Research Topics: Overcoming Stress

Stress Management based Guidance Program

RATIONALE The rationale behind this guidance program is to help high school students cope and overcome types of stress at school and adhere to their personal effectiveness and help them manage a better stress management program during school activities as well as examination. Designing such group guidance program will provide students a better avenue to enjoy classroom and school environment without engaging themselves to certain exposure of too much stress as it can affect school performance and academic achievement within the process of dealing to situations that will bring consequences to their unique individuality. Although education has undergone reform movements, most guidance programs have stayed the same changed only by adding new duties and responsibilities in response to each new educational crisis. For the most part, guidance programs are essentially old models with elements added to adjust to new teaching and administration models. The time for change in guidance programs has finally presented itself.  A new interest in education by parents and community has caused educators to look carefully at resources and to develop an intense interest in stress management programs and finding new ways to overcome it. The guidance program was established to help students cope with stress, as (Aubrey, 1985) included helping students cope with stress at school the responsibilities continue to grow and few assigned responsibilities have been deleted even though parents and motivate students to stay active in school and increase their learning and how to establish learning rituals in the home without experiencing stress. CLIENTELE The group guidance program is to be proposed to a number of high school students which is a group of boys ages 14-16 years old from the secondary level of their education belonging to the middle income families that has tendencies of getting distracted easily to complex school activities, restless in such ways and is unable to cope with stress most especially after a very long examination. These group of boys will come from a reliable institution that is quite strict when it comes to school academic programs and follows straight curriculum under the rules and regulations of the school directors and that in this case, the effectiveness of the program designed will be a useful tool for this students in coping stress and have the appropriate stress management program through guidance supervision respectively. DEFINITION The group guidance program involves an extensive process integrating professional organization to address the unique concerns faced by the school educators so that these students can engage in more spontaneous activity, to magnify one’s plans, to give them enough services and to become more efficient in delivering them.” (Finn, 1990, p. 586) This guidance program has developed an emerging paradigm that identifies the student as the primary client and designs the efforts in terms of the results for students. The results new guidance approach (Johnson & Johnson, 1991) is one approach to address the changing paradigms of stress and school counseling. This program is designed to guarantee that students can acquire the competencies to avoid the presence of exam stress and become successful in school and to make a better transition to higher education and be able to participate in school activities without having stress and that these students can keep active and well coordinated with themselves (Drucker, 1971).  The school counselors, using research on student needs have developed stress-based the guidance program as these services have been designed based on needs assessments that describe thoughts, opinions and desires of students to the bottom line of demonstrating the impact of stress management guidance program on students. The role of the administrator becomes one of negotiating results and plans, monitoring and appreciating processes and coaching for new behaviors rather than being in a position of directing the activities of the counselors and judging their effectiveness based on elusive criteria or criteria developed for use with teachers. Counselors are expected to demonstrate leadership in the development of the guidance program to better meet student needs by the student support team and the management of the guidance program. A Systems Approach to Building a Stress Management-Based Program Stress management-based guidance provides a new paradigm that can change the perspective on counselors’ contributions and responsibilities. There is more than one way to approach the development of the guidance program in groups which may or may not include addressing how stress management guidance interacts with other aspects of the school activities program such as physical and cognitive activities, school climate, and responsibilities for other programs within the school. However, the one common focus is the need to ensure that all students gain specific techniques and useful ways they need to cope up with stress in school and to achieve a healthy student life as the stress management is to be delivered in different aspects of the guidance program with the intent of ensuring that counselors have sufficient time to address critical elements of the program. A Framework for School Guidance Programs (2003) addresses not only the student attitudes to be delivered but also the system of delivery, the management of the program and the accountability for standards. In this approach educators determine their own professional contributions and delivery system and that the system structure allows each group program to develop uniquely to meet the challenges of the specific clientele population. The guidance program elements provide a framework to identify the desired program results as well as system elements that are needed for implementation. Each element is an essential part of the system. When all elements are present, the system provides the framework within which administrators, parents and students work together to ensure that students receive the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to overcome the effects of stress in their teenage years within the use of a guidance program mandates a new method for effective evaluation.  Program Elements The guidance program is designed to be an integral part of stress management education of each student and the program consists of a system of elements, which are interrelated and other guidance activity programs useful for group of high school students. The structure of the program lends to the formation of a student support team which works collaboratively to meet the identified goals and students coping stages. The student support team consists of professionals on the school staff that includes health professionals and others. The elements of the guidance program are as follows: Mission: This statement articulates the intentionality of the guidance and student support program. It provides direction for student goals and program activities by specifying the desired long range outcomes for those coping students. It links with the statement of purpose or mission of the administration and ideally with the other student group guidance programs.  Philosophy The philosophy is a set of guiding principles that are used in the overcoming of stress and program implementation as well as the evaluation of the program. The principles address the students to focus on prevention, specify the management system, indicate how counselors will maintain their professional competence and indicate the activity guidelines for the stress management program. Conceptual Model of Guidance Program: A conceptual model of guidance for student stress management programs provides a framework for student goals and purpose in lieu to the bases in guidance program research. The conceptual model serves as an organizer for the elements of the program. Goals: Goals are an extension of the statement of mission and define the desired results to be met by the time the student is coping and overcome stress caused by examination and other factors as these are stated in terms of what the students are to achieve and be able to develop a program for personal wellness and effectiveness and avoid stress to kill their body stamina that can bring negative effect in terms of their attitudes. Management System (Data Flow Schedule): The management system is the process by which the coping stage and its results are being established. It identifies who is responsible for students acquiring predetermined behaviors, what data will be generated and analyzed. There is a clear division between the effectives as agreed upon the stress guidance program responsibilities and compliance to duties that have been assigned by others. Stress Management Agreements: The stress management is viewed in terms of the coping ways of the students that will achieve and related to the program goals; they are not lists of processes and activities the counselor will perform. The results agreements include a separate section for the desired program activities and duties. The guidance program leader responsible for the guidance program will be active in the negotiation of the stress management agreement in order to assure that the program activities are useful for students in coping and overcoming stress to the desired responsibilities expected of the students.  Needs Assessment: Stress Management needs will identify the gap of what the students should achieved related to the goals defined for the program and provide directions for student support personnel to consider establishing as a need priority that is used to determine better effectiveness of the management guidance program and serve as a logical link for counselors and teachers to work together to ensure attainment of the specified purpose in the aim of helping students cope with stress as there is a need for stress guidance intervention. Stress Management Plans: The plans completed by the counselors indicate how the stress management will be overcome by the students as the plan contains the students ability to cope stress problems along with the activities and resources and how the evaluation will be done. Monitoring System: This is the process of ensuring that each student acquires the specified stress management guidance program. It is a system designed to communicate to the student and parent, the individual student’s progress in attaining stress management guidance-related goals. It is also designed to ensure that no student is left behind for the program activities. Advisory Council: This committee that consists of representation of those groups affected by the program and the purpose is to review guidance program effectiveness for stress management and recommend approaches for the students to get red of it in every process. Master Calendar of Events: A calendar of guidance program events to communicate program activities to allow students, parents to know what, when and where activities are scheduled as this element serves as a communication vehicle and increases the visibility of the program in the school and the community. The way one sees and thinks about stress guidance must undergo a fundamental change if guidance is to move ahead. The approach focuses on the student as the primary client and not on the services being provided, counselors are encouraged to break out of established boundaries, to become more creative and to involve others in the process and provide a way for students to overcome stress and build a better school community and expand the resources available to help students. Students under stress sometimes develop erroneous ideas about themselves. The degree to which these beliefs are irrational and important corresponds to the degree of emotional upset and subsequent distress they cause. When upset by fears, it’s good idea to consider whether there’s any support for these beliefs and imagine the worst possible outcome if correct. The objective is to consider the feelings of other people and thereby minimize unnecessary and stressful friction. Stress skit The students performed the stress skit intervention on the third day as an introduction of the cognitive component of stress reduction. First, asked the children, “What are some different forms of stress?” Responses are to be discussed, listed on a chalkboard, and divided into categories such as physical and mental. The students divided themselves into three groups and each group brainstormed, developed and acted out a skit related to their group’s assigned form of stress. Each child in the group acted out a particular aspect of how they were affected by stress. This interactive, non-pressured learning environment was frequently reproduced throughout the program.  Stress collage In another activity, the students are to asked to create a large “stress collage” by finding images in magazines that were either relaxing or stressful. The stressful and relaxing images were pasted on opposite sides of a large piece of construction paper to illustrate the contrast between the two states of being. The students chose images based on facial expressions, bodily postures, actions, and environments that they perceived as relaxing or stressful. Participants had an opportunity to view other’s choices and discuss them as they worked. This activity allowed participants to be exposed to and to recognize different feelings and emotions, to be aware that different people perceive each emotion differently and to build experience practicing the skill of expressing one’s emotions artistically. Throughout this program, stress and relaxation techniques were used with the students in the hope that the students would realize that there are different ways of experiencing and dealing with stress. The students were taught that they had very powerful resources and ways of handling and dealing with stressful life events because it was understood that some of the participants might experience fear and anxiety in connection with some of these exercises, students were always given the opportunity to end their participation at any time. It is important for the participants to be able to identify sources of stress and then to have interventions to target the stress. There is no one way to help the body repair and promote growth as there is one useful technique for students to cope up stress – diaphragmatic breathing activity. Assume a comfortable position. Rest the left hand on top of the abdomen, over the navel and then rest the right hand on the left. Imagine an empty pouch inside the abdomen beneath the hands. Begin to inhale, imagining the air is entering the nose and descending to fill that internal pouch. The hands will rise as the pouch is filled with air. While continuing to inhale, imagine the pouch filling to the top. Each inhalation should last two seconds for the first week then lengthen to two and a half or three seconds as skills develop. Slowly begin to exhale to empty the pouch. During exhalation, the raised abdomen and chest will recede. This step should last as long as inhalation or may last one second longer after a week or two of practice. Physical exercise is one of the most effective and healthiest ways to diffuse stress. The exercise should be aerobic, that is, it should entail as sustained increase in oxygen demand. It should contain coordinated, rhythmic movements rather than random and uncoordinated ones. In addition, the exercise should either allow one to “win” on every occasion. Students who begin stress management programs should try to include several strategies as students might choose one technique to avoid stressors, one to relax and one to vent excessive stress.  There are a number of students who experience difficulty making the transition from childhood to early adolescence and may be described as high-risk. The objective of guidance program activity is to promote an adaptive personal choice behavior in a high-risk group of high school students. School counselors play an integral role in creating developmentally appropriate services for this age group. In general, students have unique needs based on the rapid shifts in their physical, psychological and social development (Roeser, Eccles, & Sameroff, 2000). The effectiveness of this guidance program enables the students to feel that the stress management has been beneficial in a lot of ways as it was rewarding because it provided a much needed service to the students while providing the counselors with a valuable learning experience. It can be frustrating because the changes noted in the students seemed slow. The students may feel that they have profited from the program. The status of this group of high school students resulted in their having more needs for stress management development in the area of personal and social development, the counseling personnel able to meet as the guidance program has resulted in a more comprehensive school program that will help prevent present risks of stress.  Students are encouraged to describe their values and aspirations in an effort to promote a healthy, future oriented self; as well as to enhance intrinsic motivation. The students also explore their daily choices to evaluate whether these choices are likely to promote or hinder their aspirations. Additionally, individual counseling sessions are used to develop more effective methods of problem solution and self-assertion. Weekly group guidance activities focus on the development of positive conflict resolution and adaptive peer relationships. While individual counseling and group guidance are not coordinated, students have an opportunity to practice and implement the problem solving and assertiveness strategies learned in individual sessions. As many of these students were referred to the program following discipline referrals, the majority of the group guidance activities use cognitive behavioral techniques and psycho education to develop stress resolution strategies. The group guidance activities explore both negative and positive peer influences as well as provide time to practice ways to avoid negative peer pressure due to stress. REFERENCES   Angus, F. (1989). Three approaches to stress management for children. Elementary School Guidance and Counseling, 23, 228-233. Brady, F. (1998). The role of physical activity throughout the lifespan: Implications for counselors and teachers. Journal of Humanistic Education and Development, 36, 234-240. Campbell, C. A., & Dahir, C. A. (1997). Sharing the vision: The national standards for school counseling programs. Alexandria, VA: American School Counselor Association. Coddington, R. D. (1984). Measuring the stressfulness of a child’s environment. In J. H. Humphrey (Ed.), Stress in childhood. New York: AMS Press. Davis, M., Eshelman, E. R., & McKay, M. (2000). The relaxation and stress reduction workbook (5th ed.). Santa Clara, CA: Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Center. Ewart, C. K., & Kolodner, K. B. (1992). Diminished pulse pressure response to psychological stress: Early precursor of essential hypertension? Psychosomatic Medicine, 54(4), 436-446. Fried, R. (2000). Breathing as a clinical tool. In D. I. Mostofsky & D. H. Barlow (Eds.), The management of stress and anxiety in medical disorders (pp. 100-188). Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Humphrey, J. N. (1984). Creative relaxation: A stress reduction technique for children. In J. H. Humphrey (Ed.), Stress in childhood. New York: AMS Press.           Johnson, C. D., & Johnson, S. K. (1996), The new guidance: Building a systems model of competency-based guidance and Competency-based guidance: A systems approach. ERIC Digest. Competency-Based Guidance Programs. Johnson, S. K., & Johnson, C. D. (1991). The new guidance: A systems approach to pupil personnel programs. California Association of Counseling and Development, 11, 5-14. Johnson, C. D., & Johnson, S. K. (Eds.). (2002). Building stronger school counseling programs: Bringing futuristic approaches into the present. Greensboro, NC: ERIC/CAPS Publications. Koeppen, A. S. (1974, October). Relaxation training for children. Elementary School Guidance and Counseling, 14-21. Sandlund, E. S., & Norlander, T. (2000). The effects of Tai Chi Chuan relaxation and exercise on stress responses and well-being: An overview of research. International Journal of Stress Management, 7(2), 139-149. Scott, A. H. (1999 November-December). Wellness works: Community service health promotion groups led by occupational therapy students. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 53(6), 566-574. Smith, M. S., & Womack, W. M. (1987). Stress Management techniques in childhood and adolescence: Relaxation training, meditation, hypnosis, and biofeedback: Appropriate clinical applications. Clinical Pediatrics, 26(11), 581-585. Trotter, J. C. (1998). Coping with stress: A stress control program for troubled youth (5th ed.). Atlanta, GA: Wholistic Stress Control Institute. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Stress Management based Guidance Program

RATIONALE The rationale behind this guidance program is to help high school students cope and overcome types of stress at s...

Guidance program

RATIONALE The rationale behind this guidance program is to help high school students cope and overcome types of stress at school and adhere to their personal effectiveness and help them manage a better stress management program during school activities as well as examination. Designing such group guidance program will provide students a better avenue to enjoy classroom and school environment without engaging themselves to certain exposure of too much stress as it can affect school performance and academic achievement within the process of dealing to situations that will bring consequences to their unique individuality. Although education has undergone reform movements, most guidance programs have stayed the same changed only by adding new duties and responsibilities in response to each new educational crisis. For the most part, guidance programs are essentially old models with elements added to adjust to new teaching and administration models. The time for change in guidance programs has finally presented itself.         A new interest in education by parents and community has caused educators to look carefully at resources and to develop an intense interest in stress management programs and finding new ways to overcome it. The guidance program was established to help students cope with stress, as ( 1985) included helping students cope with stress at school the responsibilities continue to grow and few assigned responsibilities have been deleted even though parents and motivate students to stay active in school and increase their learning and how to establish learning rituals in the home without experiencing stress. CLIENTELE The group guidance program is to be proposed to a number of high school students which is a group of boys ages 14-16 years old from the secondary level of their education belonging to the middle income families that has tendencies of getting distracted easily to complex school activities, restless in such ways and is unable to cope with stress most especially after a very long examination. These group of boys will come from a reliable institution that is quite strict when it comes to school academic programs and follows straight curriculum under the rules and regulations of the school directors and that in this case, the effectiveness of the program designed will be a useful tool for this students in coping stress and have the appropriate stress management program through guidance supervision respectively. DEFINITION The group guidance program involves an extensive process integrating professional organization to address the unique concerns faced by the school educators so that these students can engage in more spontaneous activity, to magnify one’s plans, to give them enough services and to become more efficient in delivering them.” (1990,) This guidance program has developed an emerging paradigm that identifies the student as the primary client and designs the efforts in terms of the results for students. The results new guidance approach (1991) is one approach to address the changing paradigms of stress and school counseling. This program is designed to guarantee that students can acquire the competencies to avoid the presence of exam stress and become successful in school and to make a better transition to higher education and be able to participate in school activities without having stress and that these students can keep active and well coordinated with themselves ( 1971).          The school counselors, using research on student needs have developed stress-based the guidance program as these services have been designed based on needs assessments that describe thoughts, opinions and desires of students to the bottom line of demonstrating the impact of stress management guidance program on students. The role of the administrator becomes one of negotiating results and plans, monitoring and appreciating processes and coaching for new behaviors rather than being in a position of directing the activities of the counselors and judging their effectiveness based on elusive criteria or criteria developed for use with teachers. Counselors are expected to demonstrate leadership in the development of the guidance program to better meet student needs by the student support team and the management of the guidance program. A Systems Approach to Building a Stress Management-Based Program Stress management-based guidance provides a new paradigm that can change the perspective on counselors’ contributions and responsibilities. There is more than one way to approach the development of the guidance program in groups which may or may not include addressing how stress management guidance interacts with other aspects of the school activities program such as physical and cognitive activities, school climate, and responsibilities for other programs within the school. However, the one common focus is the need to ensure that all students gain specific techniques and useful ways they need to cope up with stress in school and to achieve a healthy student life as the stress management is to be delivered in different aspects of the guidance program with the intent of ensuring that counselors have sufficient time to address critical elements of the program. A Framework for School Guidance Programs (2003) addresses not only the student attitudes to be delivered but also the system of delivery, the management of the program and the accountability for standards. In this approach educators determine their own professional contributions and delivery system and that the system structure allows each group program to develop uniquely to meet the challenges of the specific clientele population. The guidance program elements provide a framework to identify the desired program results as well as system elements that are needed for implementation. Each element is an essential part of the system. When all elements are present, the system provides the framework within which administrators, parents and students work together to ensure that students receive the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to overcome the effects of stress in their teenage years within the use of a guidance program mandates a new method for effective evaluation.   Program Elements The guidance program is designed to be an integral part of stress management education of each student and the program consists of a system of elements, which are interrelated and other guidance activity programs useful for group of high school students. The structure of the program lends to the formation of a student support team which works collaboratively to meet the identified goals and students coping stages. The student support team consists of professionals on the school staff that includes health professionals and others. The elements of the guidance program are as follows: Mission: This statement articulates the intentionality of the guidance and student support program. It provides direction for student goals and program activities by specifying the desired long range outcomes for those coping students. It links with the statement of purpose or mission of the administration and ideally with the other student group guidance programs.       Philosophy The philosophy is a set of guiding principles that are used in the overcoming of stress and program implementation as well as the evaluation of the program. The principles address the students to focus on prevention, specify the management system, indicate how counselors will maintain their professional competence and indicate the activity guidelines for the stress management program. Conceptual Model of Guidance Program: A conceptual model of guidance for student stress management programs provides a framework for student goals and purpose in lieu to the bases in guidance program research. The conceptual model serves as an organizer for the elements of the program. Goals: Goals are an extension of the statement of mission and define the desired results to be met by the time the student is coping and overcome stress caused by examination and other factors as these are stated in terms of what the students are to achieve and be able to develop a program for personal wellness and effectiveness and avoid stress to kill their body stamina that can bring negative effect in terms of their attitudes.   Management System (Data Flow Schedule): The management system is the process by which the coping stage and its results are being established. It identifies who is responsible for students acquiring predetermined behaviors, what data will be generated and analyzed. There is a clear division between the effectives as agreed upon the stress guidance program responsibilities and compliance to duties that have been assigned by others. Stress Management Agreements: The stress management is viewed in terms of the coping ways of the students that will achieve and related to the program goals; they are not lists of processes and activities the counselor will perform. The results agreements include a separate section for the desired program activities and duties. The guidance program leader responsible for the guidance program will be active in the negotiation of the stress management agreement in order to assure that the program activities are useful for students in coping and overcoming stress to the desired responsibilities expected of the students.       Needs Assessment: Stress Management needs will identify the gap of what the students should achieved related to the goals defined for the program and provide directions for student support personnel to consider establishing as a need priority that is used to determine better effectiveness of the management guidance program and serve as a logical link for counselors and teachers to work together to ensure attainment of the specified purpose in the aim of helping students cope with stress as there is a need for stress guidance intervention. Stress Management Plans: The plans completed by the counselors indicate how the stress management will be overcome by the students as the plan contains the students ability to cope stress problems along with the activities and resources and how the evaluation will be done. Monitoring System: This is the process of ensuring that each student acquires the specified stress management guidance program. It is a system designed to communicate to the student and parent, the individual student’s progress in attaining stress management guidance-related goals. It is also designed to ensure that no student is left behind for the program activities. Advisory Council: This committee that consists of representation of those groups affected by the program and the purpose is to review guidance program effectiveness for stress management and recommend approaches for the students to get red of it in every process. Master Calendar of Events: A calendar of guidance program events to communicate program activities to allow students, parents to know what, when and where activities are scheduled as this element serves as a communication vehicle and increases the visibility of the program in the school and the community. The way one sees and thinks about stress guidance must undergo a fundamental change if guidance is to move ahead. The approach focuses on the student as the primary client and not on the services being provided, counselors are encouraged to break out of established boundaries, to become more creative and to involve others in the process and provide a way for students to overcome stress and build a better school community and expand the resources available to help students.     Students under stress sometimes develop erroneous ideas about themselves. The degree to which these beliefs are irrational and important corresponds to the degree of emotional upset and subsequent distress they cause. When upset by fears, it’s good idea to consider whether there’s any support for these beliefs and imagine the worst possible outcome if correct. The objective is to consider the feelings of other people and thereby minimize unnecessary and stressful friction. Stress skit The students performed the stress skit intervention on the third day as an introduction of the cognitive component of stress reduction. First, asked the children, “What are some different forms of stress?” Responses are to be discussed, listed on a chalkboard, and divided into categories such as physical and mental. The students divided themselves into three groups and each group brainstormed, developed and acted out a skit related to their group’s assigned form of stress. Each child in the group acted out a particular aspect of how they were affected by stress. This interactive, non-pressured learning environment was frequently reproduced throughout the program.       Stress collage In another activity, the students are to asked to create a large “stress collage” by finding images in magazines that were either relaxing or stressful. The stressful and relaxing images were pasted on opposite sides of a large piece of construction paper to illustrate the contrast between the two states of being. The students chose images based on facial expressions, bodily postures, actions, and environments that they perceived as relaxing or stressful. Participants had an opportunity to view other’s choices and discuss them as they worked. This activity allowed participants to be exposed to and to recognize different feelings and emotions, to be aware that different people perceive each emotion differently and to build experience practicing the skill of expressing one’s emotions artistically. Throughout this program, stress and relaxation techniques were used with the students in the hope that the students would realize that there are different ways of experiencing and dealing with stress. The students were taught that they had very powerful resources and ways of handling and dealing with stressful life events because it was understood that some of the participants might experience fear and anxiety in connection with some of these exercises, students were always given the opportunity to end their participation at any time. It is important for the participants to be able to identify sources of stress and then to have interventions to target the stress. There is no one way to help the body repair and promote growth as there is one useful technique for students to cope up stress – diaphragmatic breathing activity. Assume a comfortable position. Rest the left hand on top of the abdomen, over the navel and then rest the right hand on the left. Imagine an empty pouch inside the abdomen beneath the hands. Begin to inhale, imagining the air is entering the nose and descending to fill that internal pouch. The hands will rise as the pouch is filled with air. While continuing to inhale, imagine the pouch filling to the top. Each inhalation should last two seconds for the first week then lengthen to two and a half or three seconds as skills develop. Slowly begin to exhale to empty the pouch. During exhalation, the raised abdomen and chest will recede. This step should last as long as inhalation or may last one second longer after a week or two of practice. Physical exercise is one of the most effective and healthiest ways to diffuse stress. The exercise should be aerobic, that is, it should entail as sustained increase in oxygen demand. It should contain coordinated, rhythmic movements rather than random and uncoordinated ones. In addition, the exercise should either allow one to “win” on every occasion. Students who begin stress management programs should try to include several strategies as students might choose one technique to avoid stressors, one to relax and one to vent excessive stress.  There are a number of students who experience difficulty making the transition from childhood to early adolescence and may be described as high-risk. The objective of guidance program activity is to promote an adaptive personal choice behavior in a high-risk group of high school students. School counselors play an integral role in creating developmentally appropriate services for this age group. In general, students have unique needs based on the rapid shifts in their physical, psychological and social development (2000). The effectiveness of this guidance program enables the students to feel that the stress management has been beneficial in a lot of ways as it was rewarding because it provided a much needed service to the students while providing the counselors with a valuable learning experience. It can be frustrating because the changes noted in the students seemed slow. The students may feel that they have profited from the program. The status of this group of high school students resulted in their having more needs for stress management development in the area of personal and social development, the counseling personnel able to meet as the guidance program has resulted in a more comprehensive school program that will help prevent present risks of stress.     Students are encouraged to describe their values and aspirations in an effort to promote a healthy, future oriented self; as well as to enhance intrinsic motivation. The students also explore their daily choices to evaluate whether these choices are likely to promote or hinder their aspirations. Additionally, individual counseling sessions are used to develop more effective methods of problem solution and self-assertion. Weekly group guidance activities focus on the development of positive conflict resolution and adaptive peer relationships. While individual counseling and group guidance are not coordinated, students have an opportunity to practice and implement the problem solving and assertiveness strategies learned in individual sessions. As many of these students were referred to the program following discipline referrals, the majority of the group guidance activities use cognitive behavioral techniques and psycho education to develop stress resolution strategies. The group guidance activities explore both negative and positive peer influences as well as provide time to practice ways to avoid negative peer pressure due to stress.     Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Guidance program

RATIONALE The rationale behind this guidance program is to help high school students cope and overcome types of stress at sc...

Learning Journal: Stress Management

Learning Journal: Stress Management   Introduction             Stress is the “wear and tear” our bodies experience as we adjust to our continuously changing environment (2005). It is said to have physical and emotional effects towards us, such that it can create positive or negative feelings, leading to action, new awareness and perspectives (2005). The importance of stress lies on the fact that its presence in our system involves a myriad of constructive and destructive emotions, which allows us to develop and improve as human beings. This is why this journal will be useful for me to assess my learning in relation to stress management and its application to my development and improvement as a person.   Learning Journal             It has been reported that stress management includes techniques aimed at equipping a person with effective coping mechanisms for dealing with psychological stress (2007). This type of management is very well needed because it enables us to assess our personalities and our approach towards several aspects surrounding us that may become sources of stress. Managing stress is important, for it allows us to adopt and learn skills and strategies, which would enable us cope with the demands of life and the physical, emotional, and mental pressures that may affect us.             As mentioned, stress is being affected by several factors, including work, family, love life, personality, technology, other persons, the community, and the society as a whole. If we are not adept in coping with the demands and the changes that happen brought about by the myriad of these factors, then we will not be able to fight and survive the effects of stress. Because of this, I believe that to be able to adopt and apply strategies and techniques in stress management, it is essential first to examine and assess our own personalities, emotional intelligence, and competencies.              (2004) uses the illustration of an iceberg to emphasize the difference between our personality and character, wherein, personality corresponds to the tip of the iceberg, showing what people first see and includes our image, techniques, and skills that can influence outward success, while what underlies the tip of an iceberg is its body, which corresponds to our character, encompassing our integrity, maturity and mentality.             In relation to this, I believe that personality includes our positive and negative habits, or the intersection of our knowledge, skills and desires (2004). This is because the interaction of these three aspects influences our actions in dealing with certain circumstances. In addition, knowledge, skills, and desires build our image as a whole, and this image is what we usually show to our peers. However, the interaction of these three aspects also contributes to building stress. The accumulation of too much knowledge or “information overload” can cause migraines and severe headaches, and may impair the proper function and thinking of an individual. Personally speaking, I also tend to experience this in several instances, thus, causing me terrible headaches in the long-run. Likewise, having the lack of knowledge regarding certain topics or issues can also cause pressure and in turn, too much stress. The accumulation of knowledge would not be useful without applying them, so skills become action of knowledge. The development and application of our skills can also cause stress, especially when dealing with other individuals in a group or team. I believe that knowledge and skills goes hand in hand with one another, and enables one to become successful in any endeavor. However, an important factor to take note of is the role of our emotional intelligence in the development of knowledge and skills. Emotional intelligence is the ability to perceive, identify, and manage emotions, and provides the basis for the kinds of social and emotional competencies (2000). The development of our emotional intelligence determines the way in which we deal with our personality and character as a whole. I also deem as true that a well-developed emotional intelligence can control our desires and habits, such that our personality and character will be regarded as pleasant and positive. Moreover, I believe that through a developed emotional intelligence, we will be able to cope with stress more easily because being emotionally intelligent means that one is more adept in addressing problems and pressures being presented to him or her. He or she is more emotionally and mentally mature in dealing with pressures and problems being encountered. In this way, the use of positive and negative emotions would be well balanced to properly and effectively assess the situation.             In relation to work, several competencies are associated to emotional intelligence, and these include self-awareness, self-confidence, self-motivation, social competence, and social skills. Self-Awareness is our ability to read and understand emotions as well as determine their effects on work performance and relationships, and the evaluation of our individual strengths and limitations (2000). Self-Confidence is having a strong and positive sense of self-worth, while Self-Motivation or Self-Management involves the drive to meet an internal standard of excellence, the readiness to seize opportunities, the ability to keep disruptive emotions and impulses under control, and skills at adjusting to changing situations and overcoming obstacles (2000). Social Competence involves the skill at sensing other people’s emotions, understanding their perspective, and taking an active interest in their concerns, while Social Skills involve the development of leadership, communication, conflict management, and teamwork and collaboration (2000).               The interaction of these competencies takes part in the development of our emotional intelligence. However, the development of these competencies is not simultaneous with one another, such that, one or two competencies is or are more developed compared to other competencies. This difference in development is brought about by the differences in our personalities and character, which are also affected by several factors in our overall development as a person. This is why several emotional intelligence tests and diagnostics are being developed to help one assess or evaluate his or her emotional intelligence quotients. In assessing one’s emotional intelligence and knowing his or her lack of development in certain aspects, one will be able to find ways and adopt techniques that would help in the development and improvement of his or her emotional intelligence.             I believe that this information is essential to take note of and discussed to be able to manage and handle stress. From these, I can say that I was able to gain knowledge and information from the modules, which are useful in my aim and objective in managing stressful factors and situations. Knowing the several competencies that affect emotional intelligence is useful in determining my weaknesses and lack of development in certain aspects. Through this, I will be able to engage in activities that can improve my skills in developing my personality and skills in relating with other people. With my personal development and improvement, I will be able to address problems and crises in managing stress. At present, I can say that I do not have the developed skills and techniques in managing and handling stressful situations and the factors along with it. I perceive it as consequences of my lack of development in terms of emotional intelligence and control over my negative habits that contribute to my mismanagement of my own stress levels and the factors that affect it. Because of this, I believe that the right and proper thing to do is to adopt and apply some of the seven positive habits of  (2004). First habit that can be applied is being proactive, which involves the four human endowments, including self-awareness, imagination, conscience, and independent will (2004). With the stimulation of stress, I can apply this first habit by understanding first my emotions and evaluating my strengths and weakness. Through self-awareness, I can use my imagination, conscience, and independent will to come up with a response towards the stimulus or stress. The second habit that can be adopted and applied is to begin with the end in mind, which involves visualizing where you want to be and planning how to get there. It involves observing integrity, which will enable me to earn trust and respect from others, gain rewards of hard work, and believe in self and my decisions (2004). With this visualization and implementation, I will be able to develop my interpersonal leadership skills, effective communication and creative coordination with myself, which can all be applied and used in building effective and efficient interrelationships with others. Through the use and development of this habit, I would have the opportunity to relate effectively with myself and foster a good relationship with my inner being. Having a good intrapersonal relationship would allow me to assess and evaluate my abilities and skills, thus, would help me in the future to address problems and crises brought about by several factors surrounding me. Therefore, this would make me a stronger individual in managing and handling stress. The last habit that I can adopt and apply in managing stress is the seventh habit, which is to sharpen the saw, or the process of using and continuously renewing the physical, social, emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects of my life (2004). Physical, social, emotional, mental and spiritual renewal would be very useful because through these, I will be able to develop my self even more, with the help of other people, such as my family, friends and the community. Physical renewal involves developing and improving my physical strength and well-being through exercise and sports; mental renewal is having new knowledge and learning, such as taking up academic or technical courses; and emotional renewal involves being happy and contented with what is happening to my life right now and with the things I am involved with. These renewals will not be effective without the interaction and involvement of other individuals, which allows me to undergo social renewal. The activities that I have mentioned will allow me to interact with other individuals and the community, and help me give importance to spiritual renewal, which is being contented and happy with all the blessings that I have and enjoy. This would strengthen my relationship with God, and enable me to gather knowledge, skills, and strength in overcoming stress. Thus, these developments would give me the opportunity to know myself, therefore, making life easier and stress more manageable.   Conclusion             From the above discussion, I was able to point out that stress management is important to be able to control and manage all the factors related to stress. In addition, I was able to emphasize that habits and emotional intelligence play significant roles in the development of an individual, which would enable one to manage and handle stress effectively. To be able to manage and control stress, we should be able to adopt and apply several positive habits stated by  (2004), to help us improve and develop our personality and character.         Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Learning Journal: Stress Management

Learning Journal: Stress Management Introduction Stress is the “wear and tear” our bodies experience as we adjust to our...

Overcoming Stress and Pressures: An Assessment Made for the Current Economic Situation of Hong Kon

Introduction The economic status of a certain country is one factor that determines its stability. The higher the economic status it has achieved, the more stable it can be considered. If we were to compare economy to a certain thing, it would be an engine. The more efficient the engine is, the better the country gets. The faster it works, then it will produce and manufacture more. The more suitable the engine is with the kind of work it is for, the better quality of products we can get from it. The number of quality products a country is producing for its economy is also one determinant of how large is the scope of its assets. However, the success and reputation of a country in terms of production depends, not only on the quantity and quality of the products it produces, but also on the quality of the people that produce and distribute them. Definitely, an engine needs an efficient source of manpower, an engineer for that matter. If the engineer has enough knowledge and is very efficient in his job, then, the work will be very productive. Looking at it on a greater perspective, let us say, in a country where the engine is the economy and the engineer would be the people, people working for the said economy should be very knowledgeable, resourceful and efficient as well. These people I am referring to is the country’s labor force. For a country’s economy to boost, government service or assistance is not the sole factor. It strongly needs people to supervise it properly. Seeing to it that the works are well distributed and time is well managed. But what if the labor force of a certain country is facing difficulties in the aspect of working attitude brought about by stress? What if employees suffer from physical and mental illness? What possible remedies can we do? How can we achieve our goal of overcoming stress and pressures? This paper aims to help, if not completely answer the problems regarding stress and pressures in work. An assessment was made for the current economic situation of Hong Kong, which is starting to decline because of the problems mentioned. Discussion Hong Kong was known as one of those countries considered to stable in terms of economic aspect. Despite the fact that it was a colony before of the British, still, they manage to provide their country a better economy (Mushkat, 1997). Employment was good; tourism industry is as well being uplifted, which attracts foreign investors. Their technology is also ahead compared to other Asian countries. There were no attempts to destabilize the government, which is a manifestation that the constituents are satisfied with the services they are receiving. It was more or less six years since the former British colony returned to its Chinese rule but Hong Kong is experiencing a decline in its economy. External trade growth has slowed; domestic demand has clearly been flat. So, too, has the property market. Unemployment has risen marginally and consumer price deflation has eased (Perkin, 2001). Because of this government is trying to solve the hazards they are facing in order recover from the fall of their economy.  Some studies say that one reason behind it is the labor force of Hong Kong. People here are experiencing too much stress and pressure in work. Their performance is very much affected by this dilemma. Being stressed and pressured has a big influence in their attitude towards their job. Their efficiency is becoming more questionable. Lowered productivity is being observed. These are just some of the costly effects of stress. Stress creates a vicious circle that can affect your body and your attitude. Its effects are not only insidious, but also costly. When a person is affected by stress, it creates tension. This, in turn, will produce symptoms. The perception of symptoms increases the stress (Monat, 1977). One cited reason for stress is unhealthy lifestyle. They tend to forget their social lives and if I may say so, their lives become dull. They lack recreational activities that will relax their bodies and minds. Everybody believes that too much workload is very tiring not only to the body, but also to the mind and spirit of a person. I am not also saying that they should take life and work in a less-serious manner. What do we mean here is spend time to enjoy, relax and unwind. Healthy lifestyle not only comprises body exercises for relaxation. It also includes the kind of diet we are engage to. Diet does not actually mean eating less. It may be in some cases, but aside from the amount of food we are taking in, it is also important to know the kinds of food we eat. Stress is not good for the heart, so as fatty foods. So we have to monitor our eating habits so we can have a healthy body as well. Another is the case of women in Hong Kong, it is noted that most of them are working mothers. They are one of those Asian countries believing in the equality of men and women in work. Being working mothers, however, they are still task to do households chores. That is why before they go to their respective offices they are already worn and burned out in addressing the needs of her family. Family problem is just an ordinary scenario wherever we are. This also accounts for the stress women are encountering. The work of a mother, as many people say, is an unpayable job and a noble profession; so, it is reasonable for every mother to be pressured in work. No matter how efficient and dedicated she may be, she can be affected by ‘off days’, personal problems and illness. It is worse if there is extra pressure to perform well under adverse conditions, such as difficult working scenarios or staff shortages. These problems are to be addressed as soon as it can still be prevented, otherwise, it will affect the country’s economy as well as its inhabitants well being. This should be given enough attention to protect the welfare of the country. In the face of economic downturns, some studies suggest solutions to this problem. But this should be done in full cooperation of the people. They should show initiative in participating to achieve the goal-to cope up with stress. It also demands that people should be prepared for them to be comfortable with the possible changes they may encounter. Recommendations and Implementations There are some simple suggestions on how to cope up with stress. One would be the preparation. For example in going to work, prepare your things the night before so you wouldn’t be experiencing rushing and cramming. This would only allow you to be bothered and disturbed the next day. Setting appointments ahead of time is another. This would allow you to transact business early even before the deadline. In line with this is time management. A difficult work should weigh greater time than the easy ones. Furthermore, start with the simple ones before jumping into the complicated problems. Separating personal problems with work is also advised. Settle first your problems at home before going to work. Yet, if not possible, never let problems ruin your performance, otherwise, it will influence your working habits badly. One thing I believe will do the best thing believing in oneself. As the cliché goes, sound mind is the sound body. Being optimistic at all times will enlighten your burdens with regards your job. Surely this will lead to better results. The starting point of this solution lies behind the subject- the person involved in coping up with stress. First and foremost, people are advised to create a healthy attitude and clear perspective in work. They should always have a positive outlook so that the outcome of their works would be positive also. Having clear thoughts with regards to work would enable a person work effectively. After setting the mind with a clear vision, the next thing to do is focus. Never let unnecessary things interfere with your mind-setting. Focusing one’s mind towards a certain goal would mean that you have a specific target for your work. It’s as if, “hitting the bull’s eye”, as the cliché goes. This would enable a person attain his specific goal in work. It is also good to learn how to balance circumstances. It is sometimes difficult when contrasting ideas collide. Priority here is a very important thing to consider. Knowing how to prioritize things would free us from being confused. Time management is also important in dealing with pressures. When meeting the deadline, people usually rush not knowing that their work is affected. Avoid cramming. If possible it would be helpful to set a timetable for yourself. Having this does not necessarily mean that you would strictly follow what you listed on it. Thus, it will serve as your guideline in accomplishing an assigned task. After the subject was done with these by himself, he may now start to involve his environment. The environment I am referring to is the workplace. A conducive place to work is very much advisable. A well-ventilated working place is necessary because it creates a very nice atmosphere while working. When you are comfortable with the place where you are working, then, you can work without too much pressure. Let us say in an office, it is nice to see a light-painted one because it is very pleasant in the eyes of anyone who will one working on it. Things such as tables, chairs, computers and books should be properly arranged. In this case, loss of some important files would be avoided. Nobody would want to work in an office where things were scattered everywhere, isn’t it? The next step would be your relationship with your colleagues. It would be so nice if camaraderie is observed in a group. Sharing ideas would be very beneficial to all. Brainstorming is advised especially in planning for a long-term project. Each one in the group may have his suggestions as well as alternatives to have better choices. Rejecting ones ideas does not do well. It will only start a misunderstanding as you go on with your project. According to studies, too much stress can lead to heart problems. It can also sometimes cause emotional disturbance, even worse – a nervous breakdown. Because of this it also suggested that we should have a relaxation once in a while. Having a recreation is healthy to have other outlet of coping with stress. But having a recreation is bounded by the idea of having a healthy lifestyle also. This means that your chosen recreation should be healthy for you. A massage therapy is proven healthy especially to those involved in a physical work. When you feel that you are very tired and restless, it is a good therapy. Engaging in sports is also an advisable form of relaxation. Other suggested recreational activities are ballroom dancing, outings and watching movies at theaters. For younger female workers, a slumber party (pajama party or sleepover to a friend’s house) is good time to bond with your friends. Here, you and your friends are free to talk about topics that do not include work. Less-serious kind of conversation lightens the situation whenever you are burdened with too much problems with regards to work. The above-mentioned activities will not only beneficial to employee’s social life but more so to his balanced and healthy lifestyle and mental health as well. The management themselves has also their part in this project. Being the employers of these workers, they should be the one to provide stress-relieving exercises to their staff. A 3-day seminar for the employees will enable the to unwind and for once free themselves from worries and pressures in work. Why not engage in a charitable activity for example having a day in an orphanage to promote juvenile well-being. A campaign to fight diseases may also do. Just like what I’ve read before, a Hong Kong-based company engaged itself in Tuberculosis Awareness Campaign. This is beneficial not only to those who will receive the proceeds of the said project but also to the employees themselves because it will serve as an eye opener for them to know how to avoid this kind of disease. They will also be trained how to take care of their own health and realize that no one is excused in being sick. In line with these, stress-relieving activities by the management are also encouraged to promote and enhance their awareness to health issues. This aims to ensure the risks people’s health and safety while at work. In one research conducted in Hong Kong, it is reported that they launched a counseling seminars for their workers to help them with their problems. Problems mentioned that caused them stress were: workload, job security, health, family and financial problems. Some would really ask for counselors or clinical psychologists to help them in their problems. This project earned the approval of the government for being so effective and helpful to all the workers. Following these suggestions in coping up with stress will be very helpful to improve work performances of the workers. By using these as guidelines the labor force of Hong Kong will have its development and will be a big help to their declining economy. Better individuals and efficient workers are the keys to keep the economy developing. But this alone is not the sole formula. The assistance of government is also needed. Government plus its constituents working hand in hand to achieve a certain goal will make a better country. If Hong Kong would have both of these ingredients, there is no doubt that they can overcome the crisis they are into right now. They can also bring back the prestige and honor of their state as, not just stable, but a strong country as well.  References Joekes, S. (1987). Women in the World Economy. Oxford, USA. Oxford University Press. Monat, A., Lazarus, R. S. (1977). Stress and Coping: An Anthology. Columbia. Columbia University Press. Mushkat, R. (1997). One Country, Two International Legal Personalities: The       Case of Hong Kong. Hong Kong. Hong Kong University Press. Perkin. (2001).  Economic Comments. Available at [www.chamber.org.hk)   Accessed [03/02/04].   Reinhold, R. B. Toxic Work. Plume Publishers. Available at [Amazon.com].   Accessed [03/02/04]. Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com

Overcoming Stress and Pressures: An Assessment Made for the Current Economic Situation of Hong Kon

Introduction The economic status of a certain country is one factor that determines its stability. The higher the economic sta...