1. Stress, Health and Coping Daniel Renzo Geoff Doiron

2. What is Stress?  Stress is your reaction to any change that requires you to adjust or respond.  Stress is a person’s response to a stressor such as an environmental condition or a stimulus.

3. Everybody experiences stress. Our bodies are designed to feel stress and react to it. It keeps us alert and ready to avoid danger.

4. Stress may occur in any aspect of adult development  Cognitive: Memory loss  Physical: Getting new glasses; aches and pains  Social: Divorce; fight with a friend

5. What causes stress?  Stress can be caused by anything – Good and Bad.  Your body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses.  The cause of stress can be different for each person.

6. Common Causes of Stress  Death of a loved one  Confrontations  Marriage  Legal problems  Job loss  Divorce  New job  Retirement  Money problems  Illnesses  Parenting

7. Warning signs of stress?  Your body sends out physical, emotional, and behavioral warning signs of stress.

8. Emotional warning signs are:  Anger  Inability to concentrate  Unproductive worry  Sadness  Frequent mood swings

9. Physical warning signs are:  Stooped posture  Sweaty palms  Chronic fatigue  Weight gain or loss  Erectile dysfunction  Stomach pains  Blood pressure elevation  Changes in bowel habits  Sleep disturbance

10. Behavioral warning signs are:  Over-reacting  Acting on impulse  Using alcohol or drugs  Withdrawing from relationships  Changing jobs often  Eating disorders

11. It’s important to remember that you can control stress because stress comes from how you respond to stressful events, not the events themselves.

12. Stress causes health issues  Negative effects on the immune system  Asthma  Back pain  Fatigue  Headaches  Ulcers  Raised blood pressure  Increases the risk of heat attack and stroke  Anxiety and Depression  Many more!

13. How to cope with stress  Low your expectations  Ask others for help or to assist you  Take responsibility for the situation  Engage in problem solving  Maintain emotionally supportive relationships  Maintain emotional composure  Challenge previously held beliefs that are no longer adaptive

14. Coping – continued  Distance yourself from the source of stress  Learn to relax  Eat and drink sensibly  Stop smoking or other bad habits  Exercise regularly  Maintain a healthy sense of self-esteem

15. Seek help when:  Decline in work/school performance  Excessive anxiety  Alcohol or drug abuse  Irrational fears  Change in sleeping or eating habits  Suicidal thoughts or urge to hurt others  Withdrawn or antisocial behavior  Self-destructive or dangerous behavior

16. Where to get help:  Here! The wellness center offers counseling  Your doctor  Crisis hotline

17. Breathing exercise with class

18. http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=ZVVWhRCm7z8& feature=player_detailpag e

19. Questions?