Stress and What To Do About It!

2 Linda Smith, MRC UPC Parent Consultants Phone: Website: 2 Utah Parent Center  2290 East 4500 South  Suite 110 Salt Lake City  Utah  I NTRODUCING ….

3 Strain or straining force; Mental or physical tension caused by urgency or pressure; The body’s reaction to change. Definition of Stress

4 Excessive stress can be harmful: Physically, Emotionally, and Spiritually – But, stress can be managed!

5 I want to thank you, Lord for being with me, so far this day. I haven’t been impatient, lost my temper, been grumpy, judgmental, or envious of anyone. But I will be getting out of bed in a minute and I think I’ll REALLY need your help then!

6 WRITE DOWN  One thing you like to do  One thing you do not like to do 6  U TAH P ARENT C ENTER 2009

7 of some kind exists in all of our lives. Stress may be good / positive or bad /negative.

8 CIRCUMSTANCES THAT CAUSE STRESS  INTERNAL Situations that occur because of something you do or something you control.  EXTERNAL Situations that are not always under your control. 8  U TAH P ARENT C ENTER 2009

9 Yell Out Cause of Circumstance! Is it Internal or External???

10 A NTI - S TRESS K IT 1. Place on firm surface (such as table or wall). 2. Follow direction inside circle. 3. Repeat until stress is gone OR you are unconscious.

11 Recognize Your Circle of Influence Circle of Influence Circle of Concern No Control

12 Here are the six realities: 1. Getting older is inevitable. 2. Life is not always fair. 3. Some people will never like you. 4. You can’t change other people. 5. Life is a constant struggle. 6. Things are bound to change!

13 3 Things You Can Do  Change your own habits  Change your methods of influence  Change the way you view your problems

14 “God grant me the serenity to accept the people I cannot change; the courage to change the one I can; and the wisdom to know it’s ME!”

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16 WAYS TO HELP  U TAH P ARENT C ENTER

17 I’ve gone to look for myself. If I should return before I get back, KEEP ME HERE!

18 Negative Self Talk Don’t Say...  It’s going to be another one of those days!  Nothing ever goes right for me!  It’s not worth going on.  I never get a break!  I just can’t handle this!  I am so over weight and exercising is too hard!  I can’t stay on this diet, I need some sugar right now!

19 Learn and use  “I can handle whatever comes!”  “I am strong!”  “I am doing my best!”  “I can create positive change!”  “I am in charge of my life!”  “I am thin and beautiful!” 19  Utah Parent Center 2010

20 How To Help  Take note of the words you use often  Use thought stopping  Use milder wording  Change negative statements to neutral or positive statements  Change self-limiting statements to questions  Open up your mind to new possibilities! 20  Utah Parent Center 2011

21 “Happiness is a condition of mind, not a result of circumstances.” 21  U TAH P ARENT C ENTER 2011

22 = how we look at things 22  Utah Parent Center 2010

23  Utah Parent Center 2010 Things are not always what they appear to be…

24 PERFECT IS NOT AN OPTION!!! 24  Utah Parent Center 2010

25 I may not be totally perfect but parts of me are excellent!!!

26 Stress Relievers that Help Our Attitude 1.Take your vitamins 2.Exercise 3.Eat right 4.Practice breathing exercises 5.Take power naps 6.Listen to music  U TAH P ARENT C ENTER 2011

27 Stress Relievers that Help Our Attitude 7.Recognize your limits 8.Know your priorities 9.Map it out 10. Manage Money Wisely

28  Utah Parent Center 2011 NO!!!

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31  Utah Parent Center 2010 Humor... Laugh, For Health’s Sake!

32  Utah Parent Center 2010 Chocolate Reduces Stress... And it’s So Much Quieter Than Throwing A Screaming Fit!

33  Utah Parent Center 2010  Turn off your phone  Read a good book  Take a leisurely bath  Enjoy the outdoors  Play with your friends and family

34 “There are many things in life that will catch your eye, but only a few will catch your heart... pursue those.”

35 “Tomorrow is the most important thing in life... It comes to us at midnight very clean. It’s perfect when it arrives and puts itself in our hands and hopes we’ve learned something from yesterday.”

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37 By parents for parents of children with special needs. We are parents helping parents. The Utah Parent Center (UPC or Center) is a statewide private, nonprofit organization founded in Staff at the Center are primarily parents of children and young adults with disabilities and special needs. 37

38 Utah Parent Center How We Can Help  Information and Referral connecting you to resources and support in the community  Private consultation in-person or over the phone  Providing information about specific disabilities  Autism resource center  Free Library  Providing workshops on IEPs, Section 504, Transition, Communication and Children with Special Health Care Needs

If Your Child Has Special Needs, So Do You! What We Do: We provide FREE training, information & assistance to parents of children and youth with ALL disabilities: physical, mental, learning and emotional. And the professionals who work with them.  Individual Assistance  Information & Referral  Workshops 39 Special Projects include:  Utah Family Voices  Family to Family Network Utah Parent Center  2290 East 4500 South  Suite 110 Salt Lake City  Utah  Thank you for attending! Please hand in your workshop EVALUATION!