The body and minds

reaction to everyday
demands or threats.
Stress can be useful
or harmful, energizing
or exhausting.
How each person
reacts to the stressful
situation, will often
determine the effect
it will have on the
person

Stress:
Stress: neutral
stress which often
challenges people in
their day to day tasks

School
Work
Athletics
Obligations
Deadlines
Expectations

Eustress:
Eustress: positive
stress which helps
people to meet their
goals

Scoring the winning

points in a game
Getting a new job
Going on a date
Getting a promotion
Getting a good grade
Being recognized for
a job well done

Distress:
Distress: negative
stress which can
cause too much
pressure and
trauma in ones life

Overworked
Failing a class
Parents divorce
Getting fired from a
job
Death of a loved one

Stressors:
The source of stress in
each persons life;
people, places, and
things that cause
stress in day to day life

Biological
Environmental
Cognitive
Personal Behavior
Life Situations

Common Stressors:
Health
Problems

School
Family

Drugs/
Alcohol

Jobs

YOU
Girlfriend/
Boyfriend

Finances

Future
Plans Activities
Sports

Peers

Identify Stressors in Your

Life

Stress Response:
Alarm-Initial Reaction: the 1st stage of
the response to the stressful situation; when
the body and mind are on high alert and the
stress response is initiated.

Stress Response:
Resistance Response: the 2nd stage
of the response to the stressful situation;
when the body is attempting to repair any
damage that has been done by the stress.

Stress Response:
Fatigue-Exhaustion:
the 3rd stage
of the response to the stressful situation;
when the stress is not adequately dealt
with, the body breaks down and health
problems result.

Reacting & Responding to

Stressors:

Stress Tolerance:
The amount of stress
that someone can
handle before they
reach a state of too
much stress and they
experience fatigue
and breakdown

Warning Signs of
Overstressed:
Severe Headaches or Migraines
Nausea, Diarrhea, Vomiting, Constipation
Chronic Fatigue-Lack of Energy
Insomnia (Sleeplessness)
Lack of Memory-Unable to Concentrate
Irregular Menstruation
Decreased Sex Drive
Lack of Appetite
Emotional Mood Swings

Impact of Stress
Stress can significantly affect many of the
body's immune systems, as can an
individual's perceptions of, and reactions
to, stress.

Stress Can Relate to

Health Problems
Drug and/or Alcohol Abuse
Loneliness and Depression
Suicide Attempts
Psychological Problems
Ulcers
Stroke
Heart Attack
Emotional or Mental Illness
Weakened Immune System-Frequent Illness

Stress and Personalities:

Type A:

competitive, high achieving;

thrives on high stress lifestyle

Type B:

laid back, non-competitive;

avoids stressful situations

Passive:

wimpy, crumbles under pressure,

easily influenced by others

Assertive:

firm and positive, stands up for

personal beliefs, takes control of
situations, influences others
in a positive way

Aggressive:

hostile, forceful, intimidating,

bullys beliefs on others

Ego Defense Mechanism

EGO:

Self
DEFENSE:

Protection
MECHANISM:

Strategies used to help

reduce stress levels when
stressful situations occur

Common Ego Defense

Mechanisms:
Rationalization: making excuses and justifying behavior to
cover up the stressful situation
Denial: pretending that the stressful situation never occurred
Ex. An older person you know is ill, but you do not believe
the person may die.
Projection: blaming someone else to avoid being stressed by
the situation
Ex. If you are angry with your brother, you may project your
anger on him by saying What are you so mad about?
Displacement:
taking out frustration on someone or
something that had nothing to do with the stressful situation
Ex. Your boss made you stay late for work. You are angry,
but afraid to say anything. When your mother calls, you yell
at her for asking a simple question. You displaced the anger.

Common Ego Defense

Mechanisms:
Substitution: replacing one action for
another to conceal the stressful situation
Compensation: settling for something
less than what was expected to relieve
stress
Regression: resorting to child-like
behaviors to relieve the stress

Interpersonal Conflicts:
Stress caused by conflicts between two
people or groups of people

Arguments or disagreements with other

people

Internal Conflicts:
Stress caused by conflicts that occur
within the person themselves

Being torn between doing what is right for the

moment, and what is right in the long run

Conflict Resolution
Strategy:
T: Take a Time Out (at
least 30 minutes)

A: Allow Each Person

To Present Their
Point of View

L: Let Each Person Ask

Questions

K: Keep Brainstorming
to Find the Best
Solution for Both
Parties

Stress Management Skills:

Set & Prioritize Goals
Budget Your Time
Learn to Say No
Slow Down
Take a Time Out
Relax & Have Fun
Get Regular Exercise
Eat Healthy
Get 7-10 hrs. of Sleep
per Night
Have a Support System

Coping Strategies:
Be flexible when plan
A doesnt work out
Take a Power Nap
when needed
Talk your problems
out with a friend or a
professional
If your Lost, stop and
ask for directions
Laugh and Have Fun

Just Be