Stress & Stress Management Week 2

1. Understanding Wellbeing
Week 2: Stress & Stress Management
with Michelle Walsh @ The Waterside Centre
01254 354413 or mwalsh@accross.ac.uk

2. Lo 1: Recap on induction information, group rules and the purpose for them
LO 2: Take part in the icebreaker
LO 3: Outline what is meant by stress (1.1) Re-cap
LO 4: Outline the purpose (Re-cap)/ usefulness of stress on the body (1.2, 2.2)
LO 5: Define a range of different types of stress and potential causes and triggers (1.3, 3.1,
3.3)
LO 6: Identify short and long-term effects of stress on a person (2.1)
LO 7: Investigate the harms associated with prolonged stress and potential symptoms
(2.3, 2.4, 4.1)
LO 8: Outline how people can respond to a stressful situation and give examples of how
stress can change behaviour (4.2, 4.3)
Session 2 Outcomes

3. Housekeeping
 Fire Evacuation
 Toilets
 Smoking – Away from the door
 Kitchen – Washing own cups
 Mobile Phones – Silent or vibrate
 Commitment – Minimum is 70%
 Absences – To be reported, you
would be required to catch up

4.  Agreed group rules are now typed up and on
the board
 Please consider the rules that you all took part
in creating and agreeing whilst you are at
Waterside
Group Rules

5.  You each have a paper plate
 Please write "what is on your plate"
(Eg, children, education and so on)
Once everyone has completed their plate, we will
share the information within the class
Q. How do you think this activity relates to stress?
Icebreaker – What is on your plate?

6. According to the ONS, Wellbeing is measurable…
“In October 2014 we released the first ever combined 3 year Personal Well-
being Annual Population Dataset”
This survey asked 4 key questions…
 “How satisfied are you with your life nowadays?”
 “To what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile?”
 “How happy did you feel yesterday?”
 “How anxious did you feel yesterday?”
1. Out of 10 what do you think the UK population results are for the
questions above?
Recap – did you think
about these figures?

7. Homework was set on ItsLearning – did everyone access it?
I have assessed the ones I received – If you haven’t already,
log back in to see your feedback (In your portfolio please
write on 1.1 & 1.2, page 2 – ItsLearning Week 1)
Anyone who didn’t complete homework via ItsLearning –
Please hand in your written work so this can be assessed
Homework discussion

8. Group discussion
 What is meant by stress?
 What is the purpose of stress on the body?
Sharing what you know…

9. Stress happens when we feel that we can't cope with pressure
and this pressure comes in many shapes and forms, and triggers
physiological responses. These changes are best described as the
fight or flight response, a hard-wired reaction to perceived
threats to our survival. When survival had meant facing
immediate and real threats such as confronting a charging
elephant, our response has saved lives.
http://www.stress.org.uk/What-is-stress.aspx
Summary

10. Personality and life experiences affect the way we respond to stress,
but do you know that other factors like gender and culture can
contribute to our different responses to stressors?
Access https://explorable.com/gender-culture-and-stress-response for
further reading
Gender, Culture and Stress Response

11. Although it may be difficult to differentiate…we all experience different types of
stress: 1.3 (p2)
In small groups you are now going to research 6 types of stress. Each group will be
assigned a type of stress. Your group will need to:
 Research information (internet – room 2)
 Produce an information sheet / poster
 Inform the rest of the class of your findings/Listen and take notes when others
present information
Please make sure each of you takes part in the activity,
whether it is researching, writing, designing or
presenting information
Different types of stress

12. 15 minutes = Plenty of time for
a brew, chat, drink of water,
toilet visit 
BREAK TIME

13.  Short-term stress or…
Acute stress usually results from from specific events or situations that involve novelty,
unpredictability, a threat to the ego, and leave us with a poor sense of control. This ‘on the spot’
type of stress can be good for you because the stress hormones released help your mind and
body to deal with the situation.
 Long-term stress or…
Chronic stress usually results from repeated exposure to situations that lead to the release of
stress hormones. This type of stress can cause wear and tear on your mind and body. Many
scientists think that our stress response system was not designed to be constantly activated. This
overuse may contribute to the breakdown of many bodily systems.
Watch the following video and note down any words or phrases that will help us to
identify and list effects of long and short-term stress on a person AC 2.1 (p3)
The long and short of it…

14.  Discuss in groups of 4 and decide on an appropriate
answer between you – A sentence or 2
 Please make sure that each person in your group takes
part/shares ideas/writes
 You will share this information with the rest of the class
AC 2.2 Page 3
Why can stress be useful?

15. Stress and particularly chronic stress can have a very damaging effect on
many systems and organs in the body.
Read the information provided in hand out 1. Fill in the blanks using the
information you have read. Ask for help if you need it.
Now complete 2.3 (p3), 2.4 (p3) and 4.1 (p5)
Symptoms and harm

16.  Use hand-out 2 (your stress) to informally reflect on and assess your own
experience(s) of stress. Complete this task individually.
Now think about possible causes of stress – For you and others
 Use a sticky note to write an answer and place it on the board at the front
of the class
What is it & why is it?

17. Some causes of stress
• Death of a loved one
• Relationship problems
• Marriage
• Health problems
• Pregnancy / childbirth
• Loss of employment
• New job role
• Changes to job role
• Change to living situation
• Disagreements / arguments
• Bullying or feeling you are
being treated unfairly
• Legal problems
• Problems with noise
• Family gatherings
• Debt / financial strain

18. Stress and the body
• Palpitations / rapid heart
• Faintness / dizziness
• Shortness of breath
• Butterflies in stomach
• Jelly legs
• Bladder / bowels
• Changes to appetite
• Flushes / chills
• Feeling sick
• Headaches
• Chest pain / tightness
• Stomach pains
• Muscle ache / pain
• Tiredness
• Pins and needles
• Dry mouth
• Clammy hands
• Feeling run-down

19. The impact of stress
If stress continues, it can begin to have a serious negative
impact upon our wellbeing.
Commonly, it takes a toll on:
• The body (unpleasant physical symptoms)
• Behaviours / actions / the things we do
In turn, this can lead to psychological difficulties, and
exacerbate or create other mental health problems.

20. Stress and behaviour
 Being snappy / irritable
 Withdrawing
 Doing less (generally)
 Taking on more (work, chores etc. to distract)
 Avoidance and / or escape
 Procrastination
 Eating more (comfort eating) or eating less / starving self
 Risk taking
 More excess (drinking, smoking etc.)
 Reduced sexual activity / function

21. Psychological impact
 Burn-out
 Reduced self-esteem / confidence/ self-
belief
 Unhelpful thought patterns
 Negative view of self, world, others
 Catastrophic thinking, excessive worry

22. Other mental health problems
 Depression / low mood
 Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
 Panic
 Other anxiety disorders
 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
 Social anxiety / social phobia
 Health anxiety

23. Another way to look at stress…
Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a
positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for
stress reduction: reaching out to others.
Hot to make stress your friend

24. Workbook
Complete 3.1 (p4), 3.2 (p4), 3.3, 4.2 & 4.3 (p5). Make
sure you read and answer the questions fully.

25.  Lo 1: Recap on induction information, group rules and the purpose for them
 LO 2: Take part in the icebreaker
 LO 3: Outline what is meant by stress (1.1) Re-cap
 LO 4: Outline the purpose (Re-cap)/ usefulness of stress on the body (1.2, 2.2)
 LO 5: Define a range of different types of stress and potential causes and triggers (1.3,
3.1, 3.3)
 LO 6: Identify short and long-term effects of stress on a person (2.1)
 LO 7: Investigate the harms associated with prolonged stress and potential symptoms
(2.3, 2.4, 4.1)
 LO 8: Outline how people can respond to a stressful situation and give examples of
how stress can change behaviour (4.2, 4.3)
Session 2 Outcomes
Have you..?

26. Access ItsLearning (Wellbeing course) – Week 2 folder
I have started a presentation off for you, I would like you to complete it.
Each person is able to work on this project.
Here’s what I would like you to do;
 Create your own slide (click the + sign on the left) to include ONE
healthy strategy that can be used to prevent or reduce stress
 Add key information about the strategy and the benefits to someone
from using that strategy
 Add your name to your slide
 Examples of some healthy strategies - Yoga, breathing exercises,
Mindfulness, aromatherapy
(AC 5.1 & 5.2)
Homework