STRESS IS A PERSONS PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSE

STRESS IS A PERSON’S PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSE TO CHANGE.

CLASSIFICATION OF STRESS • POSITIVE STRESS • NEGATIVE STRESS • ACUTE STRESS • CHRONIC STRESS

WHAT CAUSES STRESS ? • LIFE EVENTS SUCH AS DIVORCE OR SEPARATION, DEATH OF A LOVED ONE, THE BIRTH OF A CHILD, MOVING, A MAJOR FINANCIAL SETBACK, EMPLOYMENT CHANGES OR BECOMING THE VICTIM OF A CRIME OR NATURAL DISASTER • DAILY EVENTS SUCH AS TRAFFIC CONGESTION, LONG COMMUTES, WORKING OVERTIME, DEADLINES, PERSONAL CONFLICTS, CAR TROUBLE, JOB STRESS, AND JUGGLING HOUSEHOLD CHORES AND CHILDCARE • ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS SUCH AS POLLUTION, WEATHER EXTREMES OR EXCESSIVE NOISE • PHYSICAL STRESSORS SUCH AS PHYSICAL INJURY, CHRONIC PAIN, TIRING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (SUCH AS TRAVELING), AND UNSATISFIED PHYSICAL NEEDS SUCH AS HUNGER, THIRST OR LACK OF SLEEP Continued….

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. DEATH OF A SPOUSE DIVORCE MARITAL SEPARATION IMPRISONMENT DEATH OF A CLOSE RELATIVE PERSONAL INJURY OR ILLNESS MARRIAGE FIRED FROM A JOB MARITAL RECONCILIATION RETIREMENT ILLNESS OF A RELATIVE PREGNANCY SEXUAL PROBLEMS BIRTH OR ADOPTION BUSINESS READJUSTMENT Continued…

16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. Change in financial status Death of a close friend Change to different work Increased arguments with spouse Mortgage or loan for major purchase Foreclosure on mortgage or loan Change in job responsibilities Child leaving home Problems with in-laws Outstanding personal achievement Spouse begins or stops work Begin or end school Change in living conditions Changing personal habits Problems with your boss Continued…

31. CHANGE IN WORK 32. HOURS/CONDITIONS 33. CHANGE IN RESIDENCE OR SCHOOL RECREATION 34. CHURCH OR SOCIAL ACTIVITIES 35. MORTGAGE OR LOAN 36. CHANGE IN SLEEPING HABITS 37. CHANGE IN FAMILY GATHERINGS 38. CHANGE IN EATING HABITS 39. VACATION 40. ANY FESTIVALS 41. MINOR LAW VIOLATION

PREDISPOSING FACTORS FOR STRESS • • GENETIC FACTORS INABILITY TO ADAPT INADEQUATE RELAXATION RESPONSE ACTIVITY VARIATIONS AGE PERSONALITY ISOLATION Environment

SYMPTOMS OF STRESS • Behavioral symptoms • Physical symptoms

BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS • TOO MUCH SLEEP (HYPERSOMNIA) OR TOO LITTLE SLEEP (INSOMNIA) • NIGHTMARES • NERVOUS HABITS LIKE NAILBITING OR FOOT-TAPPING • DECREASED SEX DRIVE • TEETH GRINDING • IRRITABILITY OR IMPATIENCE • CRYING OVER MINOR INCIDENTS • DREADING GOING TO WORK OR OTHER ACTIVITIES

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS • MIGRAINE OR TENSION HEADACHES • DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS LIKE HEARTBURN OR DIARRHEA • SHALLOW BREATHING OR SIGHING • COLD OR SWEATY PALMS • JAW PAIN, NECK PAIN, SHOULDER PAIN

EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF STRESS 1. Excessive fatigue 2. Gastric disturbance 3. Withdraw from social life 4. Menstrual problems 5. Speech difficulties 6. More impatient 7. Headaches 8. Infertility 9. Ulcers 10. Nail biting 11. Grinding teeth 12. Low blood sugar 13. High blood sugar

EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF STRESS-2 14. Need more sleep 15. Tired but can't sleep 16. Sudden weight loss 17. Sudden weight gain 18. Low blood pressure 19. High blood pressure 20 . Lack of coordination 21. Repeated influenza 22. Repeated colds 23. Muscle aches 24. Hair loss 25. Chest pain

EARLY WARNING SIGNS OF STRESS-3 1. Forgetfulness 2. Nervous talking 3. Lower back pain 4. Loss of appetite 5. Increased appetite 6. High cholesterol 7. High triglycerides

Physical signs and symptoms of stress • • • • Increased heart rate Pounding heart Elevated blood pressure Sweaty palms Tightness of the chest, neck, jaw, and back muscles Headache Diarrhea Constipation Urinary hesitancy Trembling Being easily startled Chronic pain and Dysponea • Twitching • Stuttering and other speech difficulties • Nausea • Vomiting • Sleep disturbances • Fatigue • Shallow breathing • Dryness of the mouth or throat • Susceptibility to minor illness • Cold hands • Itching

• • • • Emotional signs and symptoms of stress Irritability • Angry outbursts • Hostility • Depression Jealously • Restlessness • Withdrawal • Decreased perception of positive • Experience opportunities • Narrowed focus • Obsessive rumination • Reduced self-esteem • emotional response reflexes • Weakened positive emotional • response reflexes Anxiousness Diminished initiative Feelings of unreality or ove -alertness Reduction of personal involvement with others Lack of interest Tendency to cry Being critical of others Self-deprecation Nightmares Impatience Reduced self-esteem Insomnia Changes in eating habits

Cognitive/Perceptual Signs and Symptoms of Stress • Decreased • Forgetfulness psychomotor reactivity • Preoccupation and coordination • Blocking • Attention deficit • Blurred vision • Disorganization of thought • Errors in judging distance • Negative self-esteem • Diminished or • Diminished sense of exaggerated fantasy life meaning in life • Reduced creativity • Lack of control/need for too much control • Lack of concentration • Diminished productivity • Negative self • Lack of attention to detail statements and negative evaluation of • Orientation to the past experience

Behavioral Signs and Symptoms of Stress • Increased smoking • Aggressive behaviors (such as driving - road rage, etc. ) • Increased alcohol or drug use • Carelessness • Under-eating • Over-eating • Nervous laughter • Compulsive behavior • Impatience • Withdrawal • Listlessness • Hostility • Accident-proneness

Signs of Stress in The Workplace • Stress Arousal Stage • Persistent irritability and anxiety • Bruxism and/or Insomnia • Occasional forgetfulness and/or inability to concentrate • Stress Resistance Stage • Absenteeism or tardiness for work • Tired and fatigued for no reason • Procrastination and indecision • Social withdrawal with cynicism • Resentful, indifferent, defiant • Increased use of coffee, alcohol, tobacco, etc.

Severe Exhaustion Stage • Chronic sadness or depression • Chronic mental and physical fatigue • Chronic stress related illnesses (headache, stomach ache, bowel problems, etc. ) • Isolation, withdrawal, self-destructive thoughts

OUR BODY’S REACTION TO STRESS (GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME (GAS)) • ALARM REACTION • RESISTANCE OR ADAPTATION • EXHAUSTION

ALARM REACTION • MUSCLES TENSE • HEART BEATS FASTER • THE BREATHING AND PERSPIRATION INCREASES • THE EYES DILATE • THE STOMACH MAY CLENCH

RESISTANCE OR ADAPTATION • FATIGUE • CONCENTRATION LAPSES • IRRITABILITY AND LETHARGY

EXHAUSTION • DECREASED STRESS TOLERANCE • PROGRESSIVE MENTAL AND PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION • ILLNESS AND COLLAPSE

STRESS MANAGEMENT • BREATHING EXERCISE • RELAXATION EXERCISE • MEDITATION EXERCISE • AND PSHYCOLOGICAL COUNSELLING

HEALTHY STRATEGIES FOR RELAXATION • • STRETCHING TAKING A BATH TAKING A WALK PETTING AN ANIMAL TAKING A BREAK/VACATION GETTING A MASSAGE JOINING A SUPPORT GROUP PRAYING Continued….

HEALTHY STRATEGIES FOR RELAXATION • PAINTING, DRAWING, OR PLAYING A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT • ENGAGING IN A HOBBY • USING POSITIVE SELF-TALK (E. G. , “I CAN DO THIS”) • READING INSPIRATIONAL OR SPIRITUAL WORDS • WRITING IN A JOURNAL OR DIARY • CONFIDING IN, OR “VENTING” TO, A FRIEND • LISTENING TO RELAXING MUSIC OR AN INSPIRATIONAL TAPE • LISTENING TO RELAXATION TAPES (AVAILABLE FROM A COUNSELOR OR BOOKSTORE) ON WHICH A RECORDED VOICE GUIDES THE LISTENER IN RELAXING FROM HEAD TO TOE • WATCHING TELEVISION

EXAMPLES OF MANAGING STRESS • CHANGING UNREALISTIC GOALS (E. G. , NOT TRYING TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME) • CHANGING UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS (E. G. , NOT EXPECTING OTHERS TO BE PERFECT ALL THE TIME) • RE-PRIORITIZING (E. G. , MAKING TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF) • DELEGATING A TASK/CHORE TO SOMEONE ELSE (E. G. , NOT TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING ALONE) Continued….

EXAMPLES OF MANAGING STRESS • FORGIVING SOMEONE (E. G. , LETTING GO OF AN OLD GRUDGE) • PLANNING AHEAD (E. G. , BEING PREPARED FOR THE LITTLE SURPRISES THAT OFTEN ARISE) • VIEWING A STRESSOR AS CHALLENGING INSTEAD OF TERRIBLE, AWFUL, OR CATASTROPHIC • BECOMING MORE ASSERTIVE (E. G. , SPEAKING UP AND LEARNING TO SAY NO) • RESOLVING CONFLICTS THROUGH SHARING AND LISTENING, RATHER THAN ALLOWING CONFLICTS TO FESTER Continued….

EXAMPLES OF MANAGING STRESS • GETTING MORE SUPPORT (E. G. , ASKING FOR HELP INSTEAD OF TRYING TO “TOUGH IT OUT” ALONE) • AVOIDING QUARRELSOME PEOPLE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE (E. G. , NOT SEEKING OUT TROUBLE) • BRINGING MORE HUMOR INTO YOUR DAILY ROUTINE • TAKING A VACATION, BECAUSE STUDIES SUGGEST THAT NOT DOING SO MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF HEART DISEASE AND EARLY DEATH

TWO TYPES OF OPTION FOR CONTROLING STRESS • CHANGING THE SITUATION OR • LEARNING TO ACCEPT IT WITHOUT FEELING STRESS

THE FAMOUS SERENITY PRAYER: “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. ”

SUMMARY • GETTING ENOUGH SLEEP • EXERCISING REGULARLY • TO EAT A BALANCED DIET