1. GROUP ACTIVITY:
REMEMBER YOUR TIMES-TABLES…?

2. Stressed out, or anxious?
On a scale of 1-5 (1 being perfectly comfortable and 5 being extremely uncomfortable), rate your response in anticipation of this activity
For those who experienced discomfort: would you describe your feelings as stress or as anxiety? Do you distinguish between the two?

3. So what’s the difference?
Stress
Anxiety
Natural, normal response to a real challenge or threat
Can make us feel nervous, angry, frustrated, anxious, but also excited or motivated
Can trigger fight, flight or freeze response
Uncomfortable feelings resolve when the challenge is met or the threat is neutralized
Triggered by real or perceived stressors
Feelings of worry or nervousness that are often disproportionate to the stressor
Typically does not co-exist with more “positive” emotions
Triggers fight, flight or freeze response
Uncomfortable feelings linger, even in the absence of stressors

4. What do these words mean?
Mental Disorder/ Illness
Mental Health
Problem
Anxiety
Stress
Mental Distress
No Distress, Problem or Disorder
Image adapted from:

5. Mental Health Continuum Model
Mental Health axis – talking about our stress levels, coping, environment. This is where curriculum and SEL comes in.
Mental Illness axis
egway to mental disorders
Maximum presentation (signs and symptoms) and impairment
Vs. Minimum presentation and impairment

6. Shifting our language; shifting our thinking
Stress as the enemy of a healthy life
We have come to view all stress as a toxic state, to be minimized or avoided
Research suggests we need to shift our thinking…

7. TED Kelly McGonigal Make Stress your Friend
1) Understand the Stress Response, its purpose and its various levels
2) Interpret the stress response as positive, not negative. A challenge to be faced. A problem to be solved.
3) Identify the problem that needs to be solved. Consider how to solve the problem. Seek assistance and help of others.
4) Modulate the apex of the stress response. Use simple and effective breath-holding and “centering” progressive muscle relaxation techniques
Don’t turn in.
Don’t focus on modulation of the stress response and ignore the other approaches
Scaffolding is different than avoiding…. DO NOT AVOID

8. AVOIDANCE

9. Stress Response Curve
1. How are you thinking about your stress response? (positive/negative)
2. What is the problem and what are possible solutions?
3. What is the intensity of your stress response?

10. Helpful Strategies Figure out what the problem really is
Consider the solutions
Accept what you can’t change
Be realistic
Acknowledge your feelings
Build healthy relationships
Limit or avoid drugs/alcohol
Eat a healthy diet
Be active
Sleep
Time Management

11. Assignment #4
Coping with Stress – test one or more strategies to help you deal with any particular stress you may be dealing with
Try it out for a minimum of one week and complete a short reflection BEFORE and AFTER you have completed your coping strategy each day
At the end of the process, you will write a paragraph long reflection to summarize your findings