Stress Management By: Sara Seidman College Students and people with stress

Are you burned out? Do you feel like your losing it? It could most likely be stress

Are you stressed? Take this quiz and find out!

What is stress?  Physical, mental, emotional response to event  Can cause bodily or mental tension  Any outside force that effects body  Fight or fright response is elicited

What causes stress  Major life changes  Work or school  Relationship difficulties  Financial Problems  Being too busy  Family or friends

Types of stress  Acute  Episodic  Chronic

Acute Stress  Body’s immediate reaction to stress  Most common type  Isn’t always caused by negative stress  Adrenaline can cause acute stress  Isolated episodes don’t effect your health  Can be healthy for you

Episodic Stress  People who suffer acute stress frequently  They are aroused, irritable and anxious  Symptoms include: Persistent tension headaches and migraines Hypertension and heart disease

Chronic Stress  Grinding stress that wears people away  Destroys bodies, minds and lives  Stress of unrelenting demands and pressures  People get used to it  Kills through suicide, violence and more

Signs of stress (physical)  Low energy  Headaches  Upset stomach including diarrhea and constipation  Chest pain and rapid heart beat  Insomnia  Frequent colds and infections

Signs of stress (emotional)  Becoming easily agitated, frustrated, and moody  Feeling overwhelmed  Having difficulty  Feeling bad about yourself  Avoiding others

Signs of stress (behavioral)  Change in appetite  Procrastinating and avoiding responsibilities  Exhibiting nervous behaviors Nail biting Fidgeting Pacing

Unhealthy ways of coping with stress  Smoking  Drinking too much or using drugs  Overeating  Withdrawing from friends, family and activities  Taking stress out on others See how stress negatively effects you

Healthy ways of dealing with stress  Exercise  Go out with friends or family  Avoid unnecessary stress  Manage your time better  Look for a silver lining  Make time for fun and relaxation

Relaxation Response  Counteract stress by learning relaxation response  State of deep rest  Your heart rate decreases  Breathing becomes slower  Muscles relax  Body begins to heal

Playing with puppies can reduce stress!

Relaxation Techniques  Practice deep breathing  Practice progressive muscle relaxation  Practice mindful meditation  Do yoga  Visualization meditation

Facts on Stress  ⅓ of U.S has EXTREME stress  48 % believe stress has increased over 5 years  Individuals rated everyday stress as 5.4 on a scale of (1-10)

Myths of stress  Stress is the same for everyone  Stress is always bad for you  Stress is everywhere  No symptoms, no stress  Only major symptoms need attention

Stress Isn’t Always bad  Moderate levels of stress are good  Improve performance and efficiency  Too little stress may cause boredom  Too much stress may cause anxiety

References    relief.htm relief.htm  effects.htm effects.htm  