CONTENTS Key Terms Summary Review Questions Project Ideas Weblinks Pedagogical Hints After reading this chapter, you would be able to: understand the nature, types and sources of stress as life challenges, examine the effects of stress on psychological functioning, learn ways to cope with stress, know about the life skills that help people to stay healthy, and understand the factors that promote positive health and well-being. N ATURE , T YPES AND S OURCES OF S TRESS While waiting to cross the road on a busy Monday morning, you may be temporarily stressed. But, because you are alert, vigilant and aware of the danger, you are able to cross the road safely. Faced with any challenge, we put in additional efforts and mobilise all our resources and the support system to meet the challenge.
All the challenges, problems, and difficult circumstances put us to stress . Thus, if handled properly, stress increases the Raj has been studying for his final examination which is going to take place tomorrow morning. He studies till a.m. in the night.
Unable to concentrate any more, he sets the alarm for a.m. and tries to go off to sleep. As he is very tense, he keeps tossing and turning in bed. Images flash through his mind of not being able to secure the marks he needs to opt for the subjects of his choice.
He blames himself for fooling around with his friends and not preparing thoroughly for the examination. In the morning he wakes up with a heavy head, misses breakfast, and barely makes it in time to school for his examination. He opens the question paper, his heart pounding, hands clammy with sweat and then he feels his mind has gone completely blank. Some of you may have lived through an experience such as Raj’s.
The challenge posed by examinations is common to all students. You are perhaps, already thinking about a career. What if you are denied this choice? Will you give up?
Life poses challenges all the time. Think of a child who loses her/his parents at a young age with no one to take care of her/him; a young woman who loses her husband in a car accident; parents who bring up children who are physically or mentally challenged; young girls/boys who have to spend long nights in call centres and then catch up on their sleep during the day time. Look around yourself and you will find that life is a big challenge. All of us try to meet these challenges in our own way.
Some of us succeed while others succumb to such life stresses. Life challenges are not necessarily stressful. Much depends on how a challenge is viewed. A number batsman in a cricket team will view facing a fast bowler’s delivery differently than would an opening batsman, who will look forward to such a challenge.
It is said that one’s best comes out when one is challenged. We will like to consider in this chapter how a life condition turns into a challenge or a cause of stress. Further, we will also see how people respond to various life challenges as well as stressful situations.