1. Carol Boychuck

2.  Stress is “the nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it”  Eustress is positive stress – this stress challenges us helps create solutions in our lives.  Distress is negative stress if unmanaged this stress can cause harm to our body and brain functions.

3.  Brain and nerves  Headaches, feeling of despair, lack of energy  Sadness, nervousness, anger, irritability,  Trouble concentrating, memory problems,  Trouble sleeping, mental health issues  Skin  Acne and other skin problems  Muscles and joints  Muscle aches and tension (shoulders, neck & Back)  Reduced bone density

4.  Heart  Faster heartbeat, rise in blood pressure  Increase risk of high cholesterol and heart attack  Stomach  Nausea, stomach pain, heartburn weight gain  Pancreas  Increase risk of diabetes  Intestines  Diarrhea, constipation and other digestive issues  Reproductive system  Women- irregular cycles, reduced sexual desire  Men – lower sperm production, reduced sexual desire  Immune system  Lowers ability to fight or recover from illness

5.  Those things that go wrong in the day and those irritating things that go bump in the night – disrupting routines and interrupting sleep – all have a cumulative effect on your brain, especially its ability to remember and learn.

6.  short-term “Fight-or-Flight” response is the basic survival instinct – hormones speed up the heart rate, slowing digestion, shutting blood flow to brain and muscles, giving the body a burst of energy and strength.Fight-or-Flight  long-term “General Adaptation Syndrome” is a long-term effect of exposure to stressGeneral Adaptation Syndrome  Alarm stage…..Resistance stage….Exhaustion stage

7.  Cortisol, the stress hormone, can damage the hippocampus if the stress is not managed.  Stress makes it difficult to concentrate

8.  keep a positive attitude  Accept that there are events that you can not control  Learn and practice relaxation techniques  Yoga, tai-chi, meditation  Exercise 4-5 times a week 30-40 min.  Eat healthy  Sleep 6 to 8 uninterrupted hours  Make time for hobbies, interest, new activities  Seek professional help if needed

9.  Exercise improves the blood flow to the brain cells helps keep that positive attitude  Add 30-40 minutes a moderately intense exercise enhances the ability to:  Concentrate  Learn  Remember

10.  Sleep is essential to regenerate the brain cells to function. 6- 8 hours is efficient  Lack of sleep influences verbal learning and memory.

11.  Sleep is necessary for memory consolidation  Sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea leave you tired and unable to concentrate during the day.  ? Are teens cell phones /texting interrupting their sleep?

13.  Visualize yourself in a tranquil place.  Gain control of your breathing.  Repeat a helpful quote or word.  Get away from the noise.  Use your imagination.  Use good scents.  Laugh.  Cry.

14. www.mindtools.com/smpage.html http://www.fi.edu/learn/brain/stress.html#how http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stres s-symptoms/SR00008_D http://www.ptsdforum.org/content/182-Stress-on-Your-Body