Stress

1. Stress • A reaction of the mind and body to the demands of everyday life. • The body's response to stress is generally healthy and positive.  It functions to help an individual respond and get through unusual circumstances. 

2. Positive stress When the stress has a potential good outcome or result Sports Studying for a test Dating Eustress (eu - means good)

3. Distress • Negative Stress • When the outcome is not good or has a bad effect on the person • Forgetfulness • Headaches • Restlessness • Reckless behavior

4. Stressors or things that cause stress • List some of the stress in • Your life • Your Parents life • Your Teachers life

5. How stress effects your body Dr. Hans Selye developed “The General Adaptation Theory” Three stages of stress • Alarm Stage • Resistance Stage • Exhaustion Stage

6. The Alarm Stage • Also called the Fight or Flight Stage • Adrenaline is released by the adrenal glands as the body reacts to stressful situations • This is a involuntary response by the parasympathetic nervous system To either stand up and face your stress or run from it

7. Involuntary Physical Responses • Increased heart rate • Increased blood flow to muscles • Digestion slows or stops • Blushing • Sweating • Pupils widen • Liver releases glucose (for energy)

8. 2nd Stage Resistance • Adaptive efforts by the body to cope with or resolve stressor.  • Return tohomeostasisor normal body functions (ie breathing, heart rate, digestion) return to normal

9. If stress is prolonged or persists - reserves of energy are used.  Body continues in Alarm stage mode.  Fatigue results. Decreased ability to concentrate and stay on task. Greater susceptibility to minor illnesses. 3rd Stage - Exhaustion or Fatigue

10. Energy reserves are depleted due to prolonged stress Body systems begin to malfunction and there is a much greater susceptibility to serious illnesses   Examples of potential long term stress Advanced Exhaustion Stage Divorce Illness

11. The Immune System begins to weaken • Increased use of self-medication and maladaptive self-comforting methods (mal -means bad) • Increased irritability, poor judgment and personality changes.  Physical and emotional problems. 

12. Mind-Body Connection • Can the ‘mind’ cause the body to react in a positive or negative way? (Illness) • Most everyone agrees that there is a definite connection • Psychosomatic illness: When the mind causes the body to become ill. Psycho -means mind Somatic - means body

13. Psychoneuroimmunology • Psych/o - means mind • Neur/o - means nervous system or brain • Immun/o - means immune system • ology - means the study of

14. Physical Problems from prolonged stress Headaches Stomach ulcers Heart Disease

15. Emotional Issues from prolonged stress Anxiety

16. Stress Managment • Understand the cause • Defense Mechanisms • Deep Breathing techniques • Self-guided Imagery • Exercise • Meditation

17. Breathing Exercises • Progressive relaxation - muscle tension and relax each part of your body • 888 rule - breath in from diaphragm and count to 8 as you inhale, hold breath for 8 count and exhale as you count to 8 • Belly Breathing: This is how babies breathe. Lay on your back,put hands on stomach, make sure your stomach rises with chest

18. Coping Strategies / Defense Mechanisms • Unconscious distortions of reality used to protect the ‘ego’ • Unconscious ways to deal with stress or anxiety

19. Examples of Coping Strategies • Repression • Projection • Regression • Reaction Formation • Denial • Day Dreaming • Rationalization • Identification

20. Definitions of Defense Mechanisms • Denial - Not accepting reality • Identification - Taking on someone traits or personality • Projection - Put the blame on someone else • Reaction Formation - Acting in an opposite way • Regression - Acting like a child or younger • Day Dreaming - Fantasizing or visual imagery • Rationalization - Making an excuse • Repression - Blocking thoughts or memories into the unconscious realm

21. Rationalization

22. Identification

23. Denial