1. Defense Mechanisms - Definitions
Repression – pushing harmful or unwanted thoughts from your mind
Regression – returning to behaviors from a younger age to avoid dealing with the problem
Denial – lack of recognition of something obvious to others
Projection – pushing your feelings onto another person or thing
Suppression – consciously pushing negative or unwanted feelings out of your mind
Rationalization – making excuses for a situation rather than taking responsibility for it
Compensation – making up for something through action of doing something else

2. Managing Stress and Coping with Loss
Chapter 4
Lessons 1 and 2

3. Managing Stress and Coping with Loss Lesson 1
What is stress?
Can you avoid stress?
In what ways can other people help you deal with stress?

4. Stress management techniques can help people deal with stress, and knowledge of the grieving process can help them manage feelings of loss

5. Stress:
The reaction of the body and mind to everyday challenges and demands
What stresses you? How do you positively deal with stress?
Perception:
The act of becoming aware through the senses
You believe things will work out or the friend who thinks things are ruined… Who has the higher level of stress?

6. Is stress unhealthy?
Stress affects people in both positive and negative ways. There are many potential causes of stress, but the body responds the same way regardless of the cause
Positive stress can motivate you – inspire you to work harder
Negative stress can interfere with your ability to perform – feelings of distraction, overwhelmed, impatient, frustrated, or even angry; can harm your health
Understand the cause of the stress and how you respond to it to help develop effective management skills

7. Stressor:
Anything that causes stress (real or imagined, anticipated/expected or unexpected); heightened alertness
“You are stressing me out!” – stress controlled or uncontrolled?
Implication: stress is something that other people or events do to us suggesting stress is beyond our control
Correction: stress is how we react to people or events, so it is partly under our control

8. Alarm, Resistance, Fatigue
Your body’s response to Stressors
stressors activate the nervous system and specific hormones (physical response is largely involuntary or automatic – why is this?)
Three Stages:
Alarm, Resistance, Fatigue
Alarm – “fight or flight” preparing body either to defend itself or to flee from harm
Resistance – body adapts and reacts to continued stressor helping perform briefly at a higher level with more endurance
Fatigue – body’s loss of adaptation after prolonged stress, losing the ability to manage other stressors effectively

9. The Alarm Response – driven by the Hypothalamus
A small area at the base of the brain, receives danger signals from other parts of the brain releasing a hormone that acts on pituitary gland which stimulates the adrenal glands which secrete _____________.

10. Adrenaline is the “emergency hormone” preparing the body to respond to stressor
What kind of symptoms have you experienced in response to stress?
(increased sweating, blood pressure, faster breathing, tense muscles…)

11. Psychosomatic response
Prolonged responses takes a toll on your body…
Psychosomatic response
A physical reaction that results from stress rather than from injury or illness
Physical effects of stress include:
Headache, weakened immune system, high blood pressure, jaw clenching and/or teeth grinding, digestive disorders (i.e. upset stomach, excessive bathroom issues)
Mental/emotional effects of stress include:
Difficulty concentrating, irritability, and mood swings. Drugs and alcohol use to relieve stress may create more problems (risk of abuse)

12. Managing Stress and Coping with Loss Chapter 4, Lesson 2
When Stress becomes a problem
Main Idea: identifying what is stressful is the first step in learning how to manage stress
Stress Management
Skills

13. Chronic Stress:
Stress associated with long-term problems that are beyond a person’s control
When you know the source, you can find ways to resolve the problem. Many times people don’t take time to recognize the stress until it has affected their health
Teen Chronic Stress?

14. Stress Management Techniques: Develop strategies to both avoid and reduce stress
Refusal Skills: just say ‘no’
Relaxation: a state of calm
Stress Management
Skills
Stay Healthy/Build Resilience
Plan Ahead: manage time wisely
Think Positively: can control responses

15. Stress Management Techniques: Relaxation Techniques
Deep breathing and stretching
Thinking pleasant thoughts – go to ‘happy’ place
Take a warm bath
Get a massage or manicure/pedicure/facial
LAUGH!!
Redirect your energy constructively
(work on project, go for walk or swim,
jog, ride bike, play a game)

16. Stress Management Techniques: Stay Healthy/Build Resilience
Get good rest ( ___ to ___ hours/day)
Regular physical activity ( ____ min/day)
(increases energy level and endurance)
Eat nutritious foods (balanced and wholesome)
Resiliency helps you handle difficulties and challenges in healthful ways and achieve long-term success by adapting effectively to disappointments and recovering from crisis.

17. Stress Management Techniques: Think Positively
Positive Outlook (bright side of things)
Shift perception (way you react)
View stressors (like a job interview) and mistakes as opportunities instead of threats
Use positive ‘self-talk’ – “I can do this”

18. Stress Management Techniques: Plan Ahead
Manage time wisely
Keep a log of how you spend time to evaluate and figure out where you can make adjustments
Use a calendar or agenda to record all the demands of your time
Use a calendar or agenda to record start dates and due dates to help in planning
Study a little each night (Figure 4.4, pg. 98)

19. Stress Management Techniques: Refusal Skills
Avoid tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs
Determine if you have time to take on new activity
(will it add to your stress?)
Sometimes less is more...
Student Activity: write a scenario in which a teen is being pressured to join another club/sport/activity OR is offered an illegal substance. Discuss the benefits of using refusal skills and why the teen should stick to doing what is right… when finished we will share your stories