Mental Health:Mental Health:All About StressAll About Stress

Senior High HealthSenior High Health

Picture StressPicture Stress

Draw a picture of stress.Draw a picture of stress. Consider the images, colors, Consider the images, colors,

lines that would illustrate lines that would illustrate how stress feels in your life.how stress feels in your life.

What is Stress?What is Stress?

Definition:Definition:The body and mind’s The body and mind’s reactions to everyday reactions to everyday demands.demands.

Types of StressTypes of Stress

DistressDistress Negative stressNegative stress

Example?Example?

EustressEustress Positive stressPositive stress

Example? Example?

Is Stress Normal?Is Stress Normal?

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

What Causes Stress?What Causes Stress?

StressorsStressorsAny stimulus that produces Any stimulus that produces a stress response; can be a stress response; can be people, places, objects, or people, places, objects, or events. events.

What is stressing you?What is stressing you?

List all the stressors you List all the stressors you have in your life right now.have in your life right now.

Label each stressor as D Label each stressor as D for distress or E for for distress or E for eustresseustress

The Body Reacts By…The Body Reacts By…

General Adaptation Syndrome General Adaptation Syndrome (G.A.S.) (G.A.S.)

3 Stages3 StagesAlarmAlarmResistanceResistanceExhaustion Exhaustion

Alarm StageAlarm Stage

Body is ready for quick actionBody is ready for quick action

Fight or Flight SyndromeFight or Flight Syndrome

Adrenaline is released; physical Adrenaline is released; physical symptomssymptoms

Physical Symptoms of Physical Symptoms of Alarm StageAlarm Stage Speeds up heart rate, breathing rate, Speeds up heart rate, breathing rate,

blood pressure, and metabolism. blood pressure, and metabolism. Blood vessels open wider to let more Blood vessels open wider to let more

blood flow to large muscle groupsblood flow to large muscle groups Pupils dilate to improve vision. Pupils dilate to improve vision. The liver releases some of its stored The liver releases some of its stored

glucose to increase the body's energy. 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 All of these physical changes prepare a

person to react quickly and effectively to person to react quickly and effectively to handle the pressure of the moment handle the pressure of the moment

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Resistance StageResistance Stage

Body attempts to regain balanceBody attempts to regain balance

Adrenaline no longer releasedAdrenaline no longer released

Exhaustion StageExhaustion Stage

A constant stressor may overload A constant stressor may overload resistance stageresistance stage

Physical illness may occurPhysical illness may occur

Exhaustion leads to Exhaustion leads to Psychosomatic IllnessPsychosomatic Illness

What is this?What is this?Physical illness caused by Physical illness caused by stressstressPsycho=mind Psycho=mind somatic=bodysomatic=body

Stress SymptomsStress SymptomsPhysicalPhysical

Increased heart rate (pounding)Increased heart rate (pounding) Elevated blood pressure (sweaty Elevated blood pressure (sweaty

palms)palms) Tightness of chest, headache, diarrheaTightness of chest, headache, diarrhea Tightness of neck or back musclesTightness of neck or back muscles Trembling, tics, or twitchingTrembling, tics, or twitching Stuttering, other speech difficultiesStuttering, other speech difficulties Nausea and/or vomitingNausea and/or vomiting

Stress SymptomsStress Symptoms

PhysicalPhysical

Sleep Disturbances; fatigueSleep Disturbances; fatigue Accident pronenessAccident proneness Slumped postureSlumped posture Shallow breathingShallow breathing Nervous laughterNervous laughter Susceptibility to minor illnessSusceptibility to minor illness Dryness in the mouth or throatDryness in the mouth or throat

Stress SymptomsStress SymptomsEmotionalEmotional

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

Stress Symptoms

Intellectual/PerceptualIntellectual/Perceptual Forgetfulness; preoccupation;

blocking Diminished or exaggerated fantasy Diminished or exaggerated fantasy

lifelife Reduced creativityReduced creativity Lack of concentrationLack of concentration Diminished productivityDiminished productivity Lack of attention to detailsLack of attention to details Orientation to pastOrientation to past

Stress Symptoms

BehavioralBehavioral Increased smoking Aggressive driving Increased alcohol or drug use Carelessness Violence

Stress: Coping With Stress: Coping With LivingLiving

Complete this worksheet Complete this worksheet to analyze your own stress to analyze your own stress symptoms.symptoms.

Stress Studies ShowStress Studies Show

1. The incidence of illness is 1. The incidence of illness is correlated with the amount of correlated with the amount of life change or transition one life change or transition one undergoes.undergoes.

2. Unpredictable disruptions 2. Unpredictable disruptions cause more severe stress-cause more severe stress-related diseases then related diseases then predictable disruptions cause.predictable disruptions cause.

Stress Studies ShowStress Studies Show 3. Interpersonal warmth and 3. Interpersonal warmth and

support during stressful support during stressful periods seem to reduce the periods seem to reduce the impact of the stress response.impact of the stress response.

4. Viruses alone do not cause 4. Viruses alone do not cause illness. The incidence of bad illness. The incidence of bad emotional experiences seems emotional experiences seems to upset the body and allow to upset the body and allow viruses to take over.viruses to take over.

Stress Studies ShowStress Studies Show

5. High blood pressure occurs 5. High blood pressure occurs more often in environments more often in environments characterized by high stress characterized by high stress and few ways to cope.and few ways to cope.

6. The major life changes 6. The major life changes increase the risk of coronary increase the risk of coronary heart disease.heart disease.

Stress Can Lead To…Stress Can Lead To…

Stress has a volcanic effectStress has a volcanic effect It can build up and become It can build up and become

destructive….to ourselves and destructive….to ourselves and othersothers

If it is kept inside it can lead to:If it is kept inside it can lead to: DepressionDepression SuicideSuicide

Stress Can Lead To…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 othersVerbal or physical abuse of others

If it is self medicated it can lead to…If it is self medicated it can lead to… Substance abuseSubstance abuse Eating disordersEating disorders

Can lead to illness….why?Can lead to illness….why?

How can we deal with How can we deal with stress?stress?

Stress is unavoidable!Stress is unavoidable! We have to learn how to cope We have to learn how to cope

with the stressors and their with the stressors and their symptomssymptoms

Many stress management Many stress management techniques can be used to techniques can be used to minimize the stress responseminimize the stress response