1. Stress In Your Life Stress is an unavoidable part of life
If positive It can make life fun and exciting
If negative it can severely impact your physical and mental health

2. Stress and the Brain
Scientists have determined that in some people, stress upsets a delicate balance among brain chemicals called neurotransmitters

3. This imbalance may cause sleep disturbances, panic attacks, and low enjoyment of life
The first signs of such an imbalance can include trouble falling asleep, waking up often during the night, vivid dreams followed by lack of energy and depression

4. Stress Tolerance
Amount of stress that you can handle before you reach a state of too much stress

5. Stress and Your Personality Type
Personality is another factor in how you handle stress
Some psychologists have grouped people into 2 types – TYPE A and TYPE B

6. Type A Personality
Competitive, high achieving personality type that is most likely to develop heart disease

7. Type B Personality
Seen as laid back, non-competitive personality type less likely to suffer fro heart disease
May hold on to stress and be more susceptible to stress related disorders

8. The Hardy Personality
Seems able to stay healthy despite major or even traumatic stressors

9. 3 characteristics of Hardy Personality
Change - Likes and welcomes change, viewing it as an opportunity for growth
Commitment – strong sense of purpose and is committed to people, activities and principles that bring meaning to their life
Control – feels influence over what happens in life, and recognizes that some things can’t be controlled

10. Stress During Adolescence
Learning what stressors are common among teens can help you cope
So can sharing feelings of stress with peers
Reminds you your not alone

11. Stress and the Body – Mind Connection
Too much pressure can raise the blood pressure, weaken the immune system, and cause other health problems

12. Stress and High Blood Pressure
Mental and emotional stress an cause an increase In your levels of cholesterol, the fatty substance that blocks arteries

13. Stress and Headaches Most adults and half of all teens get headaches
Most related to tension
When stressed muscles in the head and neck contract

14. Migraine Headaches
Can be triggered by stress, fluorescent lights, hormone changes, air pressure changes
Arteries to brain narrow, blood flow to the brain decreases
When arteries open up again endings press into the artery walls causing severe throbbing, loss of balance and changes in mood

15. Stress and Asthma Stress can help to trigger asthma
It is important that you try to keep your stress level low

16. Stress and the Immune Response
Prolonged exposure to stress can hurt the immune response
Body cannot fight disease as well as it might if you had not gone under so much stress
You may be more prone to colds, flu or even more severe infections or cancers

17. Psychosomatic Response to Stress
Physical disorder that results from stress rather than from an injury or illness
Psycho – of the mind
Somatic – of the body
May be minor or severe

18. Recognizing Signs of Stress
Physical signs- Headaches, trembling or twitching, upset stomach, migraines, sweating, rash, grinding teeth, diarrhea
Emotional Signs - frustration, nervousness, boredom, edginess, worrying, loneliness, confusion, crying

19. Recognizing signs of Stress
Mental Signs – trouble reading or thinking clearly, lack of creativity, constant worry, obsessive thoughts
Behavioral Signs – not eating, overeating, compulsive talking, verbal or physical outbursts, drugs, alcohol