1. Managing the Stress in Your Life
Lesson 1 What Is Stress? Lesson 2 Stress and Your Physical Health Lesson 3 Stress and Your Intellectual and Emotional Health Lesson 4 Managing Stress

2. Stress and Your Intellectual and Emotional Health
Lesson 3
Stress and Your Intellectual and Emotional Health

3. Stress and Cognitive Problems
Stress affects cognitive abilities (thinking and reasoning), leading to
Trouble focusing
Risk of injury
Negative thoughts
Impulsive decisions
Forgetfulness (stress hormones disrupt the hippocampus—the brain’s memory center)
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4. Stress and Emotional Problems
Stress can cause many emotions: fear, anxiety, helplessness, anger, shock, or numbness
Chronic stress can lead to depression, a feeling of low self-worth and disinterest in life
Extremely stressful events can cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Stress from combat can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
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5. What are some symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD?
Nightmares and recurring thoughts about the event
Feeling detached, numb, uncaring, irritable, angry, or guilty
Inability to remember parts of the event
Lack of interest in normal activities
Avoidance of people associated with the event
Being easily startled
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty sleeping

6. Stress and Behavioral Problems
Stress can lead to behavioral problems
Conflict (arguments and domestic violence)
Unhealthy lifestyle choices (smoking, drinking, taking drugs, bad eating habits, infrequent exercise, lack of sleep)
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7. Critical Thinking Stress and Hormones
Explain how hormones are involved in stress-related memory problems and depression.
Stress hormones disrupt the functions of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory formation. This makes it difficult for people under stress to remember things and form new memories. Stress can also reduce the “feel-good” hormones and other chemicals in the brain, leading to depression.