STRESS & STRESS MANAGEMENT: PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

1. STRESS & STRESS MANAGEMENT:PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS Presented by: Professor Steven P. Dion Sport, Fitness and Leisure Studies Spdion@yahoo.com www.salemstate.edu/~sdion

2. So… What is Stress? • Stress occurs when there is a substantial imbalance between the demands placed on you and your response capability under those conditions, and where the failure to meet those demands has important consequences. • STRESS CAUSES MORE STRESS • SIMPLY PUT - Stress is our bodies mental and physical response to change.

3. What Would Life Be Like Without Stress? • Life would be BORING!! • We’d probably be dead or really dumb. • Stress and our response to stressors has enabled us to be what we are today. • Without it – we couldn’t learn and/or adapt. • Eustress (good) and Distress (bad)

4. WHEN STRESS GETS IN THE WAY • How does stress negatively impact your life today, tomorrow, 10-20 years from now? • Acute & Chronic Stressors • Acute stress – immediate – reactionary • Chronic stress – over a period of time = causes us STRAIN

5. Physiological Response to Stress • Acute Stressors: • We are animals designed to cope with this type of stress. Fight / Flight / F---- & F---- response • SURVIVAL OF THE FITIST • Activation of the Stress Response: • ADRENALIN RELEASE • HR/ BP/ Sweat / Muscle Tension/ Increased Metabolism, Sugar & Fat Release etc. • A 3-5 minute life or death explosion.

6. Chronic Stressors: • We are not optimally suited to cope with everyday nagging stressors without a release. • Our own defense mechanisms are making many of us sick. • So – Stress can manifest itself in many ways in your life. For example: • Fatigue, Illness, Anxiety, Cranky & Moody, Argumentative, Forgetfulness, Muscle Tension, Headaches, Depression, & Feeling just plain CRAZY sometimes.

7. So.. What can we do about it? • Identify the stressors • Make a decision to either: ignore it, co-exist with it, or change it • Sometimes the stressor dictates the reaction • You may not want to quit your job, get a divorce or leave your family – but sometimes you need a break or an alternative. • Realize – You Come First – You MUST BECOME your number one priority

8. Taking Action • Recognize what’s causing the stress • Decide on an action • Examine the consequences of your action or lack of • Take action – either: ignore, cope, eliminate • Monitor your progress • Reevaluate the outcomes of your actions • Reward yourself **

9. Traditional Methods Exercise / Yoga Diet habits Massage Religion/Spirituality Communication Alcohol Smoking (?) Alternative Methods Rolfing Acupuncture Acupressure Reflexology Light therapy Sound therapy Meditation Relaxation STRESS MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

10. HUMOR - The Ultimate Stress Reliever • Look for the laughter in your life • Use humor as a problem solving tool • Live a happier, healthier humor-filled life • Treat yourself with kindness • Smile at your imperfections • Find people to laugh with every day • Recognize change is hard • Prepare for predictable stressors • Laugh at the things you can’t control

11. Look for the humor in your life • Humor is a skill that we need to practice • We take ourselves too seriously • Use humor as a problem solving tool • Humor is being able to recognize two varying view points at the same time • A joke is a problem with a unique solution • Live a happier, healthier humor-filled life • Humor helps build a stronger mind, body and spirit

12. Treat yourself with kindness • We are more comfortable with negativity • Negativity is contagious and rewarded • When you’re down – people ask what’s wrong. • Smile at your imperfections • Distorted view of yourself (That’s not my voice?) • Negative Self-Talk – easy to doubt yourself (The misdirected wave) • Find people to laugh with • Gravitate to those who make you laugh and shy away from those who bring doubt and misery into your life.

13. Recognize – Change is hard • Realize the only person you can change is you. • Toilet paper role direction • We are creatures of habit (the 3 minute routine) • Prepare for predictable stressors (CRUNCH TIME) • Time constraints on our lives. • Technologies leash • Pictures and mementos to educe emotions of happiness • To our memory – an emotion is as real as the event itself • Laugh at the things you can’t control • Stress caused by 2 main things – fear and your choices of how to handle that situation.

14. Local Resources • Exercise – the Wellness Center – Joe Dunn It’s Free for SSC students – 978-542-6551 • Massage Therapy – The Ivy Tree – Geri Costanza – 781-631-1875 - Marblehead • Acupuncture – Wellspring – Regina Gibbons – 781-639-0037 - Marblehead • Psychotherapist – Marblehead Counseling Center – 781-631-8273 – sliding scale fee

15. ANY QUESTIONS THANK YOU FOR COMING & THANK YOU SSC PRESCHOOL PROGRAM