Stress Management

1. Stress Management Ms. Paglione and Mr. Read

2. Bell Ringer Find a partner close to you and discuss: • One thing that stressed you out in the past week • The strategy you used to cope with that stressor

3. Healthy vs. Unhealthy Ways to Cope With Stress • In pairs, open the envelopes on your desk. • Separate the phrases into 2 categories: Healthy and Unhealthy • If you’re not sure about a phrase, leave it off to the side and we’ll discuss it as a class

4. Healthy Ways to Cope With Stress • Play with a pet • Work in the yard • Get a massage • Read • Listen to music • Watch a comedy • Go for a walk • Spend time in nature • Call a friend • Exercise • Write in a journal

5. Unhealthy Ways to Cope With Stress • Using pills or drugs • Sleeping too much • Procrastinating • Filling up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems • Taking out your stress on other people (lashing out, angry outbursts, physical violence) • Smoking • Drinking • Overeating • or undereating • Zoning out watching TV for hours • Withdrawing from friends, family, or activities

6. Decision Making Steps • Identify the problem • Consider the consequences • Take action • Evaluate/Reflect on your decision

7. 4 A’s to Managing Stress • Avoid the stressor • Alter the stressor • Adapt to the stressor • Accept the stressor

8. Avoid Unnecessary Stress • Learn to say, “no.” • Avoid people who stress you out • Take control of your environment • Avoid hot-button topics • Make a to-do list

9. Alter the Situation • Express your feelings • Compromise • Be assertive • Practice helpful time-management

10. Adapt to the Stressor • Reframe problems • Look at the big picture • Adjust your standards • Focus on the positive

11. Accepting Things You Can’t Change • Don’t try to control the uncontrollable • Look for the upside • Share your feelings • Learn to forgive

12. Scenarios! • The 4 A’s are spread out around the room. • When the scenario is read, go to the A that you think would best help relieve the stressor • There are no right or wrong answers!

13. Scenario #1 You accidentally leave your book in the cafeteria and when you go back to get it later, it is gone.

14. Scenario #2 You are already on the bus when you realize you left your homework on the kitchen table. You know there will be consequences for forgetting it.

15. Scenario #3 Another student calls you a name in class and it upsets you.

16. Scenario #4 You have a fight with a family member before school and now you can’t concentrate.

17. Scenario #5 Your sports practice goes longer than expected one afternoon and now you have no time to study for your test that is taking place tomorrow morning.

18. Scenario #6 You are told you will have to give a presentation to the class and you are terrified of doing this.

19. Scenario #7 You get a D on your latest test and the teacher tells you she will be calling your Mom or Dad tonight to discuss this.

20. Bring It All Together! • Refer back to the stressor you wrote down at the beginning of class • Consider each of the 4 A’s and write the possible consequences of each • Pick the best option for the stressor • Does this outcome match how you handled the situation in real life?

21. Make Your Own Dialogue • Now it is time to create your own dialogue! • Script out the stressful scenario you talked about during the bellringer and the “bring it all together” worksheet • Include your stressor, the A you chose, coping strategies, the consequences and how the stressful situation is resolved