Learning Map

Good Stress and Bad Stress

Distinguish between eustress (the productive, motivating kind of stress) and distress (harmful, overwhelming stress); explain the physiological stress response (fight-flight-freeze, HPA axis) and how chronic stress affects the body and mind; identify common adolescent stressors (academic pressure, social comparison, physical change, uncertainty about the future); evaluate evidence-based coping strategies (exercise, sleep, mindfulness, social support, expressive writing); recognise warning signs that stress has crossed into anxiety or depression and know where to get help

Try this together

When your child is under pressure from exams or social situations, can they name two or three strategies that genuinely help them manage the stress — and explain why each one actually works, not just that it 'makes them feel better'?

Where this sits on the map

Stuck here? Check the skills it builds on first. Confident? Here’s what it unlocks.

Builds on
Choosing the Right Coping Strategyages 7–9Advanced self-regulation depends on earlier foundational self-regulation
Resilience and Bouncing Backages 9–11Advanced self-regulation depends on earlier self-control skills
Good Stress and Bad Stressthis skill · ages 11–12
Unlocks
Habits and Motivationages 12–13Advanced resilience skills depends on foundational advanced self-regulation
Brain Science of Emotionsages 11–12Neuroscience of adolescent emotion (particularly the stress response) provides the biological basis for the stress and coping topic in a neighbouring SEL domain

solid = must come firstdashed = helps

Curriculum alignment

Candidate matches to official curriculum codes — machine-suggested, unreviewed (v0.1).

This skill sits outside the F–6 Australian Curriculum — no candidate code matched (v0.1). No NSW K–6 outcome code matched (v0.1). No Victorian Curriculum 2.0 code matched (v0.1).

Nearby on the map

All Self-Regulation & Resilience skills →