Thought JournalThought Journal

Stress ReliefStress Relief

Standard:Standard:

SSPBF3: The student will discuss the SSPBF3: The student will discuss the components of stress:components of stress:

a. Categorize and explain the different a. Categorize and explain the different physiological and psychological physiological and psychological reactions to stress.reactions to stress.

b. Identify strategies to deal with b. Identify strategies to deal with stress that promote health; include stress that promote health; include coping strategies and behavioral coping strategies and behavioral modification.modification.

  

Essential Question:Essential Question:

How can stress relief become apart How can stress relief become apart of the fabric of society?of the fabric of society?

  

What is stress?What is stress?

Stress is the process by which we Stress is the process by which we perceive and respond to stressors: perceive and respond to stressors: events we appraise as threatening or events we appraise as threatening or challenging.challenging.

Three main types of stressors:Three main types of stressors:

Daily hasslesDaily hassles

Significant life changesSignificant life changes

CatastrophesCatastrophes

Emotional and physiological responses Emotional and physiological responses to stress:to stress:

Vary depending on how we appraise Vary depending on how we appraise stressors.stressors.

If threatening we may freeze up or panic.If threatening we may freeze up or panic.

If challenging we may be aroused and If challenging we may be aroused and focused.focused.

Flight or fight response.Flight or fight response.

(GAS) general adaptation syndrome/ (GAS) general adaptation syndrome/ three phases of reactions: alarm, three phases of reactions: alarm, resistance, and physical deteriorationresistance, and physical deterioration

Effects on our HealthEffects on our Health

Higher than normal blood pressureHigher than normal blood pressure

BurnoutBurnout

Physical exhaustionPhysical exhaustion

Emotional and mental exhaustionEmotional and mental exhaustion

Vulnerability to diseaseVulnerability to disease

Promoting Wellness/ExercisePromoting Wellness/Exercise

How does exercise contribute to How does exercise contribute to wellness?wellness?

Increases the output of mood Increases the output of mood boosting chemicals your nervous boosting chemicals your nervous system produces.system produces.

Enhances your cognitive abilities.Enhances your cognitive abilities.

Lowers your blood pressureLowers your blood pressure

Promoting Wellness/Family and Promoting Wellness/Family and FriendsFriends

Does social support make a Does social support make a difference in our health and well difference in our health and well being?being?

What if anything has caused you What if anything has caused you emotional strain in the past 24 emotional strain in the past 24 hours?hours?

What has prompted pleasure in the What has prompted pleasure in the previous 24 hours?previous 24 hours?

Promoting Wellness/Positive Promoting Wellness/Positive Experiences and Well BeingExperiences and Well Being

How does Flow, Happiness, and Optimism How does Flow, Happiness, and Optimism contribute to well being?contribute to well being?

Have better relationships with others.Have better relationships with others.

Contribute more to your community.Contribute more to your community.

Excel in academics and sports. provide Excel in academics and sports. provide leadership.leadership.

Help others.Help others.

Be less of a drain on psychological and Be less of a drain on psychological and physical systems.physical systems.

Flow: Is a state of optimal Flow: Is a state of optimal performanceperformance

Activities we perform for the stratification Activities we perform for the stratification of doing them and not for the rewards put of doing them and not for the rewards put us in a state of flow.us in a state of flow.

Reading a bookReading a book

Playing a game, participating in a sport.Playing a game, participating in a sport.

Participating in a play.Participating in a play.

People in a flow situation report losing People in a flow situation report losing track of time and being hard to distract.track of time and being hard to distract.

Happiness/Happy people tend to:Happiness/Happy people tend to:

Have high self-esteemHave high self-esteem

Be optimistic, outgoing, and Be optimistic, outgoing, and agreeableagreeable

Have close friendshipsHave close friendships

Have work and leisure that engage Have work and leisure that engage their skillstheir skills

Sleep well and exerciseSleep well and exercise

Optimism/The Glass Is Half Full:Optimism/The Glass Is Half Full:

Optimism is the belief that bad Optimism is the belief that bad events:events:

Are temporary.Are temporary.

Are not your fault.Are not your fault.

Will not have broader effects beyond Will not have broader effects beyond the present circumstances.the present circumstances.

Interactive activity:Interactive activity:

Read ArticleRead Article

Group up in two’s, threes, or four’sGroup up in two’s, threes, or four’s

Make a list of some of your group’s Make a list of some of your group’s daily stressors.daily stressors.

Make up a list of some stress relief Make up a list of some stress relief techniques that your group thinks techniques that your group thinks would be helpful.would be helpful.

Discuss as a class. Discuss as a class.

What can You Do:What can You Do:

Allow plenty of time. Being too busy Allow plenty of time. Being too busy is a big source of stress.is a big source of stress.

Exercise. It's a great stress buster.Exercise. It's a great stress buster.

Get plenty of rest and eat well. You'll Get plenty of rest and eat well. You'll be able to handle stress better when be able to handle stress better when it does come up.it does come up.

Discuss your problems with a friend Discuss your problems with a friend or family member.or family member.

What Can You Do :What Can You Do :

When stress hits big, take a time-out. When stress hits big, take a time-out. A few minutes away from the A few minutes away from the problem can help.problem can help.

Breathe deeply -- slowly in, slowly Breathe deeply -- slowly in, slowly out. Think of something pleasant.out. Think of something pleasant.

Ask for help. If you feel like your Ask for help. If you feel like your stress is just too much, talk with your stress is just too much, talk with your family, a friend or a counselor.family, a friend or a counselor.

Healthy stress relieving methods as framed by the American Healthy stress relieving methods as framed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent PsychiatryAcademy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Eat a well balanced nutritious dietEat a well balanced nutritious dietExercise regularlyExercise regularlyAvoid caffeine, tobacco and substance of abuse like alcohol, drugs etcAvoid caffeine, tobacco and substance of abuse like alcohol, drugs etcFollow simple stress relief methods like deep breathing, listening to Follow simple stress relief methods like deep breathing, listening to music, recreational sports music, recreational sports Develop assertiveness training skillsDevelop assertiveness training skillsLearn to be practical. Look for an alternative if the task is very Learn to be practical. Look for an alternative if the task is very stressful.stressful.Have high self esteemHave high self esteemLearn to say no. By doing this a teenager can sort out important Learn to say no. By doing this a teenager can sort out important things in his life.things in his life.Have good sense of humorHave good sense of humorWatching stress relief cartoonsWatching stress relief cartoonsHave a good social relationshipHave a good social relationshipDiscuss the problems with a trusted person and try to find his view of Discuss the problems with a trusted person and try to find his view of the problem the problem Engage in hobbies like drawing, writing singing or playing with pets.Engage in hobbies like drawing, writing singing or playing with pets.Teen stress is very significant as today's teens are tomorrow's adults. Teen stress is very significant as today's teens are tomorrow's adults. The transition will be smooth if they know the causes of teen stress The transition will be smooth if they know the causes of teen stress and their stress relief methods, communicate well with others and and their stress relief methods, communicate well with others and learn problem solving skills. learn problem solving skills.