chapter 17: stress management lesson 17.1: facts about stress self-assessment 17: identifying signs...

Chapter 17: Stress Management

Lesson 17.1: Facts About Stress

Self-Assessment 17: Identifying Signs of Stress


Lesson Objectives:• Define stress and list its causes.• Explain the three stages in the general adaptation

syndrome.• Explain how eustress and distress differ.• Discuss the effects of stress.


Question

What is stress and what is a stressor?


Answer

• Stress is how your body responds to demanding situations.

• Stress can be positive or negative.


Answer (continued)

• A stressor is a name given to a specific event that produces a reaction from you.

• A stressor can also be general long-term feelings of worry, anger, or anxiety that can cause your body to react in an unhealthy way.


Answer (continued)

• Stress (emotional or social stress) is a result of how you think about events that happen to you.

• Your thoughts will determine how your body responds.


Question

How are thoughts related to stress?


Answer

• If you think positively, the stressful event can be healthy.

• If you think negatively, the stressful event can be unhealthy.


Question

What is eustress?


Answer

• Eustress is a term used for positive stress.• If an event is very exciting or very challenging, it

puts you in a state of eustress.


Question

What happens to you when an event is very exciting or challenging?


Answer

When you interpret events as exciting or challenging:

• These thoughts cause your body to respond—increasing your heart rate, sweating, and alertness.

• This type of response—a positive stress response to an event—is a state of eustress.


Question

What are examples of events that produce feelings of eustress?


Answer

Events that produce feelings of eustress:• Riding a roller coaster• Skydiving• Skiing


Question

What is distress?


Answer

• Distress is negative stress.• If an event is very demanding and you feel you

cannot control what is happening to you, it will put you in a state of distress.


Question

How do your thoughts cause you to be distressed?


Answer

When you interpret events as being uncontrollable, demanding, and beyond your ability to cope,

• your body responds in a negative way that can be harmful to your health, and

• this type of response—a negative stressful response to an event—is a state of distress.


Question

How does your body respond negatively to distress?


Answer

Negative responses to stress include• increasing anxiety,• lack of sleep,• decreased ability to concentrate,• poor digestion, and• tense muscles.


Question

What are examples of events that produce feelings of distress?


Answer

Events that produce feelings of stress:• Taking an exam in a difficult subject area• Serious conflicts with family or friends• Being in some type of accident• Getting a sports injury


Question

What is the general adaptation syndrome?


Answer

• A researcher, Hans Selye, helped us understand the effects of stress.

• There are three stages:– The alarm reaction—The body reacts to a

stressor.– The stage of resistance—The body resists the

stressor.


Answer (continued)

– The stage of exhaustion—The body succumbs to a stressor.


Question

What are three types of stressors?


Answer

There are three types of stressors:• Physical • Social• Emotional


Question

What are characteristics of physical stressors?


Answer

• Physical stressors are events that are stressful to you, independent of your thought processes.

• In other words, no matter how positively you try to think, physical stressors will still affect you in a negative way.


Question

What are examples of physical stressors?


Answer

Examples of physical stressors:• Exposure to heat or cold• Hunger or thirst• Lack of sleep• Certain types of illnesses


Question

What is a social stressor?


Answer

• A social stressor is any minor or major event that might cause you stress (positive or negative).

• How you think about a social stressor (e.g., positively or negatively) can determine whether you are in a state of eustress or distress.


Question

What are examples of social stressors?


Answer

Examples of social stressors:• An important sports competition• A major school exam• Disagreements with friends• A conflict with your parents


Question

What is an emotional stressor?


Answer

• An emotional stressor is a general feeling of worry, anxiety, or grief.

• You simply feel down and depressed, lacking motivation for many things.

• These feelings can cause your body to react in unhealthy ways.


Question

What is competitive stress?


Answer

• Often in high school, you may be involved in sports teams, academic projects, etc.

• Competitive stress is what you feel when you participate in competitive sports and other competitive activities.


Question

What factors make these activities stressful?


Answer

Competition is stressful because it features:• Being evaluated by others• Performing in front of a crowd• Feeling that the outcome is important


Question

How can you produce feelings of eustress (not distress) in competitive activities?


Answer

Feelings of eustress can arise if you• simply try to do your best and accept the

outcome.• understand that sometimes you will do very well

and other times there will be room for improvement.

• keep things in perspective.


Answer (continued)

• realize that the only thing you control is how much effort you give.

• do not spend a lot of time worrying about winning or losing because it could be beyond your control.


Question

With a partner: How can you self-assess signs and signals of stress?

Answer

Assessing stress:• Lie on the floor, close your eyes, and try to relax.• Have your partner count your pulse and your

breathing rate.• Ask your partner to observe for irregular

breathing and unusual mannerisms.


Answer (continued)

• Then ask your partner to evaluate how tense your muscles seem. Report “butterflies” or other indicators of stress to your partner.

• Write your results on your record sheet. Have your partner lie down while you record your observations about him or her.


Answer (continued)

• When directed by your teacher, all members of the class should write their names on a piece of paper and place the papers in a hat or a box.

• The teacher will draw names until only three remain in the container. The students whose names remain must give 1-minute speeches about the effects of stress.


Answer (continued)

• Observe your partner before and during the name-drawing. Look for the signs and signals of stress. Record your results on the record sheet.

• Also try to remember your feelings during the drawing. Finally, observe the people who were required to make the speech. Record this information on the record sheet.


Answer (continued)

• Finally, walk or jog for 5 minutes after your second stress assessment. Once again, work with a partner to assess your signs of stress.

• Write them in the third column of the record sheet. Notice that the exercise causes heart rate and breathing rate to increase.

• However, it may help reduce earlier signs of the emotional stress related to performing in front of the class.


What are the signs of stress to look for?

• Is your heart rate higher than normal?• Are the muscles tighter than usual?• Are unusual mannerisms present?• Do you feel differently?• Is your breathing irregular, rapid, or shallow?


chapter 17: stress management lesson 17.1: facts about stress self-assessment 17: identifying signs...

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