LO Life Skills Level 4 Module 7

Life Orientation: Life Skills NQF 4 Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 4

Manage stress in order to maintain a balanced lifestyle Module 7 Downloaded from hlayiso.com *see terms and conditions

Think about it… • Is there a difference between good stress & bad stress? • How does stress affect you? • Can you learn to cope better with bad stress? Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Unit 7.1 Stress – symptoms, types & causes Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 4

What is stress? • Stress = physical, emotional and/or mental tension caused by an outside source • Stressor = cause/source of stress • People respond to stress differently • Stress response = the way people react to stressors. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Symptoms of stress • Stress affects you:  Physically (in your body)  Emotionally  Mentally (in your mind). • Stress affects your body & mind at the same time. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Physical symptoms of stress • Nervous system & glandular system:  Nerves, brain & spinal cord send messages to the glandular system  Glandular system sends hormones (e.g. adrenaline & cortisol)  Hormone levels = normal once danger is over  If a stress/threat is constant, your body becomes nervous, sleepy, achy & rundown. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Physical symptoms of stress • Digestive system:  Struggle to swallow  Change in appetite  Indigestion & heartburn  Nausea & vomiting. Figure 7.2: Heartburn is a sharp or burning pain in your chest which has nothing to do with your heart but is a form of indigestion Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Physical symptoms of stress • Sensory system:  Skin feels strange (e.g. cold or sweaty)  Dry mouth  Senses working better or worse than normal  Strange sounds in your ears  Headaches. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Physical symptoms of stress • Locomotor system:  Sore muscles, bones, joints & tendons  Grinding teeth  Tiredness/clumsiness  Struggling to sit still  Shaking hands or lips. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Physical symptoms of stress • Respiratory system:  Shallow or hard breaths  Shortness of breath  Struggle to breathe. • Circulatory system:  Red cheeks  Raised heartbeat and/or blood pressure  Chest pain. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Physical symptoms of stress • Immune system:  Lower immunity  Slower healing & recovery  Rashes/itching. • Urogenital system:  Need to urinate more often  Changes to hormones  Irregular or painful periods  Lack of sexual desire and/or ability. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Learning activity 7.1 Module 7 Test your knowledge of this section by completing Learning activity 7.1 in your Student’s Book. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 4

Emotional & mental symptoms of stress • Include feeling:  Angry  Confused  Depressed  Frustrated  Hopeless  Lonely Figure 7.6: Some people feel they need to worry  Overwhelmed and stress because that shows that they care  Worried. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Learning activity 7.2 Module 7 Test your knowledge of this section by completing Learning activity 7.2 in your Student’s Book. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 4

Types of stress • Good stress (eustress):  Energises  Can become harmful if not handled well. • Bad stress  Distress  Acute stress  Chronic stress. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Eustress • Energises your mind. • Prepares your body to face challenges. • Must return to normal so that you can recover. Figure 7.9: Healthy eustress in action Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Bad stress • Distress:  Instead of feeling excited, you dread the challenge  May become more anxious  Need to deal with it & prioritise. • Acute stress:  Severe stress often caused by one intense thing. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Bad stress • Chronic stress:  Prolonged distress  Lasts for months or years  May need intervention (e.g. therapy and/or medication). Figure 7.10: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a form of chronic stress that follows on from repeated incidences of acute stress Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Learning activity 7.3 Module 7 Test your knowledge of this section – and address stress you are facing currently – by completing Learning activity 7.3 in your Student’s Book. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 4

General causes of stress Refer to Table 7.1 in your Student’s Book for general causes of stress. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

General causes of stress You may be stressed by: • Where you live • Relationship problems • Finances/the economy • The natural environment • Health issues • Education or work problems • Difficulties at home. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Work-related causes of stress Refer to Table 7.2 in your Student’s Book for work-related causes of stress. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Mathematics NQF Level 2 Click above to play this video. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Learning activity 7.4 Module 7 Test your knowledge of this section – and reflect on solutions to stressful situations you have faced in the past year – by completing Learning activity 7.4 in Downloaded from hlayiso.com your Student’s Book. Life Orientation NQF Level 4

Unit 7.2 Effects of stress Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 4

Effects of stress on personal situations • Not being able to control your emotions • Worsened physical conditions • Becoming withdrawn • Struggling to communicate • Becoming obsessive • Relationships suffer. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Effects of stress on work situations • Feeling tired, sick & overworked • Struggling to concentrate • Becoming disorganised • Unable to perform at best level • Battling to make decisions • Becoming easily upset • Making mistakes • Abusing substances. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Mathematics NQF Level 2 Click above to play this video. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Learning activity 7.5 Module 7 Test your knowledge of this section – and answer a stress test – by completing Learning activity 7.5Downloaded from hlayiso.com in your Student’s Book. Life Orientation NQF Level 4

Harmful effects of using substances to alleviate stress • Examples of harmful substances:  Drugs  Cigarettes (nicotine)  Alcohol. • Bad side-effects. • They don’t do away with the problem (& usually make it worse). Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Harmful effects of drugs • May be:  OTC (over-the-counter) medicine  Prescribed medicine  Illegal drugs. • Bad physical & mental side-effects. • Don’t remove cause of stress. • Can be addictive. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Harmful effects of smoking • Can cause side-effects, cravings & addiction. • Dagga can cause:  Anxiety  Mood swings  Paranoia. • Cigarette smoking can cause:  Lung & other cancers  Lung disease  Heart disease. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Harmful effects of alcohol • Can cause:  Slurred speech  Loss of coordination & balance  Accidents  Bad judgements  Blackouts. • Can lead to:  Depression  Memory loss  Damaging internal organs. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Mathematics NQF Level 2 Click above to play this video. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Learning activity 7.6 Module 7 Test your knowledge of this section by completing Learning activity 7.6 in your Student’s Book. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 4

Unit 7.3 Preventing & managing stress Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 4

Strategies for handling stress • Don’t be a worrier. • Focus on positive things. • Keep your mind light:  Don’t bad talk yourself.  Read, watch & listen to positive materials.  Surround yourself with positive people.  Find joy in beautiful things, such as nature.  Practise being thankful. • Know yourself. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Strategies for handling stress • Take care of your relationships. • Take care of yourself.  Relax and rest often.  Exercise regularly. • Delegate some tasks and dump others.  Start with smaller tasks.  Avoid multi-tasking.  Discuss the issue with a mature person. Downloaded from hlayiso.com

Learning activity 7.7 Module 7 Test your knowledge of this unit – and practise ways to relieve stress – by completing Learning activity 7.7 in your Student’s Book. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 4

Summative assessment Module 7 Test your knowledge of this module by completing Summative assessment of Module 7 in your Student’s Book. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 4

Portfolio task 3 Complete Portfolio task 3A in your Student’s Book, or Portfolio task 3B or 3C from your lecturer. This is a formal assessment. Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation NQF Level 4

Mathematics NQF Level 2 Downloaded from hlayiso.com Life Orientation (Life Skills) NQF Level 4