Stress Management: Coping Strategies for a Healthier Life

1. Chapter 8 Lesson 3 Managing stress

2. Stress In Your Life • Stress – Body’s response to changes around you • Distress – Negative stress • Eustress – positive stress

3. Stress and Stressors • Stressors – things that trigger stress • Body responds to most stressors by getting ready to act • “fight or flight” response • One part of response is the release of Adrenaline

4. Fight or Flight Response • 1. More blood is directed to your muscles and brain • 2. Your heart beats faster • 3. your muscles tighten up and are ready for action

5. Fight or Flight Response • 4. Your air passages widen so that you can take in more air • 5. Your senses sharpen. You become more alert • 6. The level of sugar in your blood increases, which gives you extra energy

6. Stress and Fatigue • Once the stressor is gone body’s response usually stops • Fatigue usually sets in

7. Two Types of Fatigue • Physical Fatigue – Extreme tiredness of the whole body - Usually occurs after vigorous activity • Psychological Fatigue – Extreme tiredness caused by your mental state - Brought on by stress, worry, boredom, or depression

8. Time Management • 1. Set Priorities • 2. Make a Schedule • 3. Learn to say no

9. Defense Mechanisms • Denial – Refusal to accept reality • Rationalization – Justifying behavior to avoid guilt or to be accepted • Repression – blocking out unpleasant thoughts

10. Defense Mechanisms • Displacement – having bad feelings toward someone not really related to the cause of the problem • Projection – blaming someone else for your problems

11. Coping With Stress Two ways to Cope with stress • Eliminate stressor • Avoid stressor

12. Managing Stress Effectively • 1. Stay Healthy – Eat right, exercise • 2. Talk – Talk things out • 3. Redirect – Channel extra energy into something positive • 4. Relax – Find something your enjoy and do that • 5. Laugh – Laughter relieves stress