LIFE ORIENTATION
COMPLETE SUMMARIES & STUDY NOTES
EXAM PREPARATION GUIDE
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,❖ 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.
❖ What is good stress? Stress that makes you ready for action as it gives you
adrenalin and energy. E.g. 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? If the stress is more than you can cope with, it is unhealthy. You
may become ill, unhappy and depressed. You are not able to do your task as well as
you could. You will have headaches or will not be able to sleep.
❖ What is a stressor? A stressor is anything, event or person that causes stress. It is
the things that trigger stress
❖ Symptoms of stress:
✓ Short term effects: Faster breathing/faster heart rate/dry mouth
✓ Sweaty palms/tension in your neck/butterflies in your tummy
✓ Long term effects: High blood pressure/headaches/ulcers/allergies etc.
❖ Types of stressors:
✓ Physical: caused by physical harm, such as violence and sexual abuse.
✓ Environmental: caused by factors like extreme weather or pollution.
✓ Personality bases: people who are more prone to stress than others.
✓ Social: caused by the people around you e.g. peer pressure.
✓ Emotional: caused by your emotions e.g. relationship problems.
❖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.
, • Physical
• Emotional
Types of • Environmental
stress • Social
• Dry mouth
• Sweaty palms
Signs and • Butterflies in stomach
symptoms • Upset stomach
• Postive: Makes your ready to react to situation
Positive and • Negative: Can not do the task or cope with stress
negative stress
Assess levels of stress
❖ Symptoms of stress:
The signs of stress are physical symptoms. Feeling worried is a symptom of
stress. Sweating or trembling hands are a sign of stress and worry. Other
signs or symptoms includes diarrhea or an upset stomach, rapid heart beat,
bleeding ulcers and sweating too much. Symptoms of stress can include
headaches, stomach ache, feeling tense, unable to sleep, constant thirst and
feelings of unease. These are all short term effects of stress.
Long term effects of stress are: high blood ressure/headaches/ulcers/allergies
etc.