Stress Management for Life

Chapter 1 Stress in Todays World

Opening Questions
Is stress always bad? Is stress inevitable or can I do something about it? Is successful stress management a result of heredity or environment?

Student Objectives
Define stress and stressor Define and explain the difference between eustress and distress Differentiate between acute, acute episodic, and chronic stress

Student Objectives
Relate stress to the five dimensions of holistic health Discuss some of the most common stressor affecting college students today

Got Stress?
Students self-ratings of emotional health dropped to record low in 2010

FYI

Responses from 200,000 first-time full-time students entering college across the U.S.

Got Stress?
Findings:
Fewer students are reporting above average emotional health Students feel increasingly overwhelmed before entering college twice as many females than males
Sources: The American Freshman: National Norms. Fall 2010, UCLA Higher Education Research Institute. Retrieved February 11, 2011 from http://gseis.ucla.edu/heri.

FYI

What is Stress?
Stress a demand made upon the adaptive capacities of the mind and body

Three important aspects of stress:

1. Your personal view of stressor
2. Your reaction to events in life 3. Stress is a demand upon the bodys capacity

YerkesDodson Principle
A specific amount of stress is healthy, useful, and even beneficial

Examples?

Terminology of Stress
Good and Bad Stress
Stressor any event or situation that an individual perceives as a threat that causes him or her to adapt or initiate the stress response

Terminology of Stress
Eustress positive, desirable stress that keeps life interesting and helps motivate and inspire Distress negative effects of stress that drain us of energy and surpass our capacity to cope

Terminology of Stress
Acute and Chronic Stress
Acute stress results from a shortterm stressor Episodic acute stress perpetually in the clutches of acute stress

Terminology of Stress
Chronic stress long-term stress resulting from those nagging problems that just dont seem to go away

Holistic Health
Understanding Health
Health is more than just the absence of disease Health is more than just physical

Dimensions of Health
Physical Health
When cells, tissues, organs and systems are in working order

Intellectual Health
The ability to think, learn, assess, and question

Dimensions of Health
Emotional Health
Experiencing wide range a of feelings and expressing them in appropriate ways

Spiritual Health
Principles and values that guide a person and give meaning and direction

Dimensions of Health
Social Health
Ability to relate to others and express care and concern for others

Putting It All Together

Physical Social

Spiritual

Intellectual

Emotional

Nature versus Nurture

Factors influencing impact of stress
Heredity Environment Number/Magnitude of stressors Subjective Meaning of stressor

Developmental level of individual

Availability of social support

Invest your time and energy where it matters most!

Research HIGHLIGHT
Stress and the Developing Brain
Positive and negative experiences, chronic stressors, and other environmental factors may influence a young childs developing brain
- Cortisol - Rat pups and young monkeys

Sources of Stress
Time Management

Personal Expectations
Family Expectations and Family Life

Employment Decisions and Finances

School Pressures

Living Arrangements

Sources of Stress
Relationship Difficulties

Physical Health Issues

Environmental Stressors

Information Overload
Choices

Daily Hassles

Three Basic Approaches

- Eliminate the stressor - Change your thinking

- Manage the stress

LAB
Dimensions of Health
Review: List 2 specific things you currently do in each dimension to help you manage/control stress

Respond: Plan and implement specific action to improve stress in one dimension Reflect: Reflect on how you felt

Key Points
Stress is a demand upon the adaptive capacities of mind and body Eustress is positive, desirable stress Distress is negative, energy-draining stress Stress can be acute, episodic acute, or chronic

Key Points
A stressor causes us to adapt or initiate the stress response Health is more than just the absence of disease Holistic health encompasses physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, and social dimensions