ABSTRACT
Stress is something that is person specific and it is therefore quite difficult to define it as it may mean different things to different people. However, when young people experience too much stress they become anxious, exhausted and tired, and consequently unable to function appropriately in both the learning and social contexts. All of us have an optimum stress level which enables us to function effectively and efficiently in our daily lives. Being able to make use of self-help strategies in this way should ensure that they can maintain a healthy balance of tension, growth, rest and self-nurturing. It is important that students recognise the symptoms of stress and the situations that they may experience which provoke such stresses in their lives. The facilitator can engage these students in an initial thought-storming activity by asking them how they think stressed students might behave.
