What is Stress and Do You Know How to Manage it?

1. What is Stress and Do You Know How to Manage it?

2. “The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to chose one thought over another” ~ William James

3. Good Morning Let the stress BEGIN…………

4. Stress Skit Reference: Funny Motivational Speaker Colette Carlson’s Stress Less, Laugh More

5. Many things that happen in your life can disrupt your emotional health and lead to strong feelings of anxiety or stress. These things include: www.familydoctor.org • Being laid off from your job • Having a child leave or return home • Dealing with the death of a loved one • Getting divorced or married • Suffering an illness or an injury • Experiencing money problems • Moving to a new home or out into NH • Birth a child • Job Promotion “Good” changes can be just as stressful as “bad” changes.

6. The word "stress" is generally used when we feel that everything seems to have become too much – we are overloaded and wonder if we can really cope with the pressures placed upon us. Anything that poses a challenge or a threat to our well-being is a stress. Some stresses get you going and they are good for you - without any stress at all many say our lives would be boring and would probably feel pointless. However, when the stresses undermine both our mental and physical health they are bad.

7. When we are stressed the following happens: • Blood pressure rises • Breathing becomes more rapid • Digestive system slows down • Heart rate (pulse) rises • Immune system goes down • Muscles become tense • We do not sleep

8. How you see that stressful event will be the largest single factor that impacts on your physical and mental health. Your interpretation of events and challenges in life may decide whether they are energizing or harmful for you. A persistently negative response to challenges will eventually have a negative effect on your health and happiness. **Experts say people who tend to perceive things negatively need to understand themselves and their reactions to stress-provoking situations better. Then they can learn to manage stress more successfully According to researchers at the University of Western Ontario found: perception of stress affects heart attack risk - people who believe their stress is affecting their health in a big way are twice as likely to have a heart attack ten years later.

9. Possible effects of stress on your body: • A tendency to sweat • Back Pain • Chest pain • Cramps or muscle spasms • Fainting spells • Headaches • Heart disease • Hypertension (high blood pressure) • Loss of libido • Lower immunity against diseases • Muscular aches • Nail biting • Nervous twitches • Pins and needles • Sleeping difficulties • Stomach upset

10. Possible effects of stress on your thoughts and feelings: Possible effects of stress on your behavior: • Anger • Anxiety • Burnout • Depression • Feeling of insecurity • Forgetfulness • Irritability • Problem concentrating • Restlessness • Sadness • Fatigue • Eating too much • Eating too little • Food cravings • Sudden angry outbursts • Drug abuse • Alcohol abuse • Higher tobacco consumption • Social withdrawal • Frequent crying • Relationship problems

11. How to deal with stress There are three broad methods you can follow to treat stress: self-help, self management, and medication. Self help for treating stress • Exercise - exercise has been proven to have a beneficial effect on a person's mental and physical • state. Many people feel exercise is an extremely effective stress buster. • Division of labor - try to delegate your responsibilities at work, or share them. If you make yourself indispensable the likelihood of your feeling highly stressed is significantly greater. • Assertiveness - don't say yes to everything. • Alcohol and drugs - alcohol and drugs will not help you manage your stress better • Caffeine - if your consumption of coffee and other drinks which contain caffeine is high, cut down. • Nutrition - eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. Have a healthy and balanced diet. • Time - make sure you set aside some time each day just for yourself. Use that time to organize your life, relax, and pursue your own interests. • Breathing - there are some effective breathing techniques which will slow down your system and • help you relax. • Talk - talk to you family, friends, work colleagues and your boss. Express your thoughts and worries. • Seek professional help - if the stress is affecting the way you function; go and see your doctor. Heightened stress for prolonged periods can be bad for your physical and mental health. • Relaxation techniques - meditation, massage, or yoga have been known to greatly help people with stress.

12. Stress management techniques Stress management can help you to either remove or change the source of stress, alter the way you view a stressful event, lower the impact that stress might have on your body, and teach you alternative ways of coping. Stress management therapy will have the objective of pursuing one or more of these approaches. Stress management techniques can be gained if you read self-help books, or attend a stress management course. You can also seek the help of a counselor or psychotherapist for personal development or therapy sessions. Medicines Doctors will not usually prescribe medications for coping with stress, unless the patient has an underlying illness, such as depression or some type of anxiety. If that is the case, the doctor is actually treating a mental illness.

13. Why does your doctor need to know about your emotions?You may not be use to talking to your doctor about your emotions or problems in your personal life. It is vital to do so, your doctor cannot tell if you are anxious, stressed or upset just by looking at you. Be honest with your doctor and they will look at your physical symptoms and see if that is what is causing your symptoms and they will be able to treat it appropriately. If your symptoms do not get better or are elevated, then your doctor may recommend further evaluation for depression, anxiety, seasonal depression, insomnia, etc. www.familydoctor.org editorial staff Mindfulness is the psychological process of bringing one's attention to experiences occurring in the present moment, which can be developed through the practice of meditation and other training (ex. yoga).

14. The Christian Hospital Recovery Center focuses on helping adults between the ages of 18-60 dealing with depression/anxiety, substance abuse and chronic mental illness. This department has three programs that cater to different needs. • Psych - The Psych Program helps adults suffering from depression, anxiety, stress, grief and major depressive disorders • CD – The Chemical Dependency Program helps adults suffering from substance abuse (alcohol, opiates, marijuana and other mind altering substances) • KEY - The KEY program is especially design for adults suffering from chronic mental illness or those that are in and out of the hospital due to some form of mental illness.

15. Insurance & Evaluation The programs offered are intensive outpatient group therapy and are covered by most major insurances, Medicare Part B or Medicaid HMO (Home State, Aetna Better Health, etc.). Potential clients need to contact us to set up an appointment for an assessment to determine if they meet criteria. Once determined that client meets criteria, participation can begin the following day. We do provide transportation for clients in the area that do not have any form of transportation.

16. Rita Johnson, MA Physician Referral Coordinator for Recovery Center & Center for Senior Renewal 314-953-8107 Rebecca Poindexter, LPC Manager for Recovery Center & Center for Senior Renewal 314-953-8101 CH Recovery Center Mainline 314-953-8100

17. Questions