Chapter 8 Lesson 3

Managing stress

Stress In Your Life

• Stress – Body’s response to changes around you

• Distress – Negative stress

• Eustress – positive stress

Stress and Stressors

• Stressors – things that trigger stress

• Body responds to most stressors by getting ready to act

• “fight or flight” response

• One part of response is the release of Adrenaline

Fight or Flight Response

• 1. More blood is directed to your muscles and brain

• 2. Your heart beats faster

• 3. your muscles tighten up and are ready for action

Fight or Flight Response

• 4. Your air passages widen so that you can take in more air

• 5. Your senses sharpen. You become more alert

• 6. The level of sugar in your blood increases, which gives you extra energy

Stress and Fatigue

• Once the stressor is gone body’s response usually stops

• Fatigue usually sets in

Two Types of Fatigue

• Physical Fatigue – Extreme tiredness of the whole body

- Usually occurs after vigorous activity

• Psychological Fatigue – Extreme tiredness caused by your mental state

- Brought on by stress, worry, boredom, or depression

Time Management

• 1. Set Priorities

• 2. Make a Schedule

• 3. Learn to say no

Defense Mechanisms

• Denial – Refusal to accept reality

• Rationalization – Justifying behavior to avoid guilt or to be accepted

• Repression – blocking out unpleasant thoughts

Defense Mechanisms

• Displacement – having bad feelings toward someone not really related to the cause of the problem

• Projection – blaming someone else for your problems

Coping With Stress

Two ways to Cope with stress

– Eliminate stressor

– Avoid stressor

Managing Stress Effectively

• 1. Stay Healthy – Eat right, exercise

• 2. Talk – Talk things out

• 3. Redirect – Channel extra energy into something positive

• 4. Relax – Find something your enjoy and do that

• 5. Laugh – Laughter relieves stress