1. Teenage Stress
“I’m So Stressed”

2. 40% !!!!!!!!
of ALL Teenagers say they experience mild or severe stress in their life
It’s how they handle the stress that will determine how healthy they are

3. STUDENT STRESS RATING SCALE
The following are events that occur in the life of a college student. Place a check in the left-hand column for each of those events that has happened to you during the last 12 months.
___ Death of a close family member points
____ Jail term - 80 points
____ Final year or first year in college - 63 points
____ Pregnancy (to you or caused by your) - 60 points
____ Severe personal illness or injury - 53 points
____ Marriage - 50 points
____ Any interpersonal problems - 45 points
____ Financial difficulties - 40 points
____ Death of a close friend - 40 points
____ Arguments with your roommate (more than every other day) - 40 points
____ Major disagreements with your family - 40 points’
____ Major change in personal habits - 30 points
____ Change in living environment - 30 points
____ Beginning or ending a job - 30 points
____Problems with your boss or professor - 25 points
____ Outstanding personal achievement - 25 points
____ Failure in some course - 25 points
____ Final exams - 20 points
____ Increased or decreased dating - 20 points
____ Changes in working conditions - 20 points
____ Change in your major
____ Change in your sleeping habits - 18 points
____ Several-day vacation - 15 points
____ Change in eating habits - 15 points
____ Family reunion - 15 points
____ Change in recreational activities - 15 points
____ Minor illness or injury - 15 points
____ Minor violations of the law - 11 points
Score: _________________

4. INTERPRETING YOUR SCORE
Less than 150 points : relatively low stress level in relation to life events
points : borderline range
Greater than 300 points : high stress in relation to life events
Note: From Girdano, D.A., Everly, G. S., Jr., & Dusek, D. E. (1990). Controlling stress and tension (3rd edition), ENnglewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

5. Stress – Clip

6. WHAT IS STRESS?
Stress is your mind and body’s response or reaction to a real or imagined threat, event or change.
The threat, event or change are commonly called stressors. Stressors can be internal (thoughts, beliefs, attitudes or external (loss, tragedy, change).
May feel tension, frustration, worry,
sadness, or withdrawal

7. Identifying Stressors
Situations that make you feel stress are called stressors
Not everyone reacts the same way to the same stressors
Recognizing what stressors make you experience stress is the first step in controlling your stress
ACTIVITY:
Take a moment to think about what type of day you have had? How many stressors – mild or major have you encountered today?

8. EUSTRESS
Eustress or positive stress occurs when your level of stress is high enough to motivate you to move into action to get things accomplished.

9. DISTRESS
Distress or negative stress occurs when your level of stress is either too high or too low and your body and/or mind begin to respond negatively to the stressors.

10. RECOGNIZING STRESS SIGNALS
Symptoms could be:
Physical such as headaches or upset stomach
Changes in sleep or eating patterns
You need to learn the ways in which your body signals you that you are experiencing stress, so that you can recognize it and deal with it before it makes you ill
ACTIVITY
What signals does your body send you that you are under stress?

11. STAGES OF STRESS

12. Stages of Stress
Alarm Stage
Resistance Stage
Exhaustion Stage

13. 1. ALARM STAGE
As you begin to experience a stressful event or perceive something to be stressful psychological changes occur in your body. This experience or perception disrupts your body’s normal balance and immediately your body begins to respond to the stressor(s) as effectively as possible.

14. EXAMPLES Cardiac - increased heart rate
Respiratory - increased respiration
Skin - decreased temperature
Hormonal - increased stimulation of adrenal genes which produce an adrenal rush.

15. 2. RESISTANCE STAGE
During this stage your body tries to cope or adapt to the stressors by beginning a process of repairing any damage the stressor has caused. Your friends, family or co-workers may notice changes in you before you do so it is important to examine their feedback to make sure you do not reach overload.

16. EXAMPLES
Behavior indicators include: lack of enthusiasm for family, school, work or life in general, withdrawal, change in eating habits, insomnia, hypersomnia, anger, fatigue.
Cognitive Indicators include: poor problem solving, confusion, nightmares, hyper-vigilance.

17. RESISTANCE STAGE MORE EXAMPLES
Emotional indicators include:
tearfulness
fear
anxiety
panic
guilt
agitation
depression
overwhelmed.

18. 3. EXHAUSTION STAGE
During this stage the stressor is not being managed effectively and the body and mind are not able to repair the damage.

19. EXAMPLES
Digestive disorders, withdrawal, headaches, tension, insomnia, loss of temper, skin disorders etc..

20. Who Causes us stress ? Parents Teachers Coaches Brothers/Sisters
Friends
Oneself
Environment
Others???

21. RESPONDING TO STRESS E + R = W
Many times when we experience stress, we don’t stop to think about how we handle it.
We respond to stress based on habits and patterns that we have developed over time
Some habits are healthy, and others are unhealthy
ACTIVITY
Identify an unhealthy response to stress. Think of a stressful situation in which you respond with this negative habit. Think of a healthier alternative to handle this stressor!
Remember, no matter how stressful the situation, take your time, realise you have a choice and choose to make stress response that is productive, healthy and ends well

22. How do most teenagers escape stress?
Listen to Music
Talk to Friends/Family
Watch Television
Physical Activity
Yoga
Meditation/Relaxation Breathing
Seek Solutions…….Do You?
Seek Support

23. “I’m really depressed”
Depression is more severe than stress and it lasts longer (at least 2-3 weeks)
Feel hopeless
Feel sad
Feel alone
Worry
Withdrawal (from your friends and family)
21 days

24. How do teenagers escape depression?
Become indifferent-avoid people
Exhibit anger at those around them
Become aggressive, yell, fight, complain
Drink
Smoke
Sleep
Cry
Attempt suicide

25. Stressed/Depressed Where do you go?
Teachers
Pastor
Physician
Coach
Relatives
Parents
Friends

26. I’M IN CONTROL - DISTRESS RELIEF STRATEGIES
Feeling good about yourselves can be an effective buffer against stress. Eliminate unnecessary worries.
PHYSICAL
1. Relax neck and shoulders
2. Take a stretch
3. Get a massage
4. Exercise
GET MENTAL
5. Count to 10
6. Control your thoughts
7. Fantasize
8. Congratulate yourself
9. Ignore the problem if appropriate, after evaluation
10. Perform self maintenance
11. Talk to a counselor
GET SPIRITUAL
12. Meditate
13. Pray
14. Remember your purpose
USE YOUR BODY AND MIND TOGETHER
15. Take a break
16. Get hug therapy
17. Try progressive relaxation
18. Try yoga
19. Try aroma therapy
20. Laugh
DEVELOP NEW SKILLS
21. Prioritize daily tasks
22. Learn something
23. Practice a hobby

27. LEARNING TO HANDLE CONFLICT
There are 3 types of conflict
Internal Conflict – conflict within yourself
Interpersonal – conflict between two people
Inter-group – conflict between members of one
group and another group

28. 3 METHODS TO HANDLE STRESS
Avoidance
Confrontation
Resolution
Avoidance
Confrontation
Resolution
Cry
Quit
Pout
Back stab
Give in
Deny
Use humour
Stop speaking to person ?
Yell
Fight
Accuse
Talk
Get a mediator
Compromise
Share ideas

29. USING “I” STATEMENTS  I feel… (state the feeling)
When you…(state the person’s behavior)
Because…(state the effect it has on you)
I want…(state what you want to happen)
(ie) I feel hurt and angry… when you tell other people something I told you in confidence… because it is embarrassing and it made other people angry with me… I want you to promise that when I tell you something in confidence that you will not tell a single person.”

30. Factors That Effect Resiliency
Being a Resilient Teen
What is resiliency?
Resiliency: is the ability to recover from
disappointment, difficulty, or a crisis.
Factors That Effect Resiliency
External factors: include your family, your school or community, and your peers.
Internal factors: are the ones you have control over.
Positive values: demonstrate positive values through your words and actions.
Social dependency: you have empathy and friendship skills. It also means you can resist negative peer pressure and resolve conflicts nonviolently.
Positive identity: indicates positive self-esteem and a sense of purpose.

31. Resiliency Simplified…
Recognize your symptoms of stress
Use relaxation techniques
Exercise
Time management
Watch your diet
Get enough sleep and rest
Help others
Take time outs – vacations, mental breaks
Give in occasionally
Tackle one thing at a time
Don’t try to be perfect
Have some fun – laugh lots and enjoy life!

32. How to be Resilient…
Get Together Talk with your friends and, yes, even with your parents. Understand that your parents may have more life experience than you do, even if it seems they never were your age.
Cut Yourself Some Slack When something bad happens in your life, the stresses of whatever you're going through may heighten daily stresses. Your emotions might already be all over the map because of hormones and physical changes; be prepared for this and go a little easy on yourself, and on your friends.
Create A Hassle-Free Zone Make your room or apartment a "hassle-free zone" - not that you keep everyone out, but home should be a haven free from stress and anxieties.
Stick To The Program During a time of major stress, map out a routine and stick to it. You may be doing all kinds of new things, but don't forget the routines that give you comfort.
Take Care Of Yourself Be sure to take of yourself - physically, mentally and spiritually. And get sleep. If you don't, you may be more grouchy and nervous at a time when you have to stay sharp.

33. Resiliency cont…
Take Control Bad times make us feel out of control - grab some of that control back by taking decisive action.
Express Yourself Tragedy can bring up a bunch of conflicting emotions, but sometimes, it's just too hard to talk to someone about what you're feeling. If talking isn't working, do something else to capture your emotions like start a journal, or create art.
Help Somebody Nothing gets your mind off your own problems like solving someone else's. Try volunteering in your community or at your school, cleaning-up around the house or apartment, or helping a friend with his or her homework.
Put Things In Perspective The very thing that has you stressed out may be all anyone is talking about now. But eventually, things change and bad times end. Learn some relaxation techniques, whether it's thinking of a particular song in times of stress, or just taking a deep breath to calm down. When you talk about bad times, make sure you talk about good times as well.
You can learn resilience. But just because you learn resilience doesn't mean you won't feel stressed or anxious. You might have times when you aren't happy - and that's OK. Resilience is a journey, and each person will take his or her own time along the way. Resilience can help you be one of the people who've "got bounce."