1. Bellringer: Complete the stress test on a separate sheet of paper
Share the test handout with the other people at your table.

2. Sources of Stress
Learner Outcome:
Students will identify the various sources of stress and how they affect physical and mental health

3. Stress close to the heart
Time your pulse for 30 seconds
Double that number, then write it on your paper
Then for one minute, turn out the lights, close your eyes, breath very deeply and slowly, in through the nose and out through the mouth
After one minute time your pulse for another 30 seconds, double that number then write it on your paper
What does this exercise teach us about our abilities to control stress?
Stress close to the heart

4. What is Stress?
A person’s perception of his or her ability to cope with certain tense situations
An anxious or threatening feeling resulting from a stimulating situation

5. Why is this stressing me out?
Stressors
A stress producing situation or event.
Traveling in an airplane may be a stressor for someone that has never flown, but not for a flight attendant
What are some of your stressors?

6. Stress Reaction The body’s observable response to a stressor
Can be perceptual, cognitive, physical, or emotional.
Sweaty palms, mind racing, anxiety

7. Distress Vs. Eustress Distress = Negative stress
Stress that stems from anxiety or pressure
Worrying about grades, or money
Eustress = Positive stress,
results from motivating, striving and challenges
You are being chased by a killer, your adrenaline glands kick in and you run faster than you ever have before
Distress Vs. Eustress

8. Go to a movie with friends or stay home and study for your test—desire to hang out with friends vs. the desire to do well in school
Can be major sources of stress on a person.
If you choose one will your stress be gone?
Conflict Situations

9. Approach-Approach
Avoidance-Avoidance
Approach-Avoidance
Double Approach-Avoidance
You must choose between two attractive options
You must choose between two disagreeable options
You find yourself in a situation with both enjoyable and disagreeable consequences
You must choose between multiple options, each of which has pleasurable and disagreeable aspects.
Do I want to go to the ballgame or the concert
Should I stay up all night and study for my math final or my social studies final
Should I ask him to go to the party with me? He may say yes he may say no.
Should I stay home and wait for my girlfriend to call me, or should I just go out with my friends and maybe miss the call

10. Your level of stress is based on your appraisal of a situation
Primary Appraisal = immediate evaluation of a situation
Might be positive, negative, or irrelevant
Secondary Appraisal = How to deal or cope with a situation
Appraisal

11. Common Stressors Environmental Stess:
Noise is the number one environmental stressor
Loud, irregular, and uncontrollable
Can cause headaches, nausea, and moodiness
Crowding can be pleasant or stressful
If the situation is pleasant crowding is fine
If it is unpleasant than crowding is a stressor
Common Stressors

12. Crowded, but a fun event

13. Pleasant event, but unpleasant experience

14. Common Stressors CHANGE! Everyday Stress
Marriage/divorce, illness, moving away, death in the family---all sources of stress
Separations from important people or relationships
Everyday Stress
Uplifts = Small positive events that can prevent stress
Finding a $20 bill
Going out to eat with a friend
Getting off work an hour early
Hassles = Everyday stressors
Losing car keys
Crowded elevator
Traffic
Hassles can weaken the body’s immune system
Give the SRRS test handout
Common Stressors

15. On the post-it note provided, describe one stressful situation experienced by you, a friend, or a family member. Keep it anonymous and be detailed!

16. Reaction to Stress Emotional Cognitive Behavioral Physical
Anxiety – feeling of imminent but unclear threat
Anger – irate reaction resulting from frustration
Fear – reaction when stressor involves real or imagined danger.
Difficulty in concentrating/thinking clearly
Poor decision making
Unjustified suspicion or distrust
Nervous habits
Drug use/drinking
Sleeping
Overeating or Under-eating
Change in posture
Decline in personal hygiene
Aggression towards family
Psychosomatic symptoms – headache, stomach ache, muscle pain
Fight or Flight - to prepare for an attack by a beast or band of warriors has stuck around
Reaction to Stress

17. Stress Coping Strategies
Defensive(Ignoring Stress)
Active(Dealing with Stress)
Denial – a person decides an event is not really a stressor.
Intellectualization – person analyzes situation from an emotionally detached viewpoint.
Failing to deal with an actual stressor can have damaging results.
Hardiness – commit to the challenge of controlling stress.
Controlling Stressful Situations – avoiding or spreading out the timing of stressors
Problem Solving – confront stressor head-on with rational analysis.
Explanatory Style – explaining a stressor either optimistically or pessimistically
Relaxation – focus on clearing the mind and body of tension, producing “inner peace”
Stress Coping Strategies

18. At your table, you’ll be given a few of the scenarios collected earlier in class.
Discuss each, and devise a plan for the best coping strategy.
Pick the most interesting scenario to share in class discussion.
Coping with stress

19. What is the approach - approach conflict situation?
Exit Slip