stress well for schools: 1.2 what is stress

STRESS WELLby

Nicola Morgan

www.nicolamorgan.com

1.2What is stress?

You can control these much more than you think

SleepMood + feelings

Stress

Let’s talk about stress

When I was 13, I was

chased by a goose

Don’t laugh! I was scared!

I ran – extremely fast – and jumped a MASSIVE gate

How did I run and jump so well?

• Stress!• Brain instantly floods body with 2 chemicals:– Adrenalin – and cortisol

What do adrenalin and cortisol do?

• Heart beats faster and we breathe faster

What do adrenalin and cortisol do?

• Heart beats faster and we breathe faster– More blood rushes to brain and muscles– Blood carries oxygen and glucose (energy) to

where it’s needed

What do adrenalin and cortisol do?

• Heart beats faster and we breathe faster– More blood rushes to brain and muscles– Blood carries oxygen and glucose (energy) to

where it’s needed– So brain and muscles work REALLY well

The result?

• => SUPER-PERFORMANCE!

• That’s the point of stress: to make your body and brain perform brilliantly under pressure

• We feel nervous before an important event because of the stress chemicals

So, stress is good

• It doesn’t feel nice but it’s there to make us perform well

Two questions for you:

1. Can you think of things that can make us nervous before they happen?

The second question:

2. What do you feel like when you’re nervous?

Think of things that happen in your body. Does your behaviour or mood change?

STRESS WELLby

Nicola Morgan

www.nicolamorgan.com

Now you know what stress is

for