1. Stress and wellbeing Onslow College – May 2014

2. A simple definition (following Parkin & Boyd, 2011): “Stress occurs when pressure exceeds our perceived ability to cope” Because stress can mean different things to different people, in different settings Can appear differently for different people, in different settings Stress causes physiological changes that produce physical reactions, feeling reactions, thinking reactions, and behaviour reactions.

3. Why? Fight vs flight The brain (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system; HPA) – release of ‘stress’ steroid hormones like cortisol  activates some bodily systems (like heart, lungs, blood, metabolism, immune system, skin, digestion) and shuts others down  activates neurotransmitters that decrease frontal lobe activity (memory, concentration, inhibition, decision making) Stress  Relaxation vs Stress  Stress  Stress… PROs and CONs

4. A note on willpower…

5. ‘Stressors’ Environment (crowding, relocation, travel, noise) Occupations (low control/high demand)  OOS Relationships Uncontrollable/unpredictable stress  Locus of Control

7. Typical ‘stressful’ life events reported by young people in research: (1) ‘hospitalization/surgery of someone else’ (2) ‘start of romantic relationship’ (3) ‘school performance problems’ (4) ‘fights/arguments at school’ (5) ‘death of pet’ (6) ‘general health problems of other’ (7) ‘general health problems of themselves’ (8) ‘being bullied’ (9) ‘changed schools’ (10) ‘close relative died’ (11) ‘injury/accident to themselves’ (12) ‘arguments with siblings’ (13) ‘increased arguments between siblings and parents’ (14) ‘increased arguments with parents’ (15) ‘breakup with boyfriend/girlfriend’ (16) ‘change in physical appearance’ (17) ‘change in parent’s job’ (18) ‘other caught committing crime’ (19) ‘injury/accident to someone else’

8. “Stress busters” How you think about the demands upon us (because our thoughts drive our stress response) Resilience Lifestyle – activity, diet, coffee/alcohol, sleep

9. Gaynor Parkin and Sarah Boyd