This document discusses stress, its causes and effects, and strategies for managing and coping with stress. It defines stress as a reaction of the body, mind, behavior, and emotions. Stressors can be real or imagined threats and include people, places, events and situations. The body's response to stress involves an alarm stage, resistance stage, and fatigue stage. Managing stress involves getting adequate rest, regular physical activity, nutritious foods, using refusal skills, planning ahead, thinking positively, relaxation techniques, and seeking support. Coping with loss and grief involves stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Coping with traumatic events involves seeking family and community support. Signs of stress include headaches, irritability,

3. Lesson 1 Understanding

4. What is Stress?
• A Reaction
– Body
– Mind
– Behavioral
– Emotional
PERCEPTION

8. • Stressor….. Anything that causes stress
– Real…
– Imagined…
• Anticipated
• Unexpected
–People, places, events and situations

9. • Alarm
• Resistance
• Fatigue
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10. Stress Management Skills
Use refusal Skills
Plan ahead
Think positively
Practice relaxation techniques
Redirect your energy
Seek support
Lesson 2 Managing Stress

11. •Get Adequate Rest
•Get Regular Physical
Activity
•Eat Nutritious Foods

12. Lesson 3 Coping with Loss and Grief

13. • Denial or Numbness
• Emotional Release
• Anger
• Bargaining
• Depression
• Remorse
• Acceptance………..closure
• Hope

14. Coping with Death
• Mourning
• Empathy (showing ways of support for
someone)
– Help the person recall happy, positive memories
– Be a sympathetic listener (silence, nodding of
head..a showing that your understand what the
person is saying.)
– Don’t rush the grieving process.

15. Coping with Traumatic Events
• Traumatic event….any event that has a
stressful impact sufficient to overwhelm your
normal coping strategies.
– Sudden and Shocking
• Accidents, violent assaults, suicides, natural disasters.
• Seek support from family members,
friends and community groups and
agencies to help you.

18. STRESS
WARNING SIGNS
Signs of stress
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Disrupted sleep patterns
• High blood pressure
• Stomachaches
• Nausea
• Loss of appetite
• Boredom
• Anger
• Low self-esteem
• Difficulty paying attention
Don't let stress control your life - learn how to cope with it in positive ways. Pinpoint the stressors in your life
and deal with them head on.
• Meditate: close your eyes, breathe deeply, and concentrate on one positive thought.
• Talk about what's bothering you - don't hold it inside.
• Learn how to manage your time, and don't forget to make time for yourself.
• Make healthy eating choices.
• Get enough sleep. Try to get 8.5 to 9 hours each night.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Avoid caffeine, cigarettes, drugs, and alcohol.
• Exercise. Getting exercise helps rid your body of the extra stress and energy it has stored.
• Relax. Make time for fun and laughter. Let the little things go.