A powerpoint about stress management

1. Playing with Your Stress: Balancing Your Life University Counseling Center

2. What is STRESS? The reaction of the body to a physical or psychological threat. Sources of Stress Environmental stressors Social stressors Physiological stressors Thought stressors

3. Some STRESS is good, but too much STRESS is not good for you High Performance Stress Level Low High

4. Positive & Negative Stress is a natural part of life. Stress can be both positive and negative. Positive stress is a stress that can help motivate individuals to accomplish something good. Positive stress helps an individual to make any necessary changes in their lives. Negative stress is a stress that a person feels they cannot handle.

5. Negative STRESS Response The set of physical changes your body makes in response to a threat or negative stress. In these types of stressful situations, the body releases chemicals that trigger: Increased heart rate & blood pressure Rapid Breathing Increased sweating A sudden rush of strength Slowed digestion Dilated pupils

6. STRESS Indicators It is not always easy to know when you are stressed. Sometimes stress can go undetected but here are some helpful indicators that may let you know if you in fact are stressed or becoming stressed. There are three ways in which stress can negatively impact you life. Physically, emotionally and behaviorally. By examining these aspects of you life you may be able to recognize when you are or are becoming stressed.

7. Physical Stress Indicators You can feel physical stress when you have too much to do, or when you've had too little sleep, aren't eating properly or have been ill. Key Indicators: Headaches, Arthritis, Neck Pain, Jaw Pain, Allergies, Stomach Cramps, Diarrhea, Fatigue, Poor appetite, Cardiovascular Problems, Cancer, Back Pain, High blood Pressure, Asthma, Constipation, Viral Infections

8. Emotional Stress Indicators Stress can also be emotional: you can feel it when you worry about money, your job or a loved one's illness, or when you experience a devastating life event, such as the death of a spouse or the loss of a job. Key Indicators: Nervousness, Hostility, Depression, Low Self-worth, Apathy, Hypersensitivity, Poor Memory, Anger, Phobias, Low Self-confidence, Boredom, Annoy Easily, Poor Concentration

9. Behavioral Stress Indicators You can notice behavioral stress when you begin to act abnormally. If you are acting out of character then you might be experiencing behavioral stress. Key Indicators: Drug Abuse, Poor Relationships, Sleep Problems, Compulsive Thoughts, Nervous Fidgeting, Alcohol Abuse, Poor Performance, Sexual Performance Problems, Eating Problems

10. STRESS Can Lead To.. When negative stress is not addressed, it can affect many parts of your life. It can lead to depression, anxiety, lower self esteem and other mental health issues.

11. Drugs & Alcohol When under negative stress for long period of time people may turn drugs or alcohol Turning to drugs or alcohol to relieve stress is not a healthy channel of stress reduction Dangerous life altering consequences DUI, drug arrest, drug addiction, alcoholism Be responsible Enjoy alcohol but do so in moderation. Do not use alcohol as a stress reliever.

13. Personalizing is assuming external events are automatically being caused by or directed at yourself when in fact they are not

14. Selective Attention is ignoring accomplishments and positive experiences and focusing only on negative events and perceived failures. This colors your perception of all future experiences and you selectively look for only negative results and reactions

16. Should and Musts are punitive self-statements. They are based on the faulty belief that you are inherently bad or worthless. Therefore, the only way to motivate yourself or succeed in life is to beat and whip yourself into shape. You do this by placing unrealistic demands on yourself.

17. Dualistic Thinking is perceiving situations and people, including yourself, as either all good or all bad with no room in between.

19. Overcoming STRESS The key to coping with stress is to determine your personal tolerance levels for stressful situations. You must learn to accept or change stressful or tense situations whenever possible.

20. Relaxation Approach Deep Breathing Autogenics Visualization Progressive Muscular Relaxation Meditation Biofeedback

21. Maintain A Balance Within Your Life

22. STRESS Free Lifestyle Exercise. Thirty minutes of physical activity per day helps both body and mind. If you have an hour lunch break at the office, use half of it for a walk or a jog. Make plans with a coworker to do this a few times a week. Hobbies. Take a break and do something you enjoy. Adopt a healthy lifestyle. Get adequate rest, eat right, exercise, limit your use of caffeine and alcohol, and balance work and play. Share your feelings. Don't try to cope alone. Let friends and family provide support and guidance.

23. For More Information:Contact the Learning CenterFirst Floor of the Library717-477-1420 AIM participations will receive credit for viewing this Power Point presentation by answering the questions below and emailing your replies to aim@ship.edu. 1. Was this presentation useful? 2. Which part of the presentation did you find most useful? 3. Which part of the presentation was the least useful? 4. What are you going to do now based on what you have learned from this presentation?