The body and mind’s The body and mind’s reaction to everyday reaction to everyday demands or threats. demands or threats. Stress can be useful Stress can be useful or harmful, energizing or harmful, energizing or exhausting.or exhausting.How each person How each person reacts to the stressful reacts to the stressful situation, will often situation, will often determine the effect determine the effect it will have on the it will have on the personperson

Stress:Stress:Stress:Stress: neutral stress neutral stress which often challenges which often challenges people in their day to people in their day to day tasksday tasks SchoolSchool WorkWork AthleticsAthletics ObligationsObligations DeadlinesDeadlines ExpectationsExpectations

Eustress:Eustress:EustressEustress: positive : positive stress which helps stress which helps people to meet their people to meet their goalsgoals Scoring the winning Scoring the winning

points in a gamepoints in a game Getting a new jobGetting a new job Going on a dateGoing on a date Getting a promotionGetting a promotion Getting a good gradeGetting a good grade Being recognized for Being recognized for

a job well done a job well done

Distress:Distress:DistressDistress: negative : negative stress which can stress which can cause too much cause too much pressure and pressure and trauma in ones lifetrauma in ones life OverworkedOverworked Failing a classFailing a class Parents divorceParents divorce Getting fired from a Getting fired from a

jobjob Death of a loved oneDeath of a loved one

Stressors:Stressors:The source of stress in The source of stress in each persons life; each persons life; people, places, and people, places, and things that cause things that cause stress in day to day lifestress in day to day life BiologicalBiological EnvironmentalEnvironmental CognitiveCognitive Personal BehaviorPersonal Behavior Life SituationsLife Situations

Common Stressors:Common Stressors:

HealthProblems

Drugs/Alcohol

Girlfriend/Boyfriend

FuturePlans Activities

Sports

Peers

Finances

Jobs

FamilySchool

YOU

Identify Stressors in Your Identify Stressors in Your LifeLife

Stress Response:Stress Response:

Alarm-Initial ReactionAlarm-Initial Reaction:: the 1the 1stst stage of the stage of the response to the stressful situation; when the response to the stressful situation; when the body and mind are on high alert and the body and mind are on high alert and the stress response is initiated.stress response is initiated.

Stress Response:Stress Response:Resistance ResponseResistance Response:: the 2the 2ndnd stage of stage of the response to the stressful situation; the response to the stressful situation; when the body is attempting to repair any when the body is attempting to repair any damage that has been done by the stress.damage that has been done by the stress.

Stress Response:Stress Response:Fatigue-ExhaustionFatigue-Exhaustion:: the 3the 3rdrd stage of stage of the response to the stressfulthe response to the stressful situation; situation; when the stress is not adequately dealt when the stress is not adequately dealt with, the body breaks down and health with, the body breaks down and health problems result.problems result.

Reacting & Responding to Reacting & Responding to Stressors:Stressors:

Stress Tolerance:Stress Tolerance:The amount of stress The amount of stress that someone can that someone can handle before they handle before they reach a state of too reach a state of too much stress and they much stress and they experience fatigue experience fatigue and breakdownand breakdown

Warning Signs of Warning Signs of Overstressed:Overstressed:

Severe Headaches or MigrainesSevere Headaches or MigrainesNausea, Diarrhea, Vomiting, ConstipationNausea, Diarrhea, Vomiting, ConstipationChronic Fatigue-Lack of EnergyChronic Fatigue-Lack of EnergyInsomnia (Sleeplessness)Insomnia (Sleeplessness)Lack of Memory-Unable to ConcentrateLack of Memory-Unable to ConcentrateIrregular MenstruationIrregular MenstruationDecreased Sex DriveDecreased Sex DriveLack of AppetiteLack of AppetiteEmotional Mood SwingsEmotional Mood Swings

Impact of StressImpact of StressStress can significantly affect many of the Stress can significantly affect many of the body's immune systems, as can an body's immune systems, as can an individual's perceptions of, and reactions individual's perceptions of, and reactions to, stress.to, stress.

Stress Can Relate to Stress Can Relate to Health ProblemsHealth Problems

Drug and/or Alcohol AbuseDrug and/or Alcohol AbuseLoneliness and DepressionLoneliness and DepressionSuicide AttemptsSuicide AttemptsPsychological ProblemsPsychological ProblemsUlcersUlcersStrokeStrokeHeart AttackHeart AttackEmotional or Mental IllnessEmotional or Mental IllnessWeakened Immune System-Frequent IllnessWeakened Immune System-Frequent Illness

Stress and Personalities:Stress and Personalities:Type A:Type A: competitive, high achieving; competitive, high achieving; thrives on high thrives on high stress lifestylestress lifestyle

Type B:Type B: laid back, non-competitive; laid back, non-competitive; avoids stressful avoids stressful situationssituations

Passive:Passive: wimpy, crumbles under pressure, wimpy, crumbles under pressure, easily easily influenced by othersinfluenced by others

Assertive:Assertive: firm and positive, stands up for firm and positive, stands up for personal personal beliefs, takes control of beliefs, takes control of situations, influences otherssituations, influences othersin a positive wayin a positive way

Aggressive:Aggressive: hostile, forceful, intimidating, hostile, forceful, intimidating, bully’s beliefs bully’s beliefs on otherson others

Ego Defense MechanismEgo Defense Mechanism

EGOEGO::SelfSelf

DEFENSEDEFENSE::ProtectionProtection

MECHANISMMECHANISM::Strategies used to help Strategies used to help reduce stress levels when reduce stress levels when stressful situations occurstressful situations occur

Common Ego Defense Common Ego Defense Mechanisms:Mechanisms:

RationalizationRationalization: : making excuses and justifying behavior to making excuses and justifying behavior to cover up the stressful situationcover up the stressful situation

DenialDenial: : pretending that the stressful situation never occurredpretending that the stressful situation never occurred Ex. An older person you know is ill, but you do not believe Ex. An older person you know is ill, but you do not believe

the person may die.the person may die.ProjectionProjection: : blaming someone else to avoid being stressed by blaming someone else to avoid being stressed by

the situationthe situation Ex. If you are angry with your brother, you may project your Ex. If you are angry with your brother, you may project your

anger on him by saying “What are you so mad about?”anger on him by saying “What are you so mad about?”DisplacementDisplacement:: taking out frustration on someone or taking out frustration on someone or

something that had nothing to do with the stressful situationsomething that had nothing to do with the stressful situation Ex. Your boss made you stay late for work. You are angry, Ex. Your boss made you stay late for work. You are angry,

but afraid to say anything. When your mother calls, you yell but afraid to say anything. When your mother calls, you yell at her for asking a simple question. You displaced the anger.at her for asking a simple question. You displaced the anger.

Common Ego Defense Common Ego Defense Mechanisms:Mechanisms:

SubstitutionSubstitution:: replacing one action for replacing one action for another to conceal the stressful situationanother to conceal the stressful situationCompensationCompensation:: settling for something settling for something less than what was expected to relieve less than what was expected to relieve stressstressRegressionRegression:: resorting to child-like resorting to child-like behaviors to relieve the stressbehaviors to relieve the stress

Interpersonal ConflictsInterpersonal Conflicts::Stress caused by conflicts between two Stress caused by conflicts between two people or groups of peoplepeople or groups of people Arguments or disagreements with other Arguments or disagreements with other

peoplepeople

Internal ConflictsInternal Conflicts::Stress caused by conflicts that occur Stress caused by conflicts that occur within the person themselveswithin the person themselves Being torn between doing what is right for the Being torn between doing what is right for the

moment, and what is right in the long runmoment, and what is right in the long run

Conflict Resolution Conflict Resolution Strategy:Strategy:

T:T: Take a Time Out Take a Time Out (at (at least 30 minutes)least 30 minutes)

A:A: Allow Each Allow Each Person Person To Present To Present Their Their Point of Point of ViewView

L:L: Let Each Person Let Each Person Ask Ask QuestionsQuestions

K: K: Keep Brainstorming Keep Brainstorming to Find the Bestto Find the BestSolution for Both Solution for Both PartiesParties

Stress Management Skills:Stress Management Skills:Set & Prioritize GoalsSet & Prioritize GoalsBudget Your TimeBudget Your TimeLearn to Say NoLearn to Say NoSlow DownSlow DownTake a Time OutTake a Time OutRelax & Have FunRelax & Have FunGet Regular ExerciseGet Regular ExerciseEat HealthyEat HealthyGet 7-10 hrs. of Sleep Get 7-10 hrs. of Sleep per Nightper NightHave a Support SystemHave a Support System

Coping StrategiesCoping Strategies::Be flexible when plan Be flexible when plan A doesn’t work outA doesn’t work outTake a “Power Nap” Take a “Power Nap” when neededwhen neededTalk your problems Talk your problems out with a friend or a out with a friend or a professionalprofessionalIf your Lost, stop and If your Lost, stop and ask for directionsask for directionsLaugh and Have FunLaugh and Have Fun

Just Be