STRESS

Stress

What is stress?

• Your body’s response to the environment

• What you feel when you react to pressure from others or from yourself.

How does your body handle stress?

• sweaty palms

• dry mouth

• knots in your stomach

Is all stress negative?

• NO!

For instance,

A little bit of stress can work in a positive way.

During a sports competition, stress might push you to perform better.

Fight or Flight Response

• Is the set of physical and emotional changes the human body makes when responding to a threat or stress. Your body has an adrenaline rush and prepares to stay and fight or run.

The body experiences:

Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Rapid breathing

Increased sweating

A sudden rush of strength

Slowed digestion

Dilated pupils

Learn better ways to manage your time. You may get more done with less stress if you make a

schedule.

Think about which things are most important, and do those first.

Find better ways to cope. Look at how you have been dealing with stress. Be honest about what

works and what does not. Think about other things that might work better.

Take good care of yourself. Get plenty of rest. Eat well.

Try out new ways of thinking. When you find yourself starting to worry, try to stop the thoughts.

Work on letting go of things you cannot change.

Learn to say “no.” Ask for help. People who have a strong network of family and friends manage stress better.