RECOGNIZING STRESS HEALTH – MR. TAYLOR

HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE UNDER STRESS? Not everyone experiences stress the same way - and it can manifest itself through a variety of signs. Let’s talk about some of the ways that you can tell that you might be experiencing stress, as well as what to look for to see if stress may be guiding the actions of another person.

LEARNING TO MANAGE STRESS Effective stress management involves the following: Learning to recognize the signs that you are experiencing stress Recognizing the circumstances that trigger stress reactions in you Applying stress management techniques to help you cope

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PHYSICAL SIGNS OF STRESS?  Racing heart  Hands shaking  Shaky legs  Clenching fists  Reddening of the skin  Headaches  Tenseness  Muscle spasms

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE EMOTIONAL SIGNS OF STRESS?  General feelings of anxiety  Feeling overwhelmed  Inability to focus  Avoidance behaviors  Inability to make decisions  Fight or flight response  Acting out

WHAT ARE SOME HEALTH-RELATED CONDITIONS THAT CAN BE BROUGHT ON BY STRESS?  Inability to sleep  Excessive sleep  Binge eating  Loss of appetite  Irrational behaviors  Bouts with depression  Mood disorders

WHAT ARE SOME POTENTIAL STRESS TRIGGERS?  Increased responsibility  Major life changes  Your past hurts not dealt with

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO MANAGE STRESS? The more options you have for keeping stress under control, the better you will be able to cope with the stressors you experience throughout your daily life.

SOME WAYS TO BETTER MANAGE STRESS  Utilize relaxation techniques  Exercise  Use sound nutritional practices  Get enough rest  Set goals for your life  Have good communication skills  Cope with circumstances when they happen

RELAXATION TECHNIQUES  Relaxation breathing  Meditation  Visualization  Aromatherapy

EXERCISE/PHYSICAL ACTIVITY  Walking  Swimming  Running  Biking  Skateboarding

PROPER NUTRITION  Eat a well-balanced diet  Drink plenty of water  Try to avoid overeating  Limit intake of high sugar foods  Lower caffeine intake

GETTING ENOUGH REST  Get minimum of 7-8 hours of sleep  Go to bed same time each night  Take periodic breaks during day  Avoid use of sleep aids if possible

SETTING GOALS  Set small, achievable goals  Keep track of your progress  Enjoy small victories  Celebrate when you meet your milestone

GOOD COMMUNICATION  Express feelings rather than bottle them up  Keep a journal or diary  Talk with family and friends about issues  Participate in counseling or therapy if needed

COPING WITH CIRCUMSTANCES  Meet challenges head-on  Do not fall into a pattern of avoidance behaviors  Look for the good in life, not just see the bad