Coping with Stress

� Efforts to control, reduce, or learn to tolerate the threats that lead to stress are known as coping.

Steps To Managing Stress

Step 1: Identify if you are stressed.

� Step 2: Identify the stressor.

Steps To Managing Stress

� Step 3: Identify the reason for the stressor.

Steps To Managing Stress

� Step 4: Select an appropriate stress management strategy and apply it.

Steps To Managing Stress

Relief from stressStop shallow breathing

Create the habit of deep breaths

Visualize and communicate your vision

Laugh

Be aware of your choices; you always have a choice

Learn to say no; you cannot do everything you are asked.

Be thankful

Do nothing. That's right, folks, do nothing at all. Close the door, open the window, have a seat, and take a little break from life. If your mind is racing, learn to meditate and just let that stress go.

ABC Strategy

A = Awareness

B = Balance

C = Control

So enjoy your life as it comes ………..and always be happy

STUDENT STRESS RATING SCALEThe following are events that occur in the life of a college student. Place a check in the left-hand column for each of those events that has happened to you during the last 12 months.___ Death of a close family member - 100 points

____ Jail term - 80 points

____ Final year or first year in college - 63 points

____ Pregnancy (to you or caused by your) - 60 points

____ Severe personal illness or injury - 53 points

____ Marriage - 50 points

____ Any interpersonal problems - 45 points

____ Financial difficulties - 40 points

____ Death of a close friend - 40 points

____ Arguments with your roommate (more than every other day) - 40 points

____ Major disagreements with your family - 40 points’

____ Major change in personal habits - 30 points

____ Change in living environment - 30 points

____ Beginning or ending a job - 30 points

____Problems with your boss or professor - 25 points

____ Outstanding personal achievement - 25 points

____ Failure in some course - 25 points

____ Final exams - 20 points

____ Increased or decreased dating - 20 points

____ Changes in working conditions - 20 points

____ Change in your major

____ Change in your sleeping habits - 18 points

____ Several-day vacation - 15 points

____ Change in eating habits - 15 points

____ Family reunion - 15 points

____ Change in recreational activities - 15 points

____ Minor illness or injury - 15 points

____ Minor violations of the law - 11 points

Score: _________________

INTERPRETING YOUR SCORE

� Less than 150 points : relatively low stress level in � relation to life events� 150 - 300 points : borderline range� Greater than 300 points : high stress in relation to life� events

� Note: From Girdano, D.A., Everly, G. S., Jr., & Dusek, D. E. (1990). Controlling stress and tension (3rd edition), ENnglewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Conclusion:

� Stress can be overwhelming, and nearly impossible to get through life without encountering. Learn to identify those situations you can do something about and those you can't. Work at reducing the cause of your stress by being organized.