1. You Think You’re Having a Bad Day?
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

2. ®
What is
Stress?
Stress is our body’s response
to anything that makes us feel
pressured or threatened
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

3. ®
The High Cost of Stress
Stress contributes to 50% of
all illnesses in the United
States . . . maybe more!
• 70-80% of all visits to the
doctor are for stress-
related and stress-induced
illnesses
• Source: Healthy People 2000, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

4. ®
Stress produces a
physical reaction in
our body
Sometimes that's Good . . .
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

5. ®
HISTORY OF STRESS
OUR ANCESTORS' STRESS was primarily
PHYSICAL for SURVIVAL
Automatic / Reflex
Powerful stress hormones prepared the body for “Fight
or Flight”
− Adrenaline and Cortisol
− Provided extra strength and energy
When danger passed, they relaxed
−Hormone levels returned to normal
Without STRESS, man would have been Dinner!

6. Modern Stress: Mostly Mental or Emotional
PERPECTIVE IS KEY
We create Stress by how we
interpret or think about what
is happening to or around us
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

7. ®
Anatomy of Stress
The body responds to MENTAL stress
exactly like it responds to LIFE-
THREATENING PHYSICAL danger or
stress.
Thoughts and emotions produce physical
responses that prepare us for “Fight or
Flight”
The body doesn't know the difference!
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

8. ®
STRESS HORMONES
Powerful Neurotransmitter Chemicals that
carry signals between cells
 ADRENALINE– prepares the body
for action but designed for short
bursts
 CORTISOL – increases energy
production in response to stress
but can lead to weight gain
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

9. ®
Stress Hormones Affect All Major Body Systems
Digestive
Respiratory Circulatory
Nervous
Muscular Immune
Skeletal
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

10. ®
Stress Response Cycle
We Experience
a Difficult
Event,
WE FEEL
STRESSED
Our Pain Makes Boom!
Stress Worse, ADRENALINE
the Cycle and CORTISOL
Continues Start Flowing
Our Head Hurts,
Our Shoulder & Heart Pounds,
Neck Muscles
Tighten We Get Short of
Breath
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

11. ®
EFFECTS OF STRESS
Short-term Effects Long-term Effects
of ADRENALINE: of CORTISOL:
• Muscles Tense • Thins our Bones
• Breathing Becomes
• Shrinks our Brains
Rapid
• Heart Rate & Blood • Suppresses our
Pressure Increase Immune System
• Digestion Stops • Saps our Energy
• Mental Alertness • Contributes to Aging!
Increases • MAKES US FAT!
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

12. ®
SEROTONIN – Key Neurotransmitter
The “Feel-good” Chemical
Reduces Stress
Associated with Serenity &
Optimism
Positively affects Sleep, Pain,
Appetite, Blood Pressure
Improves Concentration
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

13. ®
Stress Response Cycle
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

14. ®
"Life is about 20% what happens to us and
80% the way we respond to the events."
- Ted Engstrom
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

15. Exercise-The Other Anti-Depressant
In his comprehensive book, "The Depression
Cure," clinical psychologist Stephen Ilardi writes:
"Exercise changes the brain. It increases the activity
level of important brain chemicals such as dopamine
and serotonin.... Exercise also increases the brain's
production of a key growth hormone called BDNF.
Because levels of this hormone plummet in depression,
some parts of the brain start to shrink over time, and
learning and memory are impaired. But exercise
reverses this trend, protecting the brain in a way
nothing else can. Aerobic exercise can be as effective
at relieving mild and moderate depression as SSRIs
(selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac and
Zoloft).” © 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

16. Shoulder Rotations
Synovial Fluid
Warm up our joints as well as our
muscles
Never stretch a cold muscle
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

17. ®
Keep Breathing!
© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

18. © DW GROUP, LLC 2008