1. Stress and Its Impact on Your Health
Presented by:
Greg Brannan
Deer Oaks EAP Services

2. Presentation Objectives
Develop a better understanding of the impact
stress has on your health
Provide strategies to help you better manage your
stress and keep your life in balance

3. Stress Levels in 2018… …Worse Than Ever The Facts
The pace of life, technology,
the economy, etc.
The challenge of keeping our work and home lives in balance
Other stress we face

4. The Impact on Our Health
The Physiology & Psychology of Stress
How we respond mentally, physically, & emotionally
(i.e. fight or flight response)
Potential for loss of health

5. Health Conditions Associated with Chronic Stress Emotional Effects:
anxiety, aggression, apathy, boredom, depression, fatigue, frustration, guilt, shame, irritability, bad temper, moodiness, low self-esteem, threat, tension, nervousness, loneliness, inability to make decisions and concentrate, frequent forgetfulness, hypersensitivity to criticism and mental blocks
Health Effects: asthma, chest and back pains, coronary heart disease, diarrhea, faintness and dizziness, headaches and migraine, neuroses, nightmares, insomnia, psychoses, hypertension psychosomatic disorder, diabetes mellitus, skin rash, ulcers, loss of sexual interest and weakness

6. Become Consciously Aware…
…of How Stress Affects You

7. How to Become Aware Listen to your own internal alarm systems –
notice what your mind and body and are
telling you
Be sensitive to changes in your attitude and
behavior that may indicate that you’re overly
stressed (negativity, conflict in relationships,
changes in sleep patterns, etc.)

8. Keys to Stress Management
Adjust your attitude & thinking
- Be constructive in the way you you think about stressful
events
- Practice positive self-talk

9. Keys to Stress Management
Let go of worrying
- It’s a destructive mental habit
- Realize that “this too shall
pass” (research study)
Exercise regularly
- A healthy way to “work out”
the emotions caused by stress

10. Keys to Stress Management
Stay in balance
- Take time for yourself regularly
(take breaks, don’t eat at your
desk, plan fun activities daily)
- Don’t “over plan” your days &
weekends

11. Keys to Stress Management
Pace yourself
- Don’t confuse activity with
productivity
- Remember the Turtle vs.
the Hare – “slow but sure
wins the race