STRESS

Today’s Goals RECOGNIZE the sources of stress DESCRIBE the body’s reaction to stress LIST ways to avoid and manage stress.

What is stress…? By definition, STRESS is the bodies response to real or imagined dangers or life events. You can’t get rid of stress, but can learn to deal with it… IS STRESS GOOD OR BAD…??? After the question “is stress good/bad?” is asked, give students a min to “think, pair share” (talk with a partner) about what they think and WHY?! Discuss as a class

Types of Stress Positive stress is called eustress… This makes you feel excited and ready to face new challenges. What are some examples…? Positive Stress can help you reach your goals. You may feel eustress when trying out for a school play or sports team. Interviewing for a new job! Question to the class…”why is a picture of Peyton Manning on the slide?” A: he thrives in late game situations when the stress level is high. He uses stress to help him focus.

Types of Stress Continued… Negative stress keeps you from doing what you need to do. This is called DISTRESS! What are some examples…? Think/Pair/Share the question about examples: Examples Include: -Getting into an argument with a friend/parent -A big project or test in school -A big sporting event -A show or performance in front of a crowd -Public Speaking! (#1 Fear…)

What Causes Stress… Stressors are sources of stress… Some examples are: Alarm clock A mean teacher giving a pop quiz. A guard dog (especially if you’re a mailman.) Others…? Others include -Death -Divorce -Moving -Serious Illness -Loss of a friendship (relationship) Everyone handles stressful situations differently…you may find it easy to make new friends at school, while someone else might feel stressed about it.

How the body responds? Alarm Stage Adrenaline is released, which increases sugar levels in blood giving you more energy. Fight or flight-this is how the body gets ready for threats Stories of a mother lifting her car off of her child after an accident! Adrenaline also increases your -heart rate and blood pressure -More blood goes to muscles and brain to prepare them for FIGHT -Increased breathing rate and air passages expand-allows one to breath more air in -Sharpened senses-making you extra aware of your surroundings.

Fight or Flight

Bodies Response Resistance Stage Exhaustion Stage Body adapts to the stressor and the symptoms disappear The body uses a lot of energy so, you may become tired, irritable, and less able to handle added stress. Exhaustion Stage After weeks, months or years of stress, people reach exhaustion stage. Sometimes, a single extreme event can trigger this stage. Has there ever been a time where you/someone you know was under a lot of stress and became irritable/tired/sick?

Then what…? After a stressful situation your body feels FATIGUE, or tired. So much energy was used to focus on the stress, you get tired Relive fatigue by… Sleeping Stretching Deep breathing WITH THE THREE CLOSEST PEOPLE NEAR YOU….group will have three minutes to complete a “race” -Groups must write down as many ways to help manage stress as they can think of. -After three minutes we’ll “round robin” and discuss how we can help reduce stress. Class Demonstration: Take the class through a series of stretches w/o any talking to let them feel the tension release from stretching. As they stretch they should focus on the muscle group being stretched and BREATH. When complete tell students to close their eyes and put their head down on their desk. Instruct students to take a DEEP breath in through their nose as you count up to five, hold the breath in, and slowly blow it out for a five count. Repeat this a few times then instruct the class to continue on their own with NO TALKING. After 1-2 mins of this gently instruct the class to pick their heads up and ask how they felt.

Other Effects of Stress Mental Health Depression Anxiety Withdrawal from friends Emotional Health Alcohol and drug use

Effects of Stress….Continued Physical Health Tiredness Insomnia Indigestion Head/neck ache Serious Illness Cancer High Blood Pressure

WARNING SIGNS OF STRESS!!! Behavior Changes Over/Under eating Sleep problems Hurrying Withdrawal from relationships Reckless behavior Physical Changes Muscle tension Headache Upset stomach Pounding heart Shortness of breath Increased sweating

WARNING SIGNS!!! Change in thinking Emotional Changes Unable to concentrate Negative thinking Excessive worrying Self-criticism Critical of others Emotional Changes Irritable Angry Impatient Nervous Increased crying

How to help… Avoid Stress MANAGE STRESS… Sleep Talk to Others Relax Set out clothes for the morning and make lunch the night before. Prepare well for event you can’t avoid-presentations, taking a test. MANAGE STRESS… Sleep Talk to Others Relax Time Management Physical Activity Think Positively Students will once again be working with the 3 closest student around them to create a group of four. Each group will have to create a poster to portray the idea assigned to them by the teacher. Idea’s include: Positive Stress Negative Stress Stressors Fight or Flight Physical Effects of Stress Mental Effects of Stress Social Effects of Stress How to Manage Stress Warning Signs of Stress Closure… Go back to the Goals of today and check to see if we met them… -Recognize sources of stress…”what are three sources of stress?” -Describe the body’s reaction to stress…”who can tell me a couple ways our bodies respond to stress?” -List affective strategies to avoid and manage stress…”what is one way you can reduce stress in your life?”

Stress Poster Design a poster for your topic and include the following: Title Define the topic Give examples of the topic Draw pictures to exemplify the topic Topics Alarm Stage Resistance Stage Exhaustion Stage Physical Effects Mental Effects Social Effects Ways to avoid/manage stress