Understanding Stress
What is stress?
The mind & body's response to a challenge, demand, or change
What is eustress?
Positive stress that can increase motivation and improve performance.
What is a stressor?
Something that causes or triggers stress.
What are the three thinking patterns discussed in class?
Negative, positive, and realistic thinking.
How can getting enough sleep help manage stress?
It can improve concentration, mood, and energy.
Name 2 physical responses to stress
Faster heartbeat, rapid breathing, tense muscles, sweating
What is distress?
Negative stress that can cause someone to feel overwhelmed and negatively affect performance.
What is the difference between an internal and an external stressor?
Internal stressors come from within a person, such as thoughts and worries. External stressors come from outside a person, such as assignments or disagreements.
Identify the thinking pattern: "I'm going to fail no matter what."
Negative thinking.
Identify two healthy nutrition habits that may help manage stress.
Eating regular balanced meals and drinking enough water.
What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system during stress?
It activates the body's automatic stress response and prepares the body to react.
A student avoids completing a difficult assignment because they feel overwhelmed. Is this fight, flight, or freeze?
Flight.
Is thinking "I have to be perfect" an internal or external stressor?
Internal stressor
Identify the thinking pattern: "This test is difficult, but I can study and prepare."
Realistic thinking.
How can physical activity help reduce stress?
It can improve mood, release tension, and help the body relax.
Identify two physical and two emotional responses to stress.
Physical — increased heart rate and muscle tension. Emotional — nervousness and frustration.
Explain the difference between fight, flight, and freeze.
Fight involves confronting a challenge, flight involves avoiding or escaping it, and freeze involves becoming stuck or unable to respond.
Identify three common external stressors teenagers may experience.
School assignments, disagreements with friends, and changes in schedules.
How can negative thinking affect someone's emotions, physical responses, and behavior?
Negative thinking can increase worry or fear, contribute to physical tension, and lead to avoidance or difficulty concentrating.
Explain how excessive screen time and procrastination can increase stress.
Excessive screen time can interfere with sleep and concentration. Procrastination can cause assignments to pile up, creating additional pressure.
Explain the difference between short-term and long-term stress and give one example of each.
Short-term stress lasts a brief period, such as nervousness before a test. Long-term stress continues over an extended period, such as ongoing pressure from schoolwork.
Two athletes are preparing for the same championship game. One feels excited and motivated, while the other feels overwhelmed and afraid of making mistakes. Identify which athlete is experiencing eustress and which is experiencing distress. Explain why.
The excited athlete is experiencing eustress, while the overwhelmed athlete is experiencing distress. People can interpret the same situation differently based on their thoughts, confidence, and experiences.
A student has three tests scheduled on the same day and keeps thinking, "I'm going to fail all of them." Identify the external and internal stressors and explain how they are connected.
The three scheduled tests are the external stressor. Worrying about failing is the internal stressor. The student's negative thoughts may increase the stress caused by the tests.
A student thinks, "Everyone is going to laugh at me during my presentation." Rewrite this thought into a realistic and supportive statement and explain how it may reduce stress.
"I might feel nervous, but I can practice and prepare. Making a mistake does not mean everyone will laugh at me." This thought may reduce worry by focusing on preparation and what the student can control.
A student has three assignments due Friday, stays up late scrolling through social media, and skips breakfast before school. Identify two unhealthy habits, explain how they may increase stress, and suggest two improvements.
Staying up late and skipping breakfast are unhealthy habits. They may decrease energy, concentration, and mood. The student could limit screen time before bed, follow a consistent sleep schedule, eat breakfast, or organize assignments throughout the week.