Aimee Sauvageau, Health Education Stress Aimee Sauvageau, Health Education

STRESS! The reaction of the body and mind to everyday challenges and demands.

Stressors for Teens Life Situations: -School Demands -Problems with friends, bullying -Peer Pressure -Family Problems, Abuse -Moving or Changing Schools -Breaking Up with a Girlfriend/Boyfriend

Stressors for Teens Environmental -Unsafe neighborhood -Media -Natural Disasters -Threat of terrorist attacks -War Global Warming

Stressors for Teens Biological - Changes in Body -Illness -Injury -Disability

Stressor for Teens Cognitive (Thinking) -Poor Self-Esteem -Personal Appearance -Not Fitting In

Stressors for Teens Personal Behavior - Taking on a busy schedule -Relationship issues -Smoking -Using alcohol or other drugs

Types of Stress Eustress-good stress Distress-bad stress Stressor-anything that causes stress. Examples?

Yerks-Dodson Curve/Principle -Stress can actually increase performance. -Stress to the left of the midpoint can be thought of as eustress, or positive -Stress beyond the midpoint is thought to decrease performance or health and can be thought of as distress, or negative. -Find the optimal level of stress to produce greatest level of performance.

STRESS IS NOT ALWAYS A BAD THING Eustress Motivation Make you want to do better Can be used for positive events Examples: -Sports Games -Making Assignment Deadlines -Job Interviews -Going on a Date -Getting Ready for a Trip -Others? STRESS IS NOT ALWAYS A BAD THING

A result of an unpleasant stressor Distress Caused from an unpleasant event Could have negative effects on the all areas of the health triangle Could interfere with your ability to perform Could cause you to feel distracted, overwhelmed, impatient, frustrated, or even angry. Examples: -Tests -Family Changes -Public Speaking -Accidents -Others? A result of an unpleasant stressor

How Do Your Body Respond to Stress? Examples? How did your body respond to the test? Psychosomatic Response: a physical reaction that results form stress rather than from an injury or illness.

Physiological Effects of Stress -Dry Mouth -Excessive Perspiration -Frequent Illness -Gastrointestinal Problems -Grinding of Teeth -Headaches -High Blood Pressure -Pounding Heart -Stiff Neck or Aching Lower Back -Decreased Immune System

Emotional Symptoms -Anxiety or edginess -Depression -Fatigue -Impulsiveness -Inability to concentrate -Irritability -Trouble remembering

Behavioral Symptoms -Crying -Disrupted eating habits -Disrupted sleeping habits -Harsh treatment to others -Increased use of drugs, alcohol & tobacco -Problems communicating -Sexual problems -Social isolation

Physical Responses to Stressors -Homeostasis -Autonomic Nervous System -Parasympathetic Nervous System

Fight-or-Flight -Physiological response occurs in the body when a threat or stressor is presented. Body prepares itself to either fight or flee. -The body gives the CNS a signal and it responds by altering the body to react to the stimulus: Keeps the Necessary’s

Fight or Flight http://cmhc.utexas.edu/stressrecess/Level_One/ fof.html

Fight or Flight, Bodies Responses Pupils dilate Heart Rate Increase Decreases saliva Muscles Contract Bronchi Dilate Body Prepares to use Oxygen Perspiration Increases Fat is used for extra Energy Intestines Slow/Stop Bladder Relaxes Blood Vessels Contract Increased Hearing

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Hans Selye

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) GAS: the process in which the body tries to accommodate to the stress placed on it by attempting to adapt to it. Three stages: alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Alarm: When the threat or stressor is identified or realized, the body's stress response is a state of alarm. During this stage adrenaline will be produced, initiating fight-or-flight. Resistance: If the stressor persists, the body attempts to cope. Although the body tries to adapt to the stress, the body cannot keep this up forever, so its resources are gradually depleted. Exhaustion: Eventually reality kicks in and our bodies give up on trying to maintain a high level of stress. Parts of the body start to break down and illness/sickness may occur. (ulcers, depression, diabetes, digestive systems, cardiovascular, colds/flu)

Stress is Linked with……. Cardiovascular Disease Digestive Problems Colds and other Infections Headaches Asthma and Allergies Insomnia and Fatigue Cancer Injuries (distraction) Chronic Disease Flare-Up Pregnancy Complications Psychological Problems Type 2 Diabetes