1. Responses to Stressful Situations and Positive Coping
Obj:9.MEH.1.1: I will identify the body’s physical and psychological responses to stressful situations and positive coping mechanisms

2. Warm-up
What causes you stress and how does your body feel when you are under stress?

3. Stress
“The Stress system is a complex, sophisticated, and carefully regulated adaptation that has been shaped by natural selection because it gives a selective advantage.”
Emphasize that stress is functional, and that the same stress response in businessmen was in hunters and gatherers. Stress response is the same but stressors are different.

4. What is a Stressor?
A person, place, event, or situation that places a demand on the mind or the body.

5. Are All Stressors Bad? Eustress = positive stress
Distress = negative stress
Examples?

6. Healthy Amounts of Stress
Stress acts as a motivator, but too much stress can lead to mental illness such as anxiety or depression.
Stress is designed to optimize performance.

7. Stressors before Modern Civilization
Need for food
Need for water
Need for shelter
Successfully hunting and gathering
Surviving constant threats in life
All of which are functional and have to do with survival

8. Stress Management in Ancient Civilizations
Worship
Hieroglyphics
Constellations
Finding meaning in life
All designed to add meaning to life

9. Teenage Stress?
What causes you stress?

10. Stressors in the Modern World?
Unemployment
Financial difficulties
Unhappy in career
Children
Relationship problems
Deadlines: homework,
career, taxes, bills
All of which do not threaten ones life. These stressors are derrived from the humans ambition to be successful in our modern society. It is important that these are stressors that have the potential to be continuous and engrained in our daily life. So even though these stressors seem petty and miniscule, it is important to note that they have the potential to be long term stressors….resulting in anxiety/depression etc.

11. G.A.S General Adaptation Syndrome
3 stages the body goes through when it responds to stress
Alarm Stage
Resistance Stage
Exhaustion Stage

12. Components of The Stress Response
Autonomic Nervous System:
Action within the peripheral nervous system that is “reflexive” and “involuntary.”
Regulates the functions of the internal organs (the viscera), such as the heart, stomach, and intestines
Sympathetic Nervous System – “fight or flight”
Parasympathetic Nervous System – “rest and digest”
Such as the stress response.

13. Fight or Flight = ALARM Stage
The Sympathetic Nervous System takes an active role in triggering the stress response.
The Sympathetic Nervous System effects include increased:
arousal
blood pressure
heart rate
respiratory rate
For more effects, see Appendix 1 on the Lesson Plan.

14. Alarm Stage: Fight or Flight
Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream
Physiological responses include:
Increased blood pressure
Increased heart rate
Increased breathing
Muscles tense
Sweating
Hearing becomes more acute
More blood is sent to the muscles for quick movement
These changes happen every time we are faced with a stressor. These changes go back to normal when we either 1) Recognize that it is a good stressor, 2) we do something to make the stressor less stressful, 3) we adopt a positive coping strategy to help us deal with the stressor

15. Resistance Stage Acts as an equalizer
Brings body functions back to stability
Needs to be a balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic systems
These 2 systems are constantly active, thus constantly trying to maintain balance
Needs to be a healthy balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic. These 2 systems are constantly active, thus constantly trying to maintain balance.

16. Exhaustion Stage Energy is depleted
Body returns to normal if stress is removed
Body returns to alarm stage if stress continues which can result in stress-related diseases:
Skin disorders
Gastrointestinal upset
Menstrual irregularities
Cardiovascular disorders

17. Physical Signs of Stress
Headache
Increased sweating
Sweaty palms
Tightness of chest
Diarrhea
Nervous stomach
Slumped posture
Inability to fall asleep
Dry mouth
Increase in crying
Fatigue
Neck or backache
You will not experience all of these signs and with practice you will recognize the way that you respond to the stress in your life. Once you are able to recognize these signs, you can determine the cause of your stress and begin to develop positive coping strategies to help you deal with that stressor.

18. Psychological Responses to Stress
Irritability
Angry outburst
Impatience
Nightmares
Loss of interest
Anxiety / nervousness
Negative thinking
Jealousy
Forgetfulness
Lowered self-esteem
Inability to concentrate
Focusing on the past
Resistant to change
Preoccupation
You will not experience all of these signs and with practice you will recognize the way that you respond to the stress in your life. Once you are able to recognize these signs, you can determine the cause of your stress and begin to develop positive coping strategies to help you deal with that stressor.

19. Behavioral Signs of Stress
Restlessness
Fidgeting
Carelessness
Loss of appetite or overeating
Unable to sleep
Chronic fatigue
Decreased productivity
Increase in alcohol/drug use
Increase in risk taking
Withdrawing from relationships
You will not experience all of these signs and with practice you will recognize the way that you respond to the stress in your life. Once you are able to recognize these signs, you can determine the cause of your stress and begin to develop positive coping strategies to help you deal with that stressor.

20. Someone always gets hurt Ways to take a break from feelings
EXPLOSIONS:
Someone always gets hurt
WRECKING THINGS
VENTS:
Always about feelings.
No one gets mad or hurt.
Mad, Scared, Angry, Frustrated -- When these strong emotions build up we feel like we are going to explode or erupt like this volcano and cause negative behaviors
Exercise, Write in a journal, talk to someone – when we are able to relieve part of our stress through these actions or behaviors we are venting or releasing the built up feelings and we are less likely to erupt or explode like this volcano.
RESTS:
Ways to take a break from feelings

21. Stress-Related Diseases & Conditions
Gastrointestinal disorders
Skin Disorders
Cancer
Cardiovascular disorders
Depression
Anxiety

22. Positive & Negative Stress Management Today
Eat
Exercise
Hurt self
Prayer and meditation
Rx medications
Smoking/ drinking/ drugs
Talking to friends and family
Television, reading, or listening to music
Ask the class to examine which stress management tools are healthy, unhealthy, or could be either one.

23. Positive Coping Strategies
How do you cope with stress?