Stress Stress – the response of your body and mind to a threatening or challenging event Stressor – any cause of stress Ex. _______________________________ Eustress – Positive Stress Ex. butterflies before a big test or game Distress – Negative Stress Ex. getting sick from a stressor

How Stress Affects the Body  Alarm Stage – your body releases adrenaline causing a burst of energy as well as other body changes. Homeostasis is interrupted (the normal balanced state of the body’s internal systems) “Fight or Flight” response occurs (see handout)  Resistance Stage – enter if stressor continues Body tries to recover from alarm stage Body continues to function at higher than normal levels Become tired, irritable, and less able to handle additional stress  Exhaustion Stage – body is worn down and no longer has energy to fight off stressor (stressor lasts for weeks, months, years) More likely to get ill, impairs ability to make judgments, may lead to death

Stress and Illness  Psychosomatic Illness – physical disorders that result from stress or other emotional causes  Lowered resistance to illnesses/diseases Ex. headaches, stomachaches, the flu  Ulcers – open sore in the lining of the stomach or other part of digestive tract  Asthma – a disorder of the respiratory tract that makes breathing difficult  High blood pressure – the “silent killer”

Stress and Personality  Optimist – the tendency to focus on the positive aspects of a situation  Pessimist – the tendency to focus on the negative and expect the worst  Perfectionist – a person who expects nothing less than excellence  Resilience – the ability to recover or “bounce back” from extreme or prolonged stress (also called Hardiness)

Coping With Stress  Mental Rehearsal – practice an event in your head without actually doing it  Time management – managing your time so you can get the most accomplished throughout the day (one of the biggest contributors of stress)  Physical Activity – healthy outlet for stress, shift focus from problems to exercise (endorphins are released)  Relaxation – you are awake and alert but are not actively responding to stressors (ex. listen to music, read, hot shower)  Biofeedback – people learn to control one or more body functions by monitoring their body’s responses  Humor – allows you to deal quickly with a stressor and keep it in proper perspective