stress

1. Managing Stress and
Anxiety

2. What is Stress?
 Reaction of the body and mind to
everyday challenges and demands
 Stress can affect your physical, mental,
and social health
 How much stress you feel depends upon
your perception of the event

3. What causes stress?
 Stressors is anything that causes stress
– Biological: illnesses, injuries
– Environmental: poverty, pollution, noise
– Cognitive: how you perceive a situation
– Personal Behavior: tobacco, alcohol, drugs
– Life Situation: death, divorce, friends

4. Bodies Stress Response
 Alarm: First stage, body and mind go into
high alert. Flight or Fight. Prepares Body
 Resistance: Second Stage, body adapts
and reacts.
 Fatigue: Third stage, body loses ability to
adapt and fatigue sets in. Tired feeling
takes over.

5. Stress and Your Health
 Unavoidable part of life
 Physical effects: Psychosomatic Response
– Psycho: of the mind
– Somatic: of the body
 Headache
 Asthma
 High blood pressure
 Weakened immune system

6. Stress and Your Body (cont)
 Mental/Emotional and Social Effects
– Difficulty concentrating
– Mood swings
– Risk of substance abuse

7. Managing Stress
 Identify Personal Causes
– Life events: graduation, moving, illness,
divorce
– Physical: injury, lack of sleep, drug use,
excessive dieting or exercise
– Daily Hassles: deadlines, conflicts, time

8. Ways to Manage Stress
 Plan Ahead
 Get enough Sleep
 Physical Activity
 Eat Nutritious Food
 Avoid Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs

9. Stress Management Techniques
 Redirect Energy
 Relaxation
 Positive Outlook
 Seek help

10. Anxiety
 Condition of feeling uneasy or worried
about what may happen.
– Feelings of fear
– Perspiration, muscle tension, trembling
– Rapid heart rate, shortness of breath

11. Depression
 Prolonged feelings of helplessness,
hopelessness, and sadness.
 Reactive: response to a stressful event.
Usually goes away on its own
 Major: medical condition requiring
treatment.

12. Symptoms of Teen Depression
 Most young people do not act sad or seem
different from their friends.
 Irritable or restless moods
 Withdrawal from friends
 Change in appetite or weight
 Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
 Sense of hopelessness

13. Suicide
 The act of intentionally taking one’s own
life.
 Most thoughts of committing suicide are
impulsive and temporary, the unfortunate
consequence – death or debilitating injury-
is permanent.

14. Risk Factors
 90% of those who kill themselves are
suffering from depression or mental
disorders.
 History of physical or sexual abuse
 Alcohol or drug abuse
 History of previous suicide attempts
 Family history of emotional disorders or
suicide

15. Warning Signs
 Verbal:
– Direct statements: I want to die, I don’t want
to live anymore, I wish I where dead
– Indirect statements: They will be sorry when
I’m gone, Nothing matters, I won’t have to
put up with this much longer.
– Writing poems, songs or lyrics about death
– Suicide threats

16. Warning Signs
 Non-verbal or behavioral
– Withdrawal from friends
– Impulsive or bizarre behavior
– Preoccupation with giving personal belongings
away
– Violent actions
– Substance abuse
– Dramatic changes in personality, hygiene or
apperarance

17. Helping Others
 Initiate a meaningful conversation
– Show interest
– Listen
– Be patient and understanding
 Show support and ask questions
– Remind them that most problems have solutions
– Ask them if they are planning to kill themselves
 Try to persuade the person to seek help
– Get them to talk with a parent, teacher, counselor,
– Offer to go with them to get help