2. Types of stress
Stress can affect you both instantly (acute stress)
and over time (chronic stress).
• Acute (short-term) stress is the body's instant
response to any situation that seems
demanding or dangerous.
• Chronic (long-term) stress is caused by
stressful situations or events that last over a
long period of time.
3. Causes of Stress
A. Personal issues
1. There are short term and long term causes of
stress
2. Relationships (family, friends); finances; major
life changes (breakup with a boyfriend or
girlfriend, family death, moving to a new
location)
B. School and Work related issues
1. The teachers, homework, classmates
2. Unemployment, the type of job you do
4. How You React
Internally, we all respond to stress the same.
Externally, however, people tend to respond to
stress in three different ways. When it comes
to managing and reducing stress quickly in the
middle of a heated situation, it's important to
be familiar with your specific stress response.
5. Common Reactions (Internal)
• Blood pressure rises
• Heart pumps faster
• Muscles constrict.
• When stressed, our bodies work
hard and drain our immune
system.
6. Individual Reactions (External)
• Overexcited stress response – You tend to
become angry, agitated, or keyed up under
stress
• Under excited stress response – You tend to
become depressed, withdrawn, or spaced out
under stress
• Frozen stress response (both overexcited and
under excited) – You tend to freeze: speeding
up in some ways while slowing down in others
7. Common Stress Relief Methods
If under acute stress:
• Talk out your situation
• Meditate
• Stretch or roll your head in circles.
• Go for a short walk.
• Squeeze a rubbery stress ball.
• Message your hand or neck
10. Activity
• Part I: together we will do a quick stress relief
activity
• Part II: SEE INSTRUCTION SHEET
11. The simple act of creating can…
• Free your mind to focus on something unique
and nurturing
• Engage your senses in focused sight, sound,
and touch
• Make you mindful of your own ability to
create new things
• Foster contemplation, quiet reflection and
immersion in the activity and object
12. Creating Continued
• Develop your sense of self-worth, and give
value and meaning to the day
• Reveal your thoughts and feelings to yourself
and others
• Connect you with the world outside your mind
and body
