Stress & Your Body

Physical Signs of Too Much Stress Headaches Trembling or twitches Upset stomach Migraines Sweating Constipation Diarrhea Increased heart rate Trouble sleeping Dizziness

Emotional Signs of Too Much Stress Nervousness Boredom Edginess Mood swings Impatience Crying Confusion Low self-esteem loneliness

Mental Signs of Too Much Stress Trouble reading or thinking clearly Obsessive thoughts Inability to make decisions Forgetting things Loss of sense of humor Loss of perspective

Behavioral Signs of Too Much Stress Not eating Overeating Fidgeting Physical outbursts Reliance on drugs or alcohol Gambling Forgetting values Reckless and high risk behaviors

Prolonged Stress & Our Health To much stress can raise blood pressure, weaken the immune system and can lead to premature or early death. It can increase your levels of cholesterol, the fatty substance that blocks arteries which can lead to heart disease and stroke. Most teens and adults get headaches. These headaches can be severe and lead to tension in the body’s muscles. Migraines can be triggered by stress, when the arteries leading to the brain narrow, blood flow to the brain decreases. When the arteries open up again the nerve endings press into the artery walls causing severe throbbing, possible looks of balance and changes in mood.

Prolonged Stress & Our Health Stress often triggers asthma attacks Prolonged exposure to stress can compromise your immune system. Meaning your body can’t fight disease. One can become prone to colds, flu, or even severe infections or cancers. Tobacco and alcohol use increases your risk for disease and further weakens your immune system. Stress can lead to psychosomatic response, a physical disorder that results from stress rather than from an injury or illness. These could include skin disorders, sleep disorders, stomachaches and digestive problems.

Coping with loss Any loss can put your body and mind into a state of stress Losses can include the loss of an object, the loss of an athletic competition, loss of a pet, breakups between boyfriends or girlfriends, loss of a friendship and the loss of someone close to you. Reactions to loss may vary but any loss that requires change can be stressful.

Stages of Grief When loss occurs common reactions to experience triggers a grief reaction; an individuals total response to a major loss. Includes 5 Stages: Stage 1: Denial-a persons initial reaction to lose. They cannot believe the loss has occurred. Stage 2: Anger-a person moves on from denial to anger and often asks “why did this happen to me?” Stage 3: Bargaining- as the reality of the loss set in and is subsided it is replaced with bargaining. A person might pray or promise to change if the loss of a person or object can be replaced. Stage 4: Depression-marked by silence or withdrawal. A time of deep and quiet sadness. Stage 5: Acceptance-acceptance of loss. Can involve a sense of power allowing the person to face reality in constructive ways and make significant and meaningful gestures surrounding the idea of the loss. A sense of closure is reached.