Orientati
ife on
L
Grade 12
© 2026 Knap Opsommings
All notes, summaries, and study materials are owned by Knap Opsommings. Please use them only for your personal school learning. Do not copy,
share, or sell our content without permission.
, Term 1 - 4
Development of the self in society
UNIT 1 : IDENTIFY STRESSORS, ASSESS AND MANAGE STRESS
What is stress?
Stress is what we feel in situations we find difficult, challenging or even frightening when we feel we can’t cope
with the situation.
It is a physical, mental or emotional strain that is caused by demands that are place on a person.
It is a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension which can be external (from the
environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure).
It can initiate the "fight or flight" response, a complex reaction of nervous and endocrine (hormones) systems.
Signs and symptoms of stress
Low self-esteem
Loneliness
Irritability
Frequent crying
Emotional
Frustration
Feeling ‘uptight’
Depression
Helplessness
Frequent head ache or migraine
Dizziness
Increase blood pressure
Physical Back pain
Sore neck muscles
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
Insomnia (sleep disturbances) and nightmares
Confusion
Can’t concentrate
Reduce creativity and productivity
Mental
Cannot make decision
Carelessness
High risk behaviour including drug and alcohol abuse
2
© 2026 Knap Opsommings
All notes, summaries, and study materials are owned by Knap Opsommings. Please use them only for your personal school learning. Do not copy, share, or sell our content without permission.
,What is good stress (Eustress)?
Eustress is a positive form of stress having a beneficial effect on health, motivation, performance, and emotional
well-being.
Stress that makes you ready for action as it gives you adrenalin and energy.
For example: when you have to stand in front of the class and speak.
It is for a short term and you can have sweaty palms and a dry mouthy or butterflies in your tummy.
What is bad stress/negative (Distress)?
Distress is perceived as outside of our coping abilities, feels unpleasant, decreases performance and can lead to
mental and physical problems.
If the stress is more than you can cope with, it is unhealthy; may become ill, unhappy and depressed, unable to
do your task as well as you could and a will have headaches or will not be able to sleep.
What is a stressor?
A chemical or biological agent, environmental condition, external stimulus seen as causing stress to individuals.
An event that individuals might consider demanding, challenging, and/or threatening individual safety
Types of stressors:
Physical
- stressors caused by health issues, trauma to the body, self-harm, lifestyle choices and abuse.
Health issue Trauma Self-harm Lifestyle choices
Lack of sleep
Acute and chronic illness Experience violent Poor diet
Alcohol and drug abuse
Pregnancy attacks Lack of exercise
Physical self-harm
Menstruation Being a crime victim Too much drinking and
smoking
Environmental
- stressors that are found in our surroundings causing irritations.
Poverty
Noise
Over crowding
Pollution
Natural disasters
Poor ventilation
Insects
3
© 2026 Knap Opsommings
All notes, summaries, and study materials are owned by Knap Opsommings. Please use them only for your personal school learning. Do not copy, share, or sell our content without permission.
, Social
stressors caused by the people around you that stems from one’s relationships with others and from the social
environment in general.
Poor communication
Conflict
Bullying
Negative peer pressure
Changes in family structure e.g. divorce, new siblings
Emotional
– stressors brought be people’s reactions to difficult situations with negative emotions.
Death
Moving house
Not coping well with uncertainty about life port-matric
Negative thoughts about life
Unrealistic expectations
Frustration, anger, conflict and anxiety
What is stress management
A wide spectrum of techniques and treatments aimed at controlling a person's level of stress, especially chronic
stress, usually for the purpose of and for the motive of improving everyday functioning.
It consists of making changes to one’s life in a constant stressful situation, preventing stress by practicing self-
care and relaxation and managing response to stressful situations when they do occur.
Why is it important to manage stress?
Your body produce cortisol and adrenalin.
These are 2 stress hormones.
Cortisol is the hormone produced by fear, results in anxiety.
Adrenalin- is the hormone that prepares the body to react physically to a threat.
If you fail to manage your stress your body can produce too much of the hormones for too long.
The stress will damage your body and change to chronic diseases like high blood pressure.
4
© 2026 Knap Opsommings
All notes, summaries, and study materials are owned by Knap Opsommings. Please use them only for your personal school learning. Do not copy, share, or sell our content
without permission.
ife on
L
Grade 12
© 2026 Knap Opsommings
All notes, summaries, and study materials are owned by Knap Opsommings. Please use them only for your personal school learning. Do not copy,
share, or sell our content without permission.
, Term 1 - 4
Development of the self in society
UNIT 1 : IDENTIFY STRESSORS, ASSESS AND MANAGE STRESS
What is stress?
Stress is what we feel in situations we find difficult, challenging or even frightening when we feel we can’t cope
with the situation.
It is a physical, mental or emotional strain that is caused by demands that are place on a person.
It is a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension which can be external (from the
environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure).
It can initiate the "fight or flight" response, a complex reaction of nervous and endocrine (hormones) systems.
Signs and symptoms of stress
Low self-esteem
Loneliness
Irritability
Frequent crying
Emotional
Frustration
Feeling ‘uptight’
Depression
Helplessness
Frequent head ache or migraine
Dizziness
Increase blood pressure
Physical Back pain
Sore neck muscles
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea
Insomnia (sleep disturbances) and nightmares
Confusion
Can’t concentrate
Reduce creativity and productivity
Mental
Cannot make decision
Carelessness
High risk behaviour including drug and alcohol abuse
2
© 2026 Knap Opsommings
All notes, summaries, and study materials are owned by Knap Opsommings. Please use them only for your personal school learning. Do not copy, share, or sell our content without permission.
,What is good stress (Eustress)?
Eustress is a positive form of stress having a beneficial effect on health, motivation, performance, and emotional
well-being.
Stress that makes you ready for action as it gives you adrenalin and energy.
For example: when you have to stand in front of the class and speak.
It is for a short term and you can have sweaty palms and a dry mouthy or butterflies in your tummy.
What is bad stress/negative (Distress)?
Distress is perceived as outside of our coping abilities, feels unpleasant, decreases performance and can lead to
mental and physical problems.
If the stress is more than you can cope with, it is unhealthy; may become ill, unhappy and depressed, unable to
do your task as well as you could and a will have headaches or will not be able to sleep.
What is a stressor?
A chemical or biological agent, environmental condition, external stimulus seen as causing stress to individuals.
An event that individuals might consider demanding, challenging, and/or threatening individual safety
Types of stressors:
Physical
- stressors caused by health issues, trauma to the body, self-harm, lifestyle choices and abuse.
Health issue Trauma Self-harm Lifestyle choices
Lack of sleep
Acute and chronic illness Experience violent Poor diet
Alcohol and drug abuse
Pregnancy attacks Lack of exercise
Physical self-harm
Menstruation Being a crime victim Too much drinking and
smoking
Environmental
- stressors that are found in our surroundings causing irritations.
Poverty
Noise
Over crowding
Pollution
Natural disasters
Poor ventilation
Insects
3
© 2026 Knap Opsommings
All notes, summaries, and study materials are owned by Knap Opsommings. Please use them only for your personal school learning. Do not copy, share, or sell our content without permission.
, Social
stressors caused by the people around you that stems from one’s relationships with others and from the social
environment in general.
Poor communication
Conflict
Bullying
Negative peer pressure
Changes in family structure e.g. divorce, new siblings
Emotional
– stressors brought be people’s reactions to difficult situations with negative emotions.
Death
Moving house
Not coping well with uncertainty about life port-matric
Negative thoughts about life
Unrealistic expectations
Frustration, anger, conflict and anxiety
What is stress management
A wide spectrum of techniques and treatments aimed at controlling a person's level of stress, especially chronic
stress, usually for the purpose of and for the motive of improving everyday functioning.
It consists of making changes to one’s life in a constant stressful situation, preventing stress by practicing self-
care and relaxation and managing response to stressful situations when they do occur.
Why is it important to manage stress?
Your body produce cortisol and adrenalin.
These are 2 stress hormones.
Cortisol is the hormone produced by fear, results in anxiety.
Adrenalin- is the hormone that prepares the body to react physically to a threat.
If you fail to manage your stress your body can produce too much of the hormones for too long.
The stress will damage your body and change to chronic diseases like high blood pressure.
4
© 2026 Knap Opsommings
All notes, summaries, and study materials are owned by Knap Opsommings. Please use them only for your personal school learning. Do not copy, share, or sell our content
without permission.
