The National Library of Medicine defines stress as: "a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous."
The Mental Health Foundation of the United Kingdom says, "Stress is our body’s response to pressure. Many different situations or life events can cause stress. It is often triggered when we experience something new, unexpected or that threatens our sense of self, or when we feel we have little control over a situation." They go on to state that although stress can sometimes be useful, " too much stress can cause negative effects. It can leave us in a permanent stage of fight or flight, leaving us overwhelmed or unable to cope. Long term, this can affect our physical and mental health."
Oxford's Learners's Dictionary simply defines stress as: "Pressure or worry caused by problems in somebody’s life or by having too much to do."
This resource focusses on the negative effects of stress and how stress management can help us as educators and learners to be ready to think and learn and cope with the challenges and pressures of school. Through learning about stress and how to manage your stress, you are choosing to try to become the best version of yourself you can be!
Our jobs are full of immediate stresses. This pertains to both teachers and students! For example, grades are due and there are several loose ends of projects and missing work. Just starting the day can be acute stressors whereas there is so much to be prepared every day and this creates acute stressors. Also, evaluation time, working on a project, planning, or studying for a test. Making sure everything is documented and laid out in the right format for evaluators to best critique based on what’s submitted. These all impact teaching because when a teacher is feeling overwhelmed or uptight a bit, the students feed off that energy. A calm and well-planned classroom definitely has a similar and opposite effect.
It’s somewhat funny actually. I don’t mind being on stage or speaking in front of students, classes, parents, or whatever, but when we have to speak in front of peers at our staff meetings, I get so nervous. I’m not sure why, but I still freeze up when I know I have to present something to my peers. Something else that comes up often in my school is the stressors that arise with many of our students around the holiday seasons. We have a large number of students living in poverty and the unknowns for the holiday season is routinely stressful for them. Also, students can get stressed about speaking in front of their class, or even answering a question aloud. Peer pressure creates ongoing episodic acute stressors.
These are ongoing triggers... I can relate with students on the stresses and anxieties caused by having difficulty focussing. People with ADD and ADHD chronically stress over situations where a high level of focus and productivity is required to complete tasks, but with all the “noise” going on around, it’s so difficult to avoid distractions and simply get the work done. The more I don't like doing something, the harder it is to focus on it and get it done. Teachers talking with students about this is helpful because these situations create very similar feelings and emotions with youngsters. Learning strategies to help with this is so beneficial, regardless of age.
The following videos explain where stress comes from and how your body changes and reacts to it.