1. Stress and Wellness Stress – inner agitation you feel when you are exposed to change

2. Stress is Part of Life Negative Stress or Distress – Situation or event seen as a threat to your wellbeing – Cause you to feel fearful or perform poorly – Result from changes, relationships, school, work, etc Positive Stress – Motivates you to accomplish challenging goal – Can cause you to make a good choice – Examples: sports

3. Causes of Stress Stressors – sources of stress – Can be physical (change in routine) – Emotional (school pressure) Life-change events – major stressors – Death, divorce, and legal problem Daily hassles – minor stressors (annoyances) – School responsibility, peer pressure, misplacing items, money concerns

4. Body’s Response to Stress Three Stages Alarm – Worry, physical response, heart rate increase – Fight or flight response – physical response where body gathers its resources to conquer danger or escape to safety Resistance – Body starts to recover and stress starts to subside Exhaustion – If stress continues, body doesn’t have time to recover – Mental and physical fatigue

5. Effects of Stress on Health Physical effects Pituitary releases hormones Eyes widen Hearing sharpens Muscles tense Breathing speeds up Blood pressure increases Heart races Blood contents change Adrenaline secreted Immune system suppressed Immune system effects – Lowered – Feel run down – Get sick easier Sleep patterns effects – Increase mental activity can prevent you from sleeping – Lack of rest can cause more stress and sickness Eating habits effects – Digestion a low priority during stress – Stress factor in weight

6. Continue Emotional effects – Irritable – Tense – Worry – Can lead to substance abuse – Can lead to inability to cope with daily events Personality factors and stress – Reaction to stress more than cause of stress – Stress to one person may not be to another – Time of life can also determine stressor – Type A personality Hostile – impatient, pushy, irritated Nonhostile – less aggressive, less likely to be upset – Type B personality Relaxed and easy going – Attitude More important than personality

7. Managing Stress Recognize Signs of StressUse Support Systems Learn How to RelaxUse Positive Self-talk

8. Preventing Stress Learn to Manage Your Time Eat a Nutritious Diet Stay Physically Fit Get Adequate Rest