HW #11

Please describe yourself at all three stages of stress.

Aim: How can we cope with stress in our everyday lives?

Do Now: complete the How can I cope? Worksheet

Notes: Positive and negative ways to cope with stress
Positive: make a list and plan ahead, be by myself and think, talk with a friend, ask for help, stay organized, talk about how I feel, keep a schedule, listen to music, exercise, etc.
Negative: swear, yell, fight, break things, avoid the situation, internalize it, use drugs including alcohol, self-harm, suicide, overeating or over exercising, acting out violently.

Aim: How does stress affect our lives? (continued)

Notes: Homeostasis: balance.
When stress occurs, our body and mind are thrown out of homeostasis, and our body works to restore it. This is called the stress response, or general adaptation syndrome.

Notes- Stage 1: Alarm Stage: Fight or Flight- body’s immediate response to stress: heart and breathing rate increase, sweating, adrenaline rush, lump in throat (esophagus widens), pale skin, butterflies in stomach (decrease in blood flow to digestive system and surface of skin to increase blood flow to muscles). Headaches (increase in blood flow to brain so person may be more alert, pupils dilate).

Stage 2: Resistance Stage: Body attempts to return to normal (homeostasis- internal balance). Body function returns to normal.

Stage 3: Exhaustion Stage: Delayed stress prevents a return to homeostasis, body continues to function at elevated state, lowered resistance leads to illness, or in severe cases, organ failure and possible death

The third stage of the stress response is when the body becomes so taxed from consistent stress the body becomes physically ill. A person may also become emotionally tired, and may make rash or impulsive decisions that may result in further stress.

Aim: How does stress affect our lives?

Do now: Respond to the following scenarios:
You just arrived home from school to discover that your family is moving to Australia. What is your reaction? How do you feel? What do you say or do?
You study hard for a test and you end up failing. What is your reaction? How do you feel? What do you say or do?
You come home from school. Your parents tell you they are getting a divorce. What is your reaction? How do you feel? What do you say or do?

Notes:
Stressor: anything that brings about change, or causes stress in our lives that we have to adjust to.
Eustress: positive stress (can motivate us to achieve)
Distress: negative stress (can wear us out emotionally and physically)

Hw #10

In a paragraph please describe your most stressful day.

Quiz

Review

Study your notes.