Carol Boychuck

 Stress is “the nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it”  Eustress is positive stress – this stress challenges us helps create solutions in our lives.  Distress is negative stress if unmanaged this stress can cause harm to our body and brain functions.

 Brain and nerves  Headaches, feeling of despair, lack of energy  Sadness, nervousness, anger, irritability,  Trouble concentrating, memory problems,  Trouble sleeping, mental health issues  Skin  Acne and other skin problems  Muscles and joints  Muscle aches and tension (shoulders, neck & Back)  Reduced bone density

 Heart  Faster heartbeat, rise in blood pressure  Increase risk of high cholesterol and heart attack  Stomach  Nausea, stomach pain, heartburn weight gain  Pancreas  Increase risk of diabetes  Intestines  Diarrhea, constipation and other digestive issues  Reproductive system  Women- irregular cycles, reduced sexual desire  Men – lower sperm production, reduced sexual desire  Immune system  Lowers ability to fight or recover from illness

 Those things that go wrong in the day and those irritating things that go bump in the night – disrupting routines and interrupting sleep – all have a cumulative effect on your brain, especially its ability to remember and learn.

 short-term “Fight-or-Flight” response is the basic survival instinct – hormones speed up the heart rate, slowing digestion, shutting blood flow to brain and muscles, giving the body a burst of energy and strength.Fight-or-Flight  long-term “General Adaptation Syndrome” is a long-term effect of exposure to stressGeneral Adaptation Syndrome  Alarm stage…..Resistance stage….Exhaustion stage

 Cortisol, the stress hormone, can damage the hippocampus if the stress is not managed.  Stress makes it difficult to concentrate

 keep a positive attitude  Accept that there are events that you can not control  Learn and practice relaxation techniques  Yoga, tai-chi, meditation  Exercise 4-5 times a week min.  Eat healthy  Sleep 6 to 8 uninterrupted hours  Make time for hobbies, interest, new activities  Seek professional help if needed

 Exercise improves the blood flow to the brain cells helps keep that positive attitude  Add minutes a moderately intense exercise enhances the ability to:  Concentrate  Learn  Remember

 Sleep is essential to regenerate the brain cells to function hours is efficient  Lack of sleep influences verbal learning and memory.

 Sleep is necessary for memory consolidation  Sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea leave you tired and unable to concentrate during the day.  ? Are teens cell phones /texting interrupting their sleep?

 Visualize yourself in a tranquil place.  Gain control of your breathing.  Repeat a helpful quote or word.  Get away from the noise.  Use your imagination.  Use good scents.  Laugh.  Cry.

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