Stress Among Childern

STRESS AMONG CHILDERN: ITS CAUSES AND PREVENTIONS PRESENTED BY VISHAV JYOTI

DEFINITIONS 1.According to Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English. (2003).Stress is Continuous feelings of worry about your work or personal life that prevent you from relaxing. Example: He is finding the increased workload very stressful. 2. The word 'stress' is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as "a state of affair involving demand on physical or mental energy". 3. Stress is the “wear and tear” our bodies experience as we adjust to our continually changing environment. It has physical and emotional effects on us and can create positive or negative feelings.

FACTS AND FIGURES • In the UK over half a million people suffer from work related stress. • In 2003/4 12.8 million sick days were taken due to stress or anxiety. • 3 – 4% of the population is reported to suffer from generalized anxiety. • 1 in 4 people will visit their family doctor at some point in their lives because they feel stressed or anxious.

Factors That Cause Stress in Children • Parental pressure LEADS TO frustration, physical stress, aggression, undesirable complexes, and depression. • Loniless due to under-performers, develop negative traits such as shyness, unfriendliness, jealousy. • Over scheduling --- no breathing space. • Tremendous amount of homework, --- no evenings, weekends and vacations. •Academic pressures. --- Cause anxiety, negative personal traits. • When 'effortless' learning does not take place, these Children lose confidence, motivation and interest, and this creates more stress.

Other factors…. • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Moving house. Getting married or divorced. Work or study. Financial problems. Change in general. Illness. Separation from parents Pressures from outside (such as family, friends, or school) starting college tests changing jobs births deaths Breakups in relationships.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF STRESS •

Intellectual symptoms (How stress can affect the Mind) -Memory problems. -Difficulty making decisions. -Mood swings, (becoming angry or upset easily and Irritability.). -Difficulty in concentrating or Short attention span. . -Feeling alert.-Feeling helpless. -Obsessing about things: For example, your weekly summaries. -Feeling depressed -Confusion. -Seeing only the negative. -Repetitive or racing thoughts. -Poor judgment. -Loss of objectivity. -Desire to escape or run away

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS…. • Emotional symptoms (How stress can make children feel) -Moody and hypersensitive. -Restlessness and anxiety. -Depression. -Anger and resentment. -Easily irritated and “on edge”. -Sense of being overwhelmed. -Lack of confidence.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS…. • Physical symptoms: (How stress can affect the Body) -Digestive problems. -Muscle tension and pain. -Sleep disturbances. -Fatigue. -Chest pain, irregular heartbeat. -High blood pressure. -Weight gain or loss. -Asthma or shortness of breath. -Skin problems. -Decreased sex drive. -tension headache or migraine -irritability -overeating -loss of appetite -constipation or -diarrhea -lower back pain -allergies -hive

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS…. •

Behavioral Symptoms: (How stress can affect the Behavior)

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-Eating more or less. -Sleeping too much or too little. -Isolating your self from others. -Neglecting your responsibilities. -Increasing alcohol and drug use. -Nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing). -Teeth grinding or jaw clenching. -Overdoing activities such as exercising or shopping. -Losing your temper. -Overreacting to unexpected problems. reduced quality of work performance -lower productivity at work -mistrust or hostility towards associates -missing appointments or deadlines -absenteeism or shirking responsibilities -minor accidents, increased errors -indecisiveness -marital discords -using drugs

SOCIAL IMPACT OF STRESS • Avoiding things which cause you stress or anxiety. • Isolation. • Increased alcohol intake. • Problems with your relationships. • Problems at work or place of study • Losing interest in things you enjoy. • Finding it difficult to do normal things, such as, cooking or cleaning.

CYCLE OF STRESS • • • • • •

Trigger. Rationalisation. Biological response. Psychological response. Coping behaviour. Relief.

CYCLE OF STRESS….. • EXAMPLE 1.Trigger: Seeing a moth. • Rationalization: “It can’t hurt me” “Don’t be stupid” Physical Response: Sweating, hyperventilating, tensing of muscles, Etc. Psychological Response:” What if it touches me?” Coping behaviour:Kill the moth. Run! RELIEF! Adrenaline enters blood. (Fight or flight response).

CYCLE OF STRESS…. • EXAMPLE 2. Trigger: Too much homework. Adrenaline enters blood. • Rationalisation:“I have to do it” “Everybody has the same work” Physical response: Tension, headache, feeling sick. Psychological response: Difficulty in concentrating,” I’m going to fail” I’m stupid” Coping behaviour: Go to the pub and drink until you forget. DRUNKEN RELIEF!

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PREVENTIONS AND STRATEGIES TO REDUCE STRESS

Simplify Life style Ask for help Practice Time Management Minimize Alcohol Use Humor--Take Time to Play. Relaxation Techniques (Breathing exercise, physical activities, extracurricular activities) Get Counseling If Needed. Problem Solving Proper rest and good nutrition. If work-related, training or change of role Admitting the problem and mistakes. Talking with friends, teachers or family. Talking with people in the same situation. Books reading.(identification with character in stressful situation & learn how they cope) Meditation Right attitude

PREVENTIONS AND STRATEGIES …. Problem Solving Proper rest and good nutrition. If work-related, training or change of role Admitting the problem and mistakes. Talking with friends, teachers or family. Talking with people in the same situation. Books reading.(identification with character in stressful situation & learn how they cope) • Meditation • Right attitude • • • • • • •

Conclusion • Stress is a normal part of life. In small quantities, stress is good -- it can motivate you and help you be more productive. • Psychologists second the opinion that some 'stress' situations can actually boost our inner potential and can be creatively helpful. Sudha Chandran, an Indian danseus, lost both of her legs in an accident.

Conclusion….. • However, too much stress, or a strong response to stress, is harmful. It can set you up for general poor health as well as specific physical or psychological illnesses like infection, heart disease, or depression. Persistent and unrelenting stress often leads to anxiety and unhealthy behaviors like overeating and abuse of alcohol or drugs.

REFERENCES • THE INTERNET