1. Strategies for Coping with STRESS

2. What is stress? Stress is a natural reaction of the body to any demand or change placed upon it, pleasant or unpleasant. Modern stresses are school, violence, embarrassment, guilt, or deadlines.

3. STRESSORS cause STRESS STRESS causes CHANGE CHANGE helps ADAPTATION ADAPTATION means SURVIVAL

4. The body’s response to stress occurs in three stages: The Alarm Stage The Resistance Stage The Exhaustion Stage.

5. The Alarm Stage During the alarm stage, your body releases adrenaline. Adrenaline causes your heart to beat faster, your breathing to speed up, and your muscles to tense. The initial response of your body to stress is called the fight-or-flight response.

6. Resistance Stage If you are unable to respond successfully to a stressor during the alarm stage, your body moves into the resistance stage. During the resistance stage, your body adapts to the presence of the stressor. The symptoms from the alarm stage disappear, but the work your body does during this stage uses a lot of energy. So you may become tired and irritable.

7. Exhaustion Stage If the stressor continues for a long time, your body enters the exhaustion stage. At this stage, your physical and emotional resources are depleted.

8. Recognizing the warning signs of stress may help you prevent some of its negative effects on your health.

9. The warning signs of stress include changes in how your body functions and changes in emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Once you recognize your individual warning signs of stress, it is important to identify the stressor. Severe or prolonged stress can affect your health. Stress can trigger certain illnesses, reduce the body’s ability to fight an illness, and make some diseases harder to control.

11. Evaluate your life. What is important and what can wait? Set goals. Choose your “fights” carefully. Use appropriate conflict resolution skills. Talk yourself UP. Most stress is self inflicted through negative self talk. Say NO! Do not accept more than you can do – and do well! Avoid stimulants like coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, nicotine, diet pills. Exercise! Strategies for dealing with stress.

12. Take a breath and relax. Relax your jaw. Use deep breathing or visualization techniques. Remove yourself from the stressful situation. LAUGH! Set aside daily time to do something you like to do. Change what you can in your life and leave the rest alone.