Stressful Transitions for Young People - Essay Example

Transitions for young people are always stressful of Transitions for Young People are Always Stressful Changes are the only thing permanent in the nature. As an individual everyone should welcome transition otherwise you will expose yourself to intense stress. Stress Stress is the way a person feels (e.g., anxious, tense, burdened) in response to real or perceived stressors. A stressor may be observable (e.g., violence, poor living conditions, a physical disability), or it may be less visible to others (e.g., emotional abuse, trauma). (TwilightBridge.Com) For some, change is viewed as a time of growth and opportunity; for others, change is stressful. Negative stress The Physical aspects for an individual is experiencing in irregularities in breathing, heart rate, appetite, muscles or digestive system. Mentally, he may experience depression; lack of sleep, headaches, irritability or feelings of being overwhelmed. Particularly negative stress in life affects you the most. Positive stress Some stress can have a positive effect. From a positive stress perspective, its individual's natural reaction to accept dealing with life's extraordinary challenges and fight against the odds. Stressful events can also bring out the best and actually increases ability to survive in side the individual. Many people experienced great energy boost when they are forced to deal with a stressful situation they came across. Positive stress can help with concentration and focus. Normally there are various types of stress, mentioned below: (TwilightBridge.Com) Major Events in Life An individual faces stress in sudden changes in life; includes death of parents, abandonment, serious accidents, natural disasters, demolition of home, war, physical and sexual assaults. They disrupt the life and cause of serious stress and pain. 1. Day-to-Day problems It includes, rush hour traffic, aggravating associates, long lines at the store or bank, too many things to do, and misplacing things. Over time, stress takes a toll on our health and well being. It can lead to feelings of hopelessness or high blood pressure rates and helplessness, low self-esteem, headaches, sleeplessness, and frequent illness Enduring Life Strains Stresses in the urban life come with poverty, unemployment, single parenting, and overcrowding. The lives of street children are usually filled with long-term problems that are difficult to solve: poverty, denial of human rights, psychological difficulties, illnesses, and lack of educational and recreational opportunities. Rejection or a sense of rejection by family members, friends, school, health or other services, and society in general Adolescent developmental changes 2. Life transitions Transitions in life, such as moving neighborhoods or cities, changing peer groups, or beginning a romantic relationship, changing schools or switching over to new job are always stressful because they require people to behave in new ways. Meaning of Transition Life is full of transition, death and parting being a major part of life. Change happens frequently throughout life, and an individual will go through many transitions. Life transitions are predictable changes in lives. Transition means changing from one place, stage, or relationship to another and some will signal the start of a new set of ventures. As described in United Nations Economic and Social Council doctrine; "Political, economic and social changes in transition countries left large segments of society very vulnerable. People lost guaranteed employment, the security of old age pensions and free access to basic social services. Massive unemployment, underemployment, non-payment of salaries, loss of savings due to hyperinflation and fast rising costs of health and other services made them very susceptible to various risks. They suffered from the loss of self-respect, when their skills and knowledge were no longer in demand. Many people became marginalized, as they lost access to information and formal support networks, and responded to the stress by self-destructive behavior, such as alcohol abuse, depression and even suicide. This "transition stress" is now considered a major factor explaining the decline in life expectancy in these countries" Stress from life transitions can manifest themselves in a variety of physical and mental ways. Many times in life transitions are thrust unexpectedly upon an individual. Disabling accidents, the deaths of those in our lives, divorce, the loss of a job, an illness; all these events can strike without warning and leave us in a personal crisis characterized by denial, anger, mourning and withdrawal. Stress from employment loss can also present itself in both negative and positive ways. But not all transitions emerge from negative experiences. Marriage, a new job, a move to a new city, the birth of a child, reacquaintance with an old friend - these events, which may be planned and expected, can also lead us into the process of a life transition Career and work transitions Work is a significant source of stress for many people. Conflicts on the job, dissatisfaction with one's supervisor or with the job itself, insufficient financial compensation, job insecurity, fear of changing a job for greater advancement, feeling stifled in a quest for power, not feeling appreciated or acknowledged, all produce significant stress. People move around like insects on roads and pavements during rush hours. Buses and local rains are packed to capacity. Some lives are lost because of such overcrowding. Traffic jams, delays those in vehicles so that they cannot possibly make for their next appointment in time. Life virtually comes to a standstill, resulting in stress and pain among individuals. Further occupational transitions may be a source of profound personal change as new environments are encountered and new territories are established (Nicholson, 1984). Also Career and job transitions are stressful, consequences are most challenging and depends on the personality of the individual. It causes negative interference with individual's daily life and personal health. Concomitant with adopting the new is abandoning the old, which may result in stress, as events require adjustments to established behavioral repertoires. (Hopson and Adams, 1976) Family Stress The common factors that causes family stress at all stages of the life cycle includes ' " Emotional problems, Sexual difficulties, Economic strains, Job changes, Physical losses and child related problems" Family stress is the tension that arises from demands or unwelcome pressures on the family to change. Those includes, movement to a new home, a job change, a child starting school, as well as other reasons. The first problem and stress faced by a new transitional arrival in any urban conglomerate is that of housing. Many middle class families are crammed into box like rooms in chawls or slums in he cities. Transitions for child includes and starts at the move from the hospital to the home, from early intervention services to preschool services, and from preschool to kindergarten and then o college. (Zheljasko) These transitional periods are marked by feelings of uncertainty, loss, and anxiety as family members learn to cope with the changes Stress has become a common word as people learn to recognize and control the pressures in their lives. Men and women work long hours to support their families, meet work demands and career goals, and to gain a sense of personal satisfaction. Family stress also occurs when an entire family is affected by a transition, such as marriage, parent hood, a child going off to college, and middle age. Everyone in this family is forced to change to adjust to the new child. Other transitions require more dramatic changes. A divorce changes the entire family's financial resources, parental roles, emotional and communication patterns. As William Bridges pointed out in his book, 'Managing Transitions '; "Our life transitions are composed of an ending, a "neutral zone," and a new beginning. When a transition occurs, we need to give up our old definitions of the world, our old ways of doing things, and the process of "letting go" challenges us. Endings are difficult for most people, even when we are unhappy with the way things used to be. The known is more comfortable than the unknown. Once we let go, however, we enter a period of feeling disconnected from the past but not yet connected to the present - the neutral zone. This is a time, which can engender great self-reflection, an assessment of what we really want out of life, and a time to reorient us toward the future. Finally, the new beginning completes the successful transition. This is when we embark on a journey of new priorities and a sense of a renewed future". Living in a city is a challenge or deal that reminds one of the ages old dictum, " God made the country and man made the town". It demands enormous grit and perseverance. A city dweller spends his life amidst mounting pressures and stress in he cut throat competition that is a hallmark of life transition in this urban existence. This leads to loss of mental peace, martial discord and professional jealousies and misunderstanding with the result that many urbanities follow he path of self-destruction. What can I do to manage, and reduce stress Stressors are unavoidable. This fact, coupled with the growing awareness that recurring stress can cause heart disease, lowered immunity, anxiety disorders, and depression gives us a clear message. (Living With Anxiety. Com) Life Transition provides an opportunity to find one's true inner direction and engage in the process of self-renewal. It is difficult task to eliminate stress by changing or ignoring a situation, it is best for to learn how to manage it, by confronting or escaping the problem and taking steps to prevent its recurrence. (William Bridges, 2003) 1. Family's ability to adjust to stressful situations depends a great deal on family resources and strengths, and family outlook on the world and on their situation 2. When lives are disrupted, it takes time to reorient our inner feelings to the new reality. Give Yourself Enough Time to think, understand the root cause of problem. 3. If your transition involves a job loss, find some other work until you discover what you want to do over the long run. 4. If you have lost a relationship, there is no need to isolate yourself from all of your friends. Hold on to those who can comfort you. 5. Transitions can introduce confusion and disorientation into our lives. Tolerate the discomfort and stress. Trust in your own ability to see your way through the transition. 6. Friendships are also good medicine. Individuals with close supportive relationships are less likely to experience severe stress than socially isolated people. Support of friends, neighbors, and family, is also important. 7. There are community resources like religious organizations, volunteer groups, parent groups and classes, and social services that provide support. These groups provide informational support; knowledge and skills that help people manage their lives, and practical support with food, shelter, and financial aid. 8. Take Care of Yourself During the Transition A time of transition can introduce stress into your life and you may feel depressed so that you may not want to engage in normal, healthy activities. Take utmost care of your health and don't disturb your normal routine. (Stewart-assoc.Com) a. A time of transition is a very good time to seek the support of a trained professional therapist who can guide you through the process in a safe and encouraging setting. b. Spiritual support is an important resource for many families. Religious beliefs help a person maintain individual self-esteem and guide these families through stressful situations 9. Stress management: Stress management may include, aerobic exercise, biofeedback, relaxation, and social support. Aerobic exercise, such as running, appears to counteract depression partly by increasing arousal, replacing depressions low arousal state, and by doing naturally what Prozac does, increasing the brain's serotonin activity. Child education and transition The transition for a child from early intervention to special education preschool or other community programs will be enhanced by collaboration among the family, those who currently provide services, and those who will provide services in the future for the child. In schools, training programs can be generated to develop coping styles in virtually all actual and anticipated transitional experiences. Other strategies might include appointment of a social mentor as well as a task mentor. These individuals would be responsible for assisting the newcomer to find his or her way through the complexities of organizational life and help the employee discover a new personal and family life in the community. Consideration might also be given to introducing both formal and informal socialization activities. (Adams, Hayes, & Hopson 1976) All transitions are more successful when families and service providers work through the process together, sharing their views of the child and their creative ideas. This will help to make a free and appropriate public education a reality for every child and family Conclusion Success depends on how an individual looks at the situation, anticipates the change and cope with challenges. When perceived as challenges, stressors can have positive effects, arousing and motivating others to conquer problems. Championship athletes, successful entertainers, and great teachers and leaders all thrive and move forward when aroused by a challenge. Having conquered cancer or rebounded from a lost job, some people emerge with stronger self-esteem and deepened spirituality and sense of purpose. (Living With Anxiety. Com) The most important to remember is that an individual should collect all the information and resources necessary to be comfortable for making decisions through every step of the process. Effective sharing of information mutual respect and understanding of another's perspective by both individual and friends, families are vital to successful transitions and also serve as a model for future transitions. List of References Adams, J., Hayes, J., & Hopson, B. (1976). Transition: Understanding and Managing Personal Change. London: Martin Robinson Hopson, B., & Adams, J. (1976). "Towards an understanding of transition: Defining some Boundaries of transition dynamics." In John Adams, John Iveson, Chris (2003). Solution-focused couples therapy, in Bill O'Connell and Stephen Palmer. Handbook of Solution-Focused Therapy. London. Sage Life's Transitions. [Online] Available at http://www.stewart-assoc.com/life_transitions.html Nicholson, N. (1984). "Theory of work-role transitions.'' Administrative Science Quarterly, 29,172-191. Sources of Stress. [Online] Available at http://www.twilightbridge.com/stress/complete/3apossiblesources.htm STRESS. Living With Anxiety. Com. [Online] Available at http://www.livingwithanxiety.com/stress.htm United Nations: Economic and Social Council doctrine. 6 March 2001 William Bridges. (2003) Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change Da Capo Press Zheljasko Hristov. Work Stress in the Context of Transition. [Online] Available at http://www.ilo.org/public/english/region/eurpro/budapest/download/work_stress.pdf Read More