The document provides information about stress, its causes, effects, and management. It defines stress as the body's reaction to any change and discusses the three main categories of stress causes: the effects of change, feeling threatened, and loss of control. It notes that stress level depends on one's perception and thoughts. Both positive (eustress) and negative (distress) stress are described as well as acute, episodic, chronic, and toxic stress. The document outlines physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive signs of stress and discusses the fight, flight or freeze response. It addresses stress in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and provides self-care strategies to manage stress.

1. STRESS MANAGEMENT
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE SERVICE FOR EDUCATION (EASE)
LOS ANGELES COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
PRESENTER: Monica Borunda, LMFT, CCTP
Revised by Professor McNair 02 /14/2022
DR. EMILY HERNANDEZ, LMFT
DIRECTOR
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2. OBJECTIVE
◼Increase understanding and awareness of stress;
its causes, triggers, and effects
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3. WHAT IS STRESS?

4. What is STRESS ?
◼ Feeling stress is a natural part of life. Stress is
the reaction of the body and mind to everyday
challenges and demands.
◼ Stress is the body's reaction to any change.
◼ The body reacts to these changes with
physical, mental, and emotional responses.
◼ Stress is a normal part of life – but it can
also be exacerbated by unexpected
events.
◼ Stress can be experienced from your
environment, your body, and your thoughts.
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5. Causes of Stress
The most frequent reasons for “stressing out” fall
into three main categories:
1. The unsettling effects of change.
2. The feeling that an outside force is challenging
or threatening you.
3. The feeling that you have lost personal control.
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6. PERCEPTION AND STRESS
How much the stress of an event
affects you, however, depends in
part on your perception
of it.
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7. T H O U G H T S , B E L I E F S A N D
P E R C E P T I O N S
Our perception of stress is
something we can control.
Changing the way we think about
it will effect how we feel about it.
Stress mindset: Frame stress as
a challenge rather than a threat.
Some cognitive distortions
All or Nothing Thinking
Overgeneralization
Mental Filter
Jumping to Conclusions
Should Statements
Personalization
(Crum, Akinola, Martin, & Fath, 2017) (Beck, 1963) 7

8. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be posted to a publicly accessible website.
The Impact of Perception
• Your beliefs about the situations in your life
• Experienced in two stages:
• Primary appraisal—assessing thoughts about the situation and
deciding what it means
• Secondary appraisal—thinking about resources to help cope
with the situation
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9. Causes of Stress
Glencoe Health Managing Stress and Coping with Loss
Understanding Stress
Lesson
Home
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10. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be posted to a publicly accessible website.
Types of Stress
Eustress
• Positive stress that encourages growth and motivation
Distress
• Stress that causes negative feelings and harmful health effects
Trauma
• Extreme stress due to deeply disturbing events, such as disasters, sexual assault, or violence
Toxic stress
• Stress caused by repeated, long-lasting exposure to severe stressors, such as neglect and abuse,
violence, or loss of a loved one 10

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12. NOT ALL STRESS IS BAD…
Distress is a continuous experience of feeling overwhelmed,
oppressed, and behind in our responsibilities. It is the all
encompassing sense of being imposed upon by difficulties with no
light at the end of the tunnel.
◼ Examples of distress include financial difficulties, conflicts in
relationships, excessive obligations, problems at work,
managing a chronic illness, or experiencing acute or
historical trauma.
Eustress is the other form of stress that is positive and beneficial.
We may feel challenged, but the sources of the stress are
opportunities that are meaningful to us. Eustress helps provide us
with energy and motivation to meet our responsibilities and
achieve our goals.
◼ Examples of eustress include graduating from college,
moving,
getting married, receiving a promotion, or changing jobs.
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13. EUSTRESS VS. DISTRESS
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14. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. May not be posted to a publicly accessible website.
• Chronic
• Usually happens slowly
• Is usually long term in length;
May reoccur or keep happening
• Side effects are more severe
• May last a long time or takes a
long time to recover; Long term
side effects
• Acute
• Usually happens quickly
• Is usually short term in length;
“One and Done”
• Recover quickly and minimal
side effects
Acute vs Chronic Situations
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15. 15

16. K I N D S O F
S T R E S S
(American Psychological Association, 2020)
Acute stress
• most common
type
• arises quickly -
unexpected or
alarming events
to help you
• fades quickly
Episodic stress
• acute stress
that occurs
frequently
• in “crisis mode,”
are often
irritable and
anxious; prone
to constant
worrying
• overwhelmed
and difficulty
managing it
Chronic stress
• over a long
period of time
and can have
serious effects
on physical and
mental health
• dull, constant,
and seemingly
never-ending
• situations that
feel hopeless
and beyond
your control
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17. POSITIVE PERSONAL STRESSORS
VS
NEGATIVE PERSONAL STRESSORS
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18. Negative and Positive Personal Stressors
Examples of negative personal stressors include:
● The death of a spouse.
● Filing for divorce.
● Losing contact with loved ones.
● The death of a loved one.
● Hospitalization (oneself or a family member).
● Injury or illness (oneself or a family member).
● Abuse or neglect.
● Trauma.
● Separation from a spouse or committed relationship
partner.
● Conflict in interpersonal relationships.
● Money Problems.
● Unemployment.
● Sleep problems.
● Children's problems at school.
● Legal problems.
● Others?
Examples of positive personal stressors
include:
● Receiving a promotion or raise at work.
● Starting a new job.
● Marriage.
● Buying a home.
● Having a child.
● Moving.
● Taking a vacation.
● Holiday seasons.
● Retiring.
● Taking educational classes or learning a
new hobby.
● Others?
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19. S T R E S S I N T H E
T I M E O F C O V I D
Surge capacity – collection of adaptive systems –
mental and physical- that humans draw on for short
term survival in acutely stressful situations, such as
natural disasters
-Ann Masten, PhD, University of Minnesota
Pandemic is different from natural disaster…it is
invisible and ongoing
Normal response to feel exhausted, ups and
downs, depleted, burned out
Illustration: Adrian Forrow
(Haelle, 2020) 19

20. S T R E S S I N T H E
T I M E O F C O V I D
Ambiguous loss – loss that is unclear or lacks a
resolution
-Pauline Boss, PhD-University of Minnesota
What are some ambiguous losses you have
experienced during this time?
Loss of a way of life
(Haelle, 2020) 20

21. H O W D O Y O U
K N O W W H E N
Y O U A R E
E X P E R I E N C I N G
S T R E S S ?
What does it look and
feel like?
Emotional
Physical
Behavior
Cognitive
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22. F I G H T - F L I G H T -
F R E E Z E R E S P O N S E
Perceived
fear/threat
• Different for
each person
• Brain thinks
you’re in
danger
Physical
reaction
• Stress
hormones
• Heart rate
• Breathing
• Eyes,
ears, etc
Effects
• Short term:
helpful; gets
us ready
• Long term:
negative
effects
Fight: movement towards, screaming,
crying, clinched fists, anger, rage
Flight: movement away, nervous,
anxious, panic, fidgety, need to move,
restless, get away
Freeze: feeling stuck, frozen, numb,
indecisive, restricted breathing,
heaviness, shut down
How do you respond?
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23. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF STRESS?
Stress comes in a
variety of different
forms and it affects
everyone
differently.
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