1. Managing Stress

2. What Causes Stress  Stress: is the response of your body and mind to being challenged or threatened.  Eustress: Positive Stress  Distress: Negative Stress

3. Many Causes Of Stress  Major Life Changes: (Experiencing death of parents, graduating from high school, Parents going through divorce, Serious illness, Moving to new schools, Breaking up with boyfriend or girlfriends, not making team)  Catastrophes: Natural disasters (Hurricanes, Floods, tornadoes)  Everyday Problems: Everyday Events (Disagreements with family& friends, misplacing something, school work)  Environmental Problems: Conditions in your immediate surroundings ( Where you live)

4. How Stress Affects Your Body  Alarm Stage-Your body releases a substance called adrenaline.  Resistance Stage- Body adapts to continued presence of the stressor.  Exhaustion Stage: Body can no longer keep up with the demands placed on it.

5. Recognizing Signs of Stress  Behavioral Changes: Ex: Sleep problems, Reckless behavior  Changes of Thinking: Ex: Unable to concentrate, Negative thinking.  Physical Changes: Ex: Muscle tension, Headache, Upset stomach.  Emotional Change: Ex: Irritable, Angry, Nervous

6. Stress in Illness  Stomachaches  Asthma  Headaches  Lowered Resistance to Diseases  Heart Disease

7. Stress and Individuals  Responses to Stress: How you react to stress depends on how you asses the situation.  Stress and Personality: How you respond to a situation. Are you confident or shy. Optimism and Pessimism.  Resilience: The ability to recover from a situation.

8. Coping with Stress  Take Control of Stress: Time Management and Mental Rehearsal.  Reduce Tension: Physical Activity, Relaxation, Biofeedback.  Change your Thinking: Avoiding Negative Thinking, Humor.  Reach out for Support: Parent or other adult, Coach, School Counselor or friend.