Stress In Your Life

• Stress is an unavoidable part of life

• If positive It can make life fun and exciting

• If negative it can severely impact your physical and mental health

Stress and the Brain

• Scientists have determined that in some people, stress upsets a delicate balance among brain chemicals called neurotransmitters

• This imbalance may cause sleep disturbances, panic attacks, and low enjoyment of life

• The first signs of such an imbalance can include trouble falling asleep, waking up often during the night, vivid dreams followed by lack of energy and depression

Stress Tolerance

• Amount of stress that you can handle before you reach a state of too much stress

Stress and Your Personality Type

• Personality is another factor in how you handle stress

• Some psychologists have grouped people into 2 types – TYPE A and TYPE B

Type A Personality

• Competitive, high achieving personality type that is most likely to develop heart disease

Type B Personality

• Seen as laid back, non-competitive personality type less likely to suffer fro heart disease

• May hold on to stress and be more susceptible to stress related disorders

The Hardy Personality

• Seems able to stay healthy despite major or even traumatic stressors

3 characteristics of Hardy Personality

• Change - Likes and welcomes change, viewing it as an opportunity for growth

• Commitment – strong sense of purpose and is committed to people, activities and principles that bring meaning to their life

• Control – feels influence over what happens in life, and recognizes that some things can’t be controlled

Stress During Adolescence

• Learning what stressors are common among teens can help you cope

• So can sharing feelings of stress with peers

• Reminds you your not alone

Stress and the Body – Mind Connection

• Too much pressure can raise the blood pressure, weaken the immune system, and cause other health problems

Stress and High Blood Pressure

• Mental and emotional stress an cause an increase In your levels of cholesterol, the fatty substance that blocks arteries

Stress and Headaches

• Most adults and half of all teens get headaches

• Most related to tension

• When stressed muscles in the head and neck contract

Migraine Headaches

• Can be triggered by stress, fluorescent lights, hormone changes, air pressure changes

• Arteries to brain narrow, blood flow to the brain decreases

• When arteries open up again endings press into the artery walls causing severe throbbing, loss of balance and changes in mood

Stress and Asthma

• Stress can help to trigger asthma

• It is important that you try to keep your stress level low

Stress and the Immune Response

• Prolonged exposure to stress can hurt the immune response

• Body cannot fight disease as well as it might if you had not gone under so much stress

• You may be more prone to colds, flu or even more severe infections or cancers

Psychosomatic Response to Stress

• Physical disorder that results from stress rather than from an injury or illness

• Psycho – of the mind

• Somatic – of the body

• May be minor or severe

Recognizing Signs of Stress

• Physical signs- Headaches, trembling or twitching, upset stomach, migraines, sweating, rash, grinding teeth, diarrhea

• Emotional Signs - frustration, nervousness, boredom, edginess, worrying, loneliness, confusion, crying

Recognizing signs of Stress

• Mental Signs – trouble reading or thinking clearly, lack of creativity, constant worry, obsessive thoughts

• Behavioral Signs – not eating, overeating, compulsive talking, verbal or physical outbursts, drugs, alcohol