Bell Ringer Open your student workbook and turn to page 57. Under the heading Journal Entry, write a few short sentences explaining what the word stress means to you and how you feel when you are stressed.

Unit 1: Emotional & Mental Health Lesson 5: Understanding Stress

Healthy Behavior Outcomes Prevent and manage emotional stress and anxiety in healthy ways.

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to: Lesson Objectives By the end of this lesson, you should be able to: Summarize personal stressors at home, in school, and with friends. Explain the body’s physical and psychological responses to stressful situations.

Turn to a partner and briefly share a stressful event that has happened to you in the past year. Describe how this event made you feel.

Stress- a feeling of pressure around. events, circumstances, or Stress- a feeling of pressure around events, circumstances, or situations.

You’ve studied hard for a final exam, but once you’re in class looking at the test, you realize you don’t know the material at all. How do you feel? What are you thinking? How does your body react?

Today when you get home from school you find out that your parent has a new job and your family is going to be moving to Australia. How do you feel? What are you thinking? How does your body react?

Summary Stress is normal, everyone experiences it! How you respond to and deal with stress can play a big part in your emotional health. One important skill for developing positive emotional health is being able to manage stress and cope with stressful situations.

Stressor – anything that causes stress External – coming from the outside world (school assignments, pressure from friends to do something you don’t want to do, emergencies or difficult events). Internal – comes from inside yourself (wanting to do well at something, worrying about what other people think, or having doubts about yourself).

What are some major stressors you might experience at home, in school, and with friends?

Major stressors or life changes you might experience: Summary Major stressors or life changes you might experience: Death of a family member or friend Serious illness of a family member or friend Moving Divorce End of a friendship Failing a class Graduating Getting a Job

Summary Daily stressors you might experience at home, in school, and with friends: Arguing with parents Misunderstanding with friends Being late for school or another appointment Not being prepared for class Getting homework done Pressure to perform well at a sport or other activity Chores or other expected tasks Having too much to do

Summary Both major changes and daily hassles can cause stress. Stressors at home might include not getting along with parents or changes in the family. Stressors at school might include grades, wanting to get into college or big projects. Stressors with friends might include peer pressure, romantic relationships or gossip.

What are some other positive situations or events that can be stressors?

Summary Talking to someone new to start a friendship Asking someone out on a date Trying out for a team or club Completing a project for extra credit The birth of a new family member Trying something you haven’t done before

Part 1 Turn to page 13 in your workbook. Look at Part 1 of Stressors in My Life.

Look at Part 2 of Stressors in My Life on page 13 in workbook.

How many of you were surprised by the number of changes you experienced in he past year? How many of you were surprised by the number of everyday things that cause you stress?

Summary Change is definitely a part of life. Some changes happen slowly while others are sudden or dramatic. Understanding how your mind and body respond to all kinds of stress is another key to managing it.

What types of emotions did you describe when you wrote about your response to stress at the beginning of the lesson? What other types of emotions or thoughts do you recall experiencing during stressful times?

What types of physical feelings did you describe when you wrote about your response to stress at the beginning of class? What other types of physical responses do you recall experiencing during stressful times?

Body’s Response to Stress Mental/Emotional Feeling anxious or worried Feeling irritable or angry Feeling sad Feeling insecure or scared Feeling numb or depressed Trouble concentrating Thinking negative thoughts Putting yourself or someone else down Physical Faster heart rate Breathing faster Sweating Dry mouth Upset stomach Feeling tired Tense muscles Headache Shaking or trembling

Summary The physical reactions and sensations that you listed are short-term responses to stress. If stress isn’t managed, there are many physical health problems that can occur in the long term or over time.

What’s something you learned today that you didn’t know before or something about stress you think is important for all teens to know?