Stress And Stress Essay

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DIAGNOSING AND MANAGING STRESS AND ANXIETY IN SCHOOL CHILDREN

DEFINING STRESS AND ANXIETY
Stress can come from any event or thought that makes us feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. All of us experience stress and usually cope with it well. Stress is an omnipresent part of life and is a reaction to external stimuli that disturb our physical or mental equilibrium. It is a system in our body that helps us to deal with real danger and / or perform at our best. Any event or happening that induces stress is called stressor.
Stress and the anxiety may manifest as physical changes like increased heart rate, fast breathing, stomach aches, headache, muscle tension, and constantly feeling tired etc. Learning to recognize these signs of stress and anxiety can help us to be less afraid of it.
ANXIETY –HOW MUCH?
Moderate levels of anxiety can be helpful because they raise our alertness to danger or signal that we need to take some action. However, on the other hand excessive anxiety is unproductive as it interferes with our ability to take action to solve a problem. This is not considered to be a normal reaction to a perceived stressor. In these situations, counseling or other services may be needed.
ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS
Anxiety is a typical developmental pattern where children tend to worry about certain things at different ages. Preschoolers are often worried about the dark or being separated from their parents. After about age 7, children begin to feel anxious about friendships, speaking in class, school grades, or letting their friends, family or teachers down. Teens worry about friends, their future and health. Big changes such as a new school, a move, changes in the family structure, upsetting things like loss of a frien...

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...ife and we all thrive under a certain amount of stress. Deadlines, competitions, examinations, confrontations and even our frustrations and sorrows add depth and enrichment to our lives. Our goal is not to eliminate stress but to learn how to manage it and how to use it to help us. Feelings of stress and anxiety are inevitably going to develop in students. Teachers should be able to identify symptoms and sources of stress and anxiety in students. They should be aware of various strategies that can be applied to minimize the detrimental effects of stress and anxiety. Their focus should be on the development of coping mechanisms in students so that they are able to channelize their stresses and anxieties productively. Every teacher is required to find the optimal level of stress for each student which will motivate but not overwhelm individual for maximal benefit.

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