STRESSAimee Sauvageau, Health Education

The reaction of the body and mind to everyday challenges and demands.

STRESS!

•Life Situations:-School Demands-Problems with friends, bullying-Peer Pressure-Family Problems, Abuse-Moving or Changing Schools-Breaking Up with a Girlfriend/Boyfriend

Stressors for Teens

•Environmental-Unsafe neighborhood-Media-Natural Disasters-Threat of terrorist attacks-WarGlobal Warming

Stressors for Teens

• Biological - Changes in Body-Illness-Injury-Disability

Stressors for Teens

• Cognitive (Thinking)-Poor Self-Esteem-Personal Appearance-Not Fitting In

Stressor for Teens

• Personal Behavior- Taking on a busy schedule-Relationship issues-Smoking-Using alcohol or other drugs

Stressors for Teens

Eustress-good stressDistress-bad stressStressor-anything that causes stress.

Examples?

Types of Stress

-Stress can actually increase performance. -Stress to the left of the midpoint can be thought of as eustress, or positive -Stress beyond the midpoint is thought to decrease performance or health and can be thought of as distress, or negative. -Find the optimal level of stress to produce greatest level of performance.

Yerks-Dodson Curve/Principle

EUSTRESS

STRESS IS NOT ALWAYS A BAD THING

• Motivation• Make you want to do better• Can be used for positive events

Examples:-Sports Games-Making Assignment Deadlines-Job Interviews-Going on a Date-Getting Ready for a Trip-Others?

DISTRESS

A result of an unpleasant stressor

• Caused from an unpleasant event• Could have negative effects on the all areas of the health triangle• Could interfere with your ability to perform• Could cause you to feel distracted, overwhelmed, impatient, frustrated, or even angry.

Examples:-Tests-Family Changes-Public Speaking-Accidents-Others?

How Do Your Body Respond to Stress?

Examples? How did your body respond to the test?

Psychosomatic Response: a physical reaction that results form stress rather than from an injury or illness.

-Dry Mouth-Excessive Perspiration-Frequent Illness-Gastrointestinal Problems-Grinding of Teeth-Headaches-High Blood Pressure-Pounding Heart-Stiff Neck or Aching Lower Back-Decreased Immune System

Physiological Effects of Stress

-Anxiety or edginess-Depression-Fatigue-Impulsiveness-Inability to concentrate-Irritability-Trouble remembering

Emotional Symptoms

-Crying-Disrupted eating habits-Disrupted sleeping habits-Harsh treatment to others-Increased use of drugs, alcohol & tobacco-Problems communicating-Sexual problems-Social isolation

Behavioral Symptoms

-Homeostasis-Autonomic Nervous System-Parasympathetic Nervous System

Physical Responses to Stressors

-Physiological response occurs in the body when a threat or stressor is presented. Body prepares itself to either fight or flee. -The body gives the CNS a signal and it responds by altering the body to react to the stimulus: Keeps the Necessary’s

Fight-or-Flight

http://cmhc.utexas.edu/stressrecess/Level_One/fof.html

Fight or Flight

Fight or Flight, Bodies Responses

Pupils dilate Decreases saliva Bronchi Dilate Perspiration

Increases Intestines

Slow/Stop Bladder Relaxes

Blood Vessels Contract

Increased Hearing Heart Rate Increase Muscles Contract Body Prepares to

use Oxygen Fat is used for extra

Energy

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Hans Selye

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

GAS: the process in which the body tries to accommodate to the stress placed on it by attempting to adapt to it.

Three stages: alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Alarm: When the threat or stressor is identified or realized, the body's stress response is a state of alarm. During this stage adrenaline will be produced, initiating fight-or-flight.

Resistance: If the stressor persists, the body attempts to cope. Although the body tries to adapt to the stress, the body cannot keep this up forever, so its resources are gradually depleted.

Exhaustion: Eventually reality kicks in and our bodies give up on trying to maintain a high level of stress. Parts of the body start to break down and illness/sickness may occur. (ulcers, depression, diabetes, digestive systems, cardiovascular, colds/flu)

• Cardiovascular Disease• Colds and other Infections• Asthma and Allergies• Cancer• Chronic Disease Flare-Up• Psychological Problems

• Digestive Problems• Headaches• Insomnia and Fatigue• Injuries (distraction)• Pregnancy Complications• Type 2 Diabetes

Stress is Linked with…….