Slides Adapted from Hawkins, C. (2011). What is Stress? HLT 215, TNCC

Individual Activity

› Make a list of 10-15 current stressors in your life

› Rank your top 5 stressors

Stress› demand on the adaptive capacities of body and

mind Stressor

› any event or situation which is perceived by the individual as a threat and results in the individual either adapting or initiating the stress response

Stressor = stimulus (cause) Stress = response (effect)

Eustress› Positive, desirable stress› Keeps life interesting › Motivates or inspires› Examples . . .

Distress› Negative effects of stress that drain us of

energy and suppress our ability to cope› Examples . . .

Unique to the individual

We need some stress in our lives

U-shaped curve Finding the ‘happy medium”

Too little stress Too much stress

Image retrieved from www.intmath.com/.../HTML/probdist4_normal__2.png

Indicate if the stressors on your list are positive or negative.

You may do so by writing a + or – next to each stressor.

When is stress problematic?› Duration› Degree

“Too much or too little is a bad thing.” We could add “for too long” also.

Think about a sunburn!

Acute

Chronic

Refer back to your list of current stressors and determine the duration of each stressor you listed.

Write acute or chronic next to each stressor.

Health Being sound in

body, mind, and spirit.

Not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, but a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being.

Wellness Purposeful,

enjoyable living. A deliberate

lifestyle choice characterized by personal responsibility and optimal enhancement of physical, mental, and spiritual health.

Physical Emotional Intellectual (mental) Social Spiritual Occupational

Physical Health

Good physical fitness and confidence in one’s personal ability to take care of health problems.

Emotional Health

Psychological health refers to both our emotional and mental states – that is, to our feelings and our thoughts.

Intellectual Health

Psychological health refers mental health – ability to think and learn from experiences, learn new information, ability to assess new information.

Spiritual Health

The ability to identify one’s basic purpose in life and to achieve one’s full potential; the sense of connectedness to a greater power.

Social Health The ability to interact effectively with other people and the social environment, to develop satisfying interpersonal relationships, and to fulfill social roles.

Occupational Health

Satisfaction from ones occupation. Both internal and external rewards

Eliminate the stressor Change your thinking Manage the stress

Oplin, M. & Hesson, M. (2013). Activities manual for stress management for life. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.

Oplin, M. & Hesson, M. (2013). Stress management for life: A research-based experiential approach. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth.

Seaward, B.L. (2006). Managing stress: principles and strategies for health and well-being. Sudbury, MA: Jones & Bartlett.

Websites and Images Images courtesy of Microsoft Office clip art Dimensions of Health Wellness Wheel Image from:

http://www.wellnessbuddha.com/articles/6-dimensions-of-good-health.html