Explain two ways a grade 12 learner can identify if they are suffering from excessive stress

On this page, we help students to answer the following question: “Explain two ways a Grade 12 learner can identify if they are suffering from excessive stress.” This is a critical assessment point in Life Orientation Grade 12 within the “Development of the Self in Society” module.

---

Quick Answer

How to Spot Excessive Stress:

• The Exhaustion Check: Identifying when you have moved from the “Resistance” stage to the “Exhaustion” stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS).
• Performance Decline: Noticing a significant drop in academic results or the inability to use previously effectivestudy methods.
• Emotional Instability: Experiencing constantintrapersonal conflictor emotional outbursts that are out of character.

---

Identifying Excessive Stress (Distress)

In the South African Life Orientation curriculum, textbooks differentiate between normal eustress (which motivates) and excessive stress (distress), which is harmful. Grade 12 learners can use the following two textbook-based methods to identify if their stress levels have become dangerous.

1. Monitoring the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Stages

Textbooks teach the GAS model to explain how the body reacts to long-term pressure. A learner can identify excessive stress by checking which stage they are currently in.

• The Process: While “Alarm” (initial shock) and “Resistance” (coping) are normal during NSC exam preparation, the third stage is the warning sign.
• The Identifier: If a learner reaches the Exhaustion Stage, they will experience chronic fatigue, a total loss of energy, and frequent illness (like constant flu or tension headaches). This indicates that the body’s resources are depleted and the stress is no longer “manageable” but “excessive.”

2. Assessing Cognitive and Behavioural Functioning

A learner can identify excessive stress by observing changes in their mental clarity and daily habits.

• Cognitive Decline: Excessive stress causes “brain fog.” If a learner finds they can no longer stay focused when writing exams or are becoming unusually forgetful of basic facts, the stress has become excessive.
• Behavioural Shifts: A key identifier is social withdrawal. If a learner begins to avoid friends, ignores networking opportunities, or stops participating in activities they once enjoyed, it is a sign that the stress and uncertainty have overwhelmed their coping mechanisms.

Why Identification is Vital

Identifying these signs early allows a learner to take action before the stress impacts their quality of life or their ability to meet university admission requirements. Once identified, the learner must implement effective coping mechanisms to return to a state of healthy balance.

Reference for Students:

• Subject: Life Orientation Grade 12
• Source: Focus Life Orientation Grade 12 Textbook (Chapter 1)
• Topic: Identifying and managing excessive stress.