1. COLL 148: Week 3 Stress Management
Presented by Prof jim schneider

2. What Is stress?
“In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure). Stress can initiate the fight or flight response, a complex reaction of neurologic and endocrinologic systems” (medicinenet.com, 2018, para.1).

3. Impact of stress On our emotional and mental states: On the body:
Decreased cognitive capacity
Decreased IQ (in extreme cases, such as a persistent threat)
Anxiety
Depression
On the body:
Lowered immune system
High blood pressure
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Heart disease
Stroke

4. Causes of stress Though variable and numerous, causes often cited are:
Financial
Family/Relationships
Job
School
Environment—natural and man-made, such as your home
Health
Personal Safety
What Else??

5. How Not to deal with stress
Drugs (unless prescribed), including marijuana
Nicotine (bummer, I know)
Excessive caffeine (even bigger bummer)
Alcohol
Over or binge eating, especially of unhealthy foods
Excessive use of electronics
Denying/avoiding the cause of the stress
Social isolation

6. How Best to deal with stress
SLEEP!!!
Exercise
Healthy diet
PRACTICE MEDITATION AND/OR MINDFULNESS (Calm app)
Diaphragmatic breathing, the vegus nerve, and the parasympathetic nervous system
Address causes of stress head-on, including changing behaviors/patterns that may have contributed to the stress (e.g. better time management)
SEEK SUPPORT AND TALK IT OUT
Take a break and do what you love

7. Review of week 3 Lesson Discussion Stress Management Assignment
Review of Prior Learning Assessment

8. TED recommendation and Q&A
Great TED Talk for this topic:
In Google, look for Kelly McGonigal: How to make stress your friend
Q&A?