STRESS!!!!What stresses you out?

What is stress?

•The body’s and mind’s reaction to a demand or threat

•Stress can be minor and go unnoticed, or major and drastically affect your life!

What is a stressor?

•Something that causes stress!▫ Causes a stress

response in your body

•Different types of stressors▫ Noises, people,

objects, places, events, situations, etc.

Stress can be positive or negative!!

DISTRESS EUSTRESS

• Negative stress▫Caused by too much

pressure or trauma▫Occurs when

someone does not know how to cope with a stressor

• Positive stress▫Can help you reach

goals▫Makes a person feel

in control

How a person reacts ….DISTRESS EUSTRESS

• Nervous• Forgetful• Frightened• Confused• Unsure

• Alert• Focused• Motivated• Energized• Confident

SHORT TERM PHYSCIAL SYMPTOMS OF STRESS

Faster Heart Beat Increased Sweating Cool Skin Cold Hands & Feet Feelings of Nausea, or “Butterflies in Stomach” Rapid Breathing Tense Muscles Dry Mouth A Desire to Urinate Diarrhea

Physical Disorders Emotional/Behavioral

• High Blood Pressure• Migraine & Tension

Headaches• Ulcers• Colds & Flu• Muscle Tension

Problems• TMJ Syndrome• Chronic Fatigue• Depression• Possibly Cancer &

Arthritis

• Anxiety• Panic Attacks• Depression• Conduct Disorders• Eating Disorders• Alcoholism• Drug Addiction• Hyperchondricism

Stress Interventions• Eliminate Stressor• Use Selective Awareness• Use Relaxation

Techniques: Meditation Progressive Relaxation Body Scanning Autogenic Training Humor Therapy Yelling & Crying Art Therapy Music Therapy

• Stress Management Techniques:

Time Management Participate in Physical

Activity Be Physically Healthy Use a Support Group Have a Spiritual

Connection Get Professional Help

Problem Solving Your Stress

•On a blank piece of paper list all the stressors you can think of that currently cause you stress.▫Don’t hesitate and analyze – just write!

•From your list, determine the 5 most stressful stressors and star/circle them.

Label your top 5 stressors:

•NC: those that you have no control over•$: those that are important to you• - : those that are of little importance to

you• : those causing you to worry or lose

sleep• : those you spend little time worrying

about

•For each answer YES or NO:▫Are the benefits greater than the stress it

will create to deal with the stressor?

•Now look over your responses and in a paragraph complete the following:▫The most significant thing I learned about

my stressors is that ……………..▫Now that I know that ………………….