Stress ManagementA glass of water: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rxjp-fkuc-U

What is Stress?

Causes/Factors?

Managing StressWe all respond to stress differently so, there is no “one size fits all” solution to managing stress

If you feel like the stress in your life is out of control, it is time to take action

Stress management can teach you:

Healthier ways to cope with stress

Help you reduce its harmful effects

Prevent stress from spiralling out of control again in the future

Managing Stress

Identifying the Stressor(s)

Look closely at what is causing you stress

Until you accept responsibility for the role you play in creating/maintaining it, your stress level will remain outside your control

Stress JournalIt can help you identify the regular stressors in your life and the way you deal with them

Each time you feel stressed, keep track of it in your journal. As you keep a daily log, you will begin to see patterns and common themes.

Write down:

What caused your stress (make a guess if you’re unsure)

How you felt, both physically and emotionally

How you acted in response

What you did to make yourself feel better

Good Stress vs. Bad StressEustress is the good stress that motivates you to continue working

Stress can be a motivator and provide incentive to get the job done

Everyone needs a little bit of stress in their life in order to continue to be happy, motivated, challenged and productive

Good Stress vs. Bad StressBad stress, or distress is when the good stress becomes too much to bear or cope with

Tension builds, there is no longer any fun in the challenge, there seems to be no relief, no end in sight

This is the kind of stress most of us are familiar with

Physiological symptoms of distress include:

An increase in blood pressure

Rapid breathing

Generalized tension

Behavioural symptoms include overeating, loss of appetite, drinking, smoking and negative coping mechanisms

Healthy or Unhealthy?

Think about the ways you currently manage and cope

with stress in your life(A stress journal can help

you identify them)

Are your coping strategies healthy or unhealthy, helpful

or unproductive?

Strategies to Manage Stress

There are many ways to manage stress. The following are just a selection of some ways to manage stress

Not all of these strategies will work for everyone — You must find what works for YOU

Strategies to Manage Stress

1. Find out what the stressor is

Take action on the stress

Make a to-do list

Sort which stressors are most important to complete first

Strategies to Manage Stress

2. Exercise and Eat Healthy

Physical activity is a great way to relieve some stress

Eating healthy makes your body feel better — eating unhealthy food causes a lack of energy, feeling worse about your choices

Strategies to Manage Stress

3. Make time for doing something you ENJOY!

Helps alleviate the stress

Once you have had some time away from the stress you might be able to look at the stress in a different way

Strategies to Manage Stress

4. Spend time with people you love!

Strategies to Manage Stress

5.

Strategies to Manage Stress

6. Have a Positive Attitude!

Keep a positive, realistic attitude

Accept that although you can’t control certain things, you’re in charge of how you respond

Islam…a way of lifeOur deen teaches us how to deal with stress and anxiety

as well

Strategies to Manage Stress7. Develop a “stress relief toolbox”

Come up with a list of healthy ways to relax and recharge. Try to implement one or more of these ideas each day, even if you’re feeling good

• Go for a walk

• Spend time in nature

• Call a good friend

• Play a competitive game of tennis

• Write a journal

• Take a long bath

• Light scented candles

• Savour a warm cup of coffee or tea

• Play with a pet

• Work in your garden

• Get a massage

• Curl up with a good book

• Listen to music

• Watch a comedy

Stress Tool Box

We will create our own Stress Tool Box of

techniques to manage stress