Take a stretch
  3. Get a massage
  4. Exercise

GET MENTAL

  1. Count to 10
  2. Control your thoughts
  3. Fantasize
  4. Congratulate yourself
  5. Ignore the problem
  6. Perform self maintenance

GET SPIRITUAL

  1. Pray
  2. Meditate
  3. Remember your purpose

USE YOUR BODY AND MIND TOGETHER

  1. Take a break
  2. Get hug therapy
  3. Try progressive relaxation
  4. Laugh

DEVELOP NEW SKILLS

  1. Learn something new
  2. Practice a hobby
  3. Try new behaviors if the ones you are exhibiting are not helping eliminate the stress
 

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