StReSs

What Is Stress? The body’s response to a stressor. Stressor: an idea or thing that makes a person anxious. In order to stay alive, the human brain has to have some way to communicate to the rest of the body a sense of urgency.

What Really Is Stress?  The body and mind’s reaction to everyday demands

Is Good or Bad for us? When it motivates us to do better. When it is Prolonged.

Types of Stress:  Distress: Negative, too much stress causes a person to have a difficult time coping with life. (Ex: You’re late for a game and get stuck in traffic.)

Types of Stress: (cont.)  Eustress: Positive, helps you to accomplish goals. (Ex: You’re nervous for your health test so you study extra hard for it.)

 Biological stressors C hemical imbalances, physical illness and disease, disabilities, or injuries  Environmental stressors Poverty, pollution, crowding, noise, or natural disasters  Cognitive stressors The way you perceive a situation. What your mind tells your physical body.  Personal behavior stressors Choices we make that cause stress in our life such as: drugs, alcohol, etc.  Life situations Personal situations in own life Things that cause stress. (Any Stimulus that produces a stress response.)

“It’s not stress that kills us – it’s our reaction to it” ---Hans Selye Hans Selye came up with the Three Stages of Stress!

Three Stages of Stress 1. Alarm Stage: The body and mind go on high alert. Your body prepares for action. (Self-Preservation/”Fight or Flight” Instinct.) 2. Resistance Stage: The body tries to recover from the stressful situation and return to its normal state PROLONGED 3. Fatigue/Exhaustion Stage: R esults in a tired feeling and therefore cannot perform as efficiently. Body Systems Affected-Nervous System and Endocrine System

Exhaustion or Fatigue (3 rd Stage)  Physical Fatigue After physical activity the muscles are tired and sore. Injury can occur easier.  Pathological Fatigue Your immune system doesn’t fight off pathogens that cause illness and disease. You get sick more often.  Psychological Fatigue Constant worry, overwork, depression, boredom, isolation can take it’s toll on the body.  Chronic Fatigue Prolonged fatigue

The “Fight or Flight” Response The fight or flight response stems from our origins as cavemen. When a human being is approached by something that puts his or her life in danger, the body immediately decides whether to stay and fight it, or whether to flee from it. Although we are no longer chased by bears on a daily basis, our body still has that same response to running into an ex-girlfriend, an upcoming exam, or the playoff game in sports. The trick is to get yourself to understand that your life is not in danger, and remember it’s all going to be okay.

Signs of Stress  Physical Signs sleep disturbances muscle tension, tension/migraine headaches upset stomach, constipation, diarrhea fatigue asthma or shortness of breath, chest pain, sweaty palms or hands skin problems (hives, eczema, psoriasis, tics, itching), immune system suppression: more colds, flu, infections

Signs of Stress (cont.)  Behavioral Signs Eating disorders Compulsive talking Verbal or physical outbursts Using alcohol or drugs Tapping feet or drumming fingers Hurrying Withdrawing

Signs of Stress (cont.)  Emotional Signs nervousness, anxiety depression, moodiness irritability, frustration feeling out of control substance abuse phobias overreactions

Signs of Stress (cont.)  Mental Signs Trouble reading or thinking clearly Lack of creativity Constant worry Obsessive thoughts Inability to make decisions Forgetting

ToO MuCh StReSs!! Physical Things Happen! Raises Blood Pressure (which can cause heart disease and stroke.) Weakens the Immune System Causes Headaches Triggers asthma attacks Psychosomatic Responses occur

13 Ways to Handle StReSs: 1. Get an Attitude – Have a positive outlook. 2.Take Charge – Collect information and form a plan. 3.Make Commitments – Have meaningful goals to work toward. 4.Manage Your Time Effectively. 5.Do Something Physical - Work off your emotions. 6.Try Not to be a Perfectionist – Don’t worry about being the best, just try to do your best!

13 Ways to Handle StReSs: 7.Think of Someone Else For A Change – Think of others instead of yourself you’ll be a lot happier. 8.Figure Out The Stressor and Avoid It As Much As Possible. 9.Laugh A Lot. 10.Have an Outlet for Emotions – Have a good support system, someone you can talk to. 11.Escape for a While – Get away but know you must come back and face the situation. 12.Take One Thing at a Time – Don’t try to do too many things at once, set Priorities!

13. Keep Balance In All That You Do. Too much work is not good for you. Too much play is not good for you. Work hard but learn to relax. Work hard - Play hard.

Staying Healthy and Building Resiliency Get Adequate Rest Get Regular Physical Activity Eat Nutritious Foods

Coping with Loss & Grief Everyone will experience loss in their life. Things like: rejection, a break-up. death, or change. When we experience loss we grieve. ( It may hurt but it doesn’t need to be harmful.) The grieving process can help you to accept the loss and start to heal.

Why We Use Mental Defense Mechanisms  To overcome insecurity.  To defend pride.  To shift blame.  To provide a self alibi.  To retreat from a problem or situation.  To “Save Face” inspite of a nagging Conscience.

Rationalization – Making excuses/Justifying one’s actions.

Projection – Blaming others/Shifting the blame to others to avoid criticism.

Denial – Rejecting reality/Not accepting reality.

Regression – Acting childish/Not wanting to accept the responsibilities of adult life.

Compensation – Substituting goals/When one goal can’t be reached turning one’s energy and drives to another goal.

Conversion – Transferring stresses and feelings in our minds to physical responses in our bodies.

Identification – A form of hero worship/Being connected to others by acting or wearing something that identifies you to them.

Attention-Getting– Trying to defend one’s real failures, disappointments and insecurities by making themselves feel important.