2. 5.1 Identify a range of healthy strategies for preventing and
reducing the effects of stress
5.2 State the benefits of using healthy strategies
5.3 Describe how using one healthy strategy has helped to
prevent or reduce the effects of own stress
5.4 Give examples of harmful strategies people may use to
cope with stress
5.5 Identify situations when people may need additional or
professional support
5.6 Identify support available to people experiencing stress
Session 3 Objectives
Stress & Stress Management
4. Tips for managing stress
• Eat sensibly and get plenty of rest
• Minimise caffeine, alcohol, and smoking
• Avoid drugs / stimulants
• Time management techniques
• Don’t take on too much at once
• Plan time for yourself
• Make use of relaxation techniques
• Breathing techniques and muscle
relaxation
5. Tips for managing stress
• Do at least one thing you enjoy each day
• Take up a new hobby, particularly:
• Something creative
• Something practical
• Set yourself goals
• Start small, and build up
• Connect with others and give back to
others
6. Unhealthy ways of coping with
stress
•Smoking
•Drinking too much
•Bingeing on junk or comfort food
•Zoning out for hours in front of
the TV or computer
•Withdrawing from friends,
family, and activities
•Using pills or drugs to relax
•Sleeping too much
•Procrastinating
•Filling up every minute of the day
to avoid facing problems
•Taking out your stress on others
(lashing out, angry outbursts,
physical violence)
These coping strategies may temporarily reduce stress,
but they cause more damage in the long run:
7. #1: Get moving
#2: Engage socially
#3: Avoid unnecessary stress
#4: Alter the situation
#5: Adapt to the stressor
#6: Accept the things you can’t change
#7: Make time for fun and relaxation
#8: Adopt a healthy lifestyle
So what could you do...?
8. Seeking more support
• Self-help information
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/wellbeing/resources/online-
resources/
http://www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/selfhelp/
• Referral to Mindsmatter
9. Local support
Work in pairs
Choose 3 scenarios
Use your own knowledge and internet
research to find support services appropriate
to the ‘scenario/character description’
assigned. Make sure the services are accessible
to the individual described.
10. Complete the rest of your stress & stress
management unit.
Ask questions if you are unsure
Workbook
12. Identify different types of substances (1.2): Card
Matching task
Identify reasons for using (1.1) & factors from
someone’s background that may lead them to use
(1.3)
Identify possible signs or symptoms (2.1) and give an
example of a sign or symptom that could be
misleading (2.2)
Outcomes
13. There are many different types of substances that can be misused. The
following group task is designed to help you think about some of the most
commonly used/misused . Work together to match up:
Work together and help each other out – answers will follow
Different types of drugs…
Picture
cards
Name
cards
Effects
cards
14. Almost all drugs that are commonly misused have an effect on the Central Nervous
System (CNS). Different drugs have different effects and can be grouped into the
following categories:
Now try to group your card sets into the above categories. Note: there is an odd one out
– can you identify it?
Different categories of drugs…
Category Name Category Effect (generally)
Depressant Slow down CNS activity – sedative like effect
Analgesic Use the endorphin system to block pain signals
Stimulant Speed up CNS activity
Hallucinogen Distort sensory perception
15. Generally speaking types of drug use and misuse can be grouped into the following areas:
1. Experimentation 2. Recreation 3. Dependent 4. Prescribed (1.1)
An individual’s decision to use drugs may stem from any number of factors…
Work together to make a list of potential factors from a person’s background that may lead them
to use drugs
Reasons for using…
Learned
Behaviour
(parents /
carers)
Social
Deprivation
(no jobs /
poor
housing…)
Mental /
Physical
Health
issues
Personality
type (risk
taking…) Trauma
(abuse /
war…)
16. Signs & Symptoms
There are a variety of signs or symptoms that may accompany substance misuse. It can be helpful
to think about these signs and symptoms in 3 different categories:
1. Physical 2. Behavioural 3. Social
Work in groups again to discuss and identify potential signs and symptoms of substance misuse in
one of the categories above… (2.1)
Now choose one of the signs or symptoms identified and think of an alternative explanation (2.2)
Physical Behavioural Social
Appearance of eyes Very chatty and loud Associating with users
Rapid weight loss/gain Aggressive /
confrontational
Becoming withdrawn
Evidence of injecting
(track marks)
Inappropriate (personal
boundaries)
Missing school / work
Excessive sweating Uncoordinated
movement
Attracting police
attention
18. Use your own knowledge or research to complete Page 11
Homework
3.1 Identify harmful effects of substance misuse on
individuals
3.2 Identify harmful effects of substance misuse on
society
3.3 Give examples of where to get support and advice
on substance misuse
