Healthy vs. Unhealthy Stress and Anxiety

Family Wellness Night March 6th, 2018

Buttonville Public School

Who We Are?Ms. Pignatelli (Ali)

OCT ▫Current Grade 1/2 Teacher ▫Buttonville Public School

and

Lena Dobson RN AMFR BScN HBSc MScN

▫Advanced Practice Nurse ▫Specialized in women’s health,

infants, children, and teens

Stress:▫The body’s normal reaction to any change

▫The body can react with physical, mental, and emotional responses

▫You can be stressed from positive or negative changes in your environment, your body, and your thoughts

▫It requires an adjustment or response

▫A normal part of life

Stress versus Anxiety

Stress versus Anxiety Anxiety:

▫It is our body’s reaction to perceived danger of important events

▫Like an alarm system inside us

▫Our body is alerting us to danger and it is preparing to deal with it ▫Something EVERYONE experiences from time to time

Some Anxiety is GOOD

It is Important to Know...

Healthy ▫Being of sound body, mind, and spirit

▫Being free of illness or injury

Let’s Review... Being HEALTHY versus UNHEALTHY

Unhealthy ▫The opposite

▫Harmful for health

EXCESSIVE DISRUPTION UNHEALTHY ANXIETY + IN LIFE = Anxiety

What is EXCESSIVE ANXIETY?

Examples of Excessive Anxiety

Complaints of upset stomach or other physical woes

Constant reassurance seeking

Crying before school

More difficult returning to school after breaks

Crying & tantrums when the child is worried

Lashing out or screaming

Trouble going to sleep or staying asleep

What are examples of “interference” or

“disruption of life”?

Examples of Life Disturbances

Academic failure

Keeping isolated

Unable to make friends

Failure to engage in a social setting

Refuses to go to school

Not willing to try new things

Not willing to participate in new activities

How do I know if this is healthy or unhealthy?

You Need to Be a Detective!

In general ask about school

Strengths and challenges in schools

Pay attention to performance notes from the teacher

Detective Work... Takes Time!

Pay attention to the child’s eating habits- eating excessive, lack of appetite/nauseas, binge eating

Pay attention to sleep hygiene- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, fatigue

Detective Work... Takes Observation

Not wanting to spend time as a family

No longer wants to engage in things “they use to enjoy before”

If You Have Concerns...

Book an appointment with your family physician

There are specific scales that need to be administered and scored by a health care provider

▫Getting HELP for your child is not WEAKNESS

▫It is your responsibility to ensure your child has the skills to be a productive adult member of society

It is Important to Remember...

THANK YOU!

Short Question Period