2. Mental Health: All About Stress Senior High Health

3. Picture Stress Draw a picture of stress. Draw a picture of stress. Consider the images, colors, lines that would illustrate how stress feels in your life. Consider the images, colors, lines that would illustrate how stress feels in your life.

5. What is Stress? Definition: Definition: The body and mind’s reactions to everyday demands. The body and mind’s reactions to everyday demands.

6. Types of Stress Distress Distress Negative stress Negative stress Example? Example? Eustress Eustress Positive stress Positive stress Example? Example?

7. Is Stress Normal? Stress is an everyday part of life. However, stress can become unhealthy if we do not recognize our stress and attempt to alleviate it. Stress is an everyday part of life. However, stress can become unhealthy if we do not recognize our stress and attempt to alleviate it.

8. What Causes Stress? Stressors Stressors Any stimulus that produces a stress response; can be people, places, objects, or events. Any stimulus that produces a stress response; can be people, places, objects, or events.

9. What is stressing you? List all the stressors you have in your life right now. List all the stressors you have in your life right now. Label each stressor as D for distress or E for eustress Label each stressor as D for distress or E for eustress

10. The Body Reacts By… General Adaptation Syndrome (G.A.S.) General Adaptation Syndrome (G.A.S.) 3 Stages 3 Stages Alarm Alarm Resistance Resistance Exhaustion Exhaustion

11. Alarm Stage Body is ready for quick action Body is ready for quick action Fight or Flight Syndrome Fight or Flight Syndrome Adrenaline is released; physical symptoms Adrenaline is released; physical symptoms

12. Physical Symptoms of Alarm Stage Speeds up heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. Speeds up heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. Blood vessels open wider to let more blood flow to large muscle groups Blood vessels open wider to let more blood flow to large muscle groups Pupils dilate to improve vision. Pupils dilate to improve vision. The liver releases some of its stored glucose to increase the body's energy. The liver releases some of its stored glucose to increase the body's energy. Sweat is produced to cool the body. Sweat is produced to cool the body. All of these physical changes prepare a person to react quickly and effectively to handle the pressure of the moment All of these physical changes prepare a person to react quickly and effectively to handle the pressure of the moment www.teenhealth.org www.teenhealth.org www.teenhealth.org

13. Resistance Stage Body attempts to regain balance Body attempts to regain balance Adrenaline no longer released Adrenaline no longer released

14. Exhaustion Stage A constant stressor may overload resistance stage A constant stressor may overload resistance stage Physical illness may occur Physical illness may occur

15. Exhaustion leads to Psychosomatic Illness What is this? Physical illness caused by stress Physical illness caused by stress Psycho=mind somatic=body Psycho=mind somatic=body

16. Stress Symptoms Physical Increased heart rate (pounding) Increased heart rate (pounding) Elevated blood pressure (sweaty palms) Elevated blood pressure (sweaty palms) Tightness of chest, headache, diarrhea Tightness of chest, headache, diarrhea Tightness of neck or back muscles Tightness of neck or back muscles Trembling, tics, or twitching Trembling, tics, or twitching Stuttering, other speech difficulties Stuttering, other speech difficulties Nausea and/or vomiting Nausea and/or vomiting

17. Stress Symptoms Physical Sleep Disturbances; fatigue Sleep Disturbances; fatigue Accident proneness Accident proneness Slumped posture Slumped posture Shallow breathing Shallow breathing Nervous laughter Nervous laughter Susceptibility to minor illness Susceptibility to minor illness Dryness in the mouth or throat Dryness in the mouth or throat

18. Stress Symptoms Emotional Irritability; lowered self-esteem Angry outbursts; depression; jealousy Suspiciousness; restlessness; withdrawal Anxiousness; diminished initiative Feelings of unreality and over-alertness Lack of interest; tendency to cry; nightmares Reduction of personal involvement with others; critical of oneself and others

19. Stress Symptoms Intellectual/Perceptual Forgetfulness; preoccupation; blocking Diminished or exaggerated fantasy life Diminished or exaggerated fantasy life Reduced creativity Reduced creativity Lack of concentration Lack of concentration Diminished productivity Diminished productivity Lack of attention to details Lack of attention to details Orientation to past Orientation to past

20. Stress Symptoms Behavioral Increased smoking Aggressive driving Increased alcohol or drug use Carelessness Violence

21. Stress: Coping With Living Complete this worksheet to analyze your own stress symptoms. Complete this worksheet to analyze your own stress symptoms.

22. Stress Studies Show 1. The incidence of illness is correlated with the amount of life change or transition one undergoes. 1. The incidence of illness is correlated with the amount of life change or transition one undergoes. 2. Unpredictable disruptions cause more severe stress-related diseases then predictable disruptions cause. 2. Unpredictable disruptions cause more severe stress-related diseases then predictable disruptions cause.

23. Stress Studies Show 3. Interpersonal warmth and support during stressful periods seem to reduce the impact of the stress response. 3. Interpersonal warmth and support during stressful periods seem to reduce the impact of the stress response. 4. Viruses alone do not cause illness. The incidence of bad emotional experiences seems to upset the body and allow viruses to take over. 4. Viruses alone do not cause illness. The incidence of bad emotional experiences seems to upset the body and allow viruses to take over.

24. Stress Studies Show 5. High blood pressure occurs more often in environments characterized by high stress and few ways to cope. 5. High blood pressure occurs more often in environments characterized by high stress and few ways to cope. 6. The major life changes increase the risk of coronary heart disease. 6. The major life changes increase the risk of coronary heart disease.

25. Stress Can Lead To… Stress has a volcanic effect Stress has a volcanic effect It can build up and become destructive….to ourselves and others It can build up and become destructive….to ourselves and others If it is kept inside it can lead to: If it is kept inside it can lead to: Depression Depression Suicide Suicide

26. Stress Can Lead To… If it is turned outward it can lead to… If it is turned outward it can lead to… Verbal or physical abuse of others Verbal or physical abuse of others If it is self medicated it can lead to… If it is self medicated it can lead to… Substance abuse Substance abuse Eating disorders Eating disorders Can lead to illness….why? Can lead to illness….why?

27. How can we deal with stress? Stress is unavoidable! Stress is unavoidable! We have to learn how to cope with the stressors and their symptoms We have to learn how to cope with the stressors and their symptoms Many stress management techniques can be used to minimize the stress response Many stress management techniques can be used to minimize the stress response