Session 5: Stress and anxiety LITE Session 5: Stress and anxiety

A tiger walks into the room. What is your response?

Exercise - Where in the body…. Do we feel anxiety or worry? What and where are the symptoms?

The effects of prolonged stress on the body Insomnia Headache Memory weakness Hair loss Pounding heart Rapid breathing Digestive problems Raised blood glucose levels Raised blood pressure Erectile dysfunction/menstrual problems Skin issues

Why don’t we see anxious ducks? Michelle and Vicky are humans who dislike each other. Vicky has posted sly comments about Michelle on facebook. Michelle gives Vicky a dirty look in Maths. What happens next? Daisy and Jemima are ducks who live on the same pond. They start eating the same piece of bread and both suddenly notice the other. What happens next?

Stress is caused by an physical factor or stressor that we are responding to – the ducks were stressed by each other. Anxiety is stress that continues after that stressor is gone. Ducks do not get anxious. Humans do.

Repeated anxiety Most animals are not like us. Unlike animals – our stress lasts and becomes anxiety Leads to depression, anxiety, panic disorder. Even to psychosis or self harming.

Learning outcomes Stress and anxiety are not the same Some stress is unavoidable – it protects us from danger (flight or flight) Anxiety can be reduced by living in the moment – this is the basis of Mindfulness Think like a duck!