STRESS
List two examples of events that can cause positive stress
Winning the lotto, getting a new house, getting married, birth of a child, promotion, etc
How does stress affect muscles?
Muscles become more tense, shoulders and neck may ache
True or False: Coping Skill is something you have to learn.
False: We all have coping skills, some may be more beneficial than others. Therapy can help to identify undesirable coping skills (ex. binge watching tv to reduce anxiety) and replace them with desired coping skills. (ex. art making to reduce anxiety)
True or False: All stress is out of your control
False: While some stress feels like it is being forced upon us, small changes in our daily lives can give us back feeling of control and the ability to choose where we spend our time & energy
List three negative stress management methods.
Substance use
Sleeping too much
Ignoring the problem
Negative thinking
Eating too much
True or False: Prioritizing your close relationships is shown to increase your happiness.
True!
The Harvard study is far from the only one to have found a link between our relationships and happiness. Ample research shows that people who are more socially connected live longer and are more protected against stress, depression and declines in memory and language.
True or False: All stress is bad
False: Eustress is positive stress (like getting married, having a baby, job interview)
What are the physical symptoms of stress
Low energy, headaches, upset stomach, tense muscles, rapid heart beats, insomnia, frequent colds or infections, dry mouth, nervousness, and more.
A natural way to get in shape and increase feelings of happiness is to ______.
What is exercise
True or False: Relaxing and staying calm can give you a stronger immune system
True: A stronger immune system. Stress weakens the immune system and makes you more vulnerable to illness. Relaxation and stress reduction help strengthen your natural defenses.
Instead of verbal outbursts, what is recommended when experiencing anger?
Wait it out, wait for your physiological responses, your physical reactions, to calm down.
Find a distraction, maybe use another person to talk to as a distraction.
Distance yourself. Walk away from it completely or mentally.
True or False: Happiness can be contagious
True!
Happiness is infectious. According to a study out of the British Medical Journal, we can feel happy just by being around other people who are happy. Happiness, the study therefore claims, is contagious. If someone is happy, they can make us happy, and we can in turn make someone else happy. It can go on forever.
List two examples of events that can cause negative stress
Loss of job, death of a family member, etc
True or False: Stress causes your heart to pump faster
True: Known as "fight or flight" Your heart pumps blood faster to your muscles, in case you need to run for your life
This coping skill requires you to write your thoughts down on paper.
What is journaling
True or False: Stress can save your life
True: Stress can motivate people to prepare or perform, like when they need to take a test or interview for a new job. Stress can even be life-saving in some situations. In response to danger, your body prepares to face a threat or flee to safety.
True or False: Chronic stress increases the risk of heart disease
True: an often-active sympathetic nervous system pulls blood away from the internal organs and out to the muscles. The liver is not getting the blood flow it needs to do it’s job = removing cholesterol and fat from the blood. So if left in the blood, it can end up in the heart and build up; causing heart attacks or heart failure.
This is the name of a condition that makes it harder for people to be happy in the winter months.
Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D)
What are some common mental causes of stress?
Pessimism/negativity, inability to accept uncertainty, Rigid thinking, Lack of flexibility
___% of people aged 12-18 experience stress that affects their physical health
75%!
Name one benefit of coping skills.
Ability to decrease unwanted symptoms, management of emotions, ability to be in-tune with our body's messages
Name one of the physical changes in the body during the "Fight or Flight" response.
Heart rate increases, Blood Thickens, Senses Sharpens, Heavier Breathing, Adrenaline Kicks In, sweaty palms,
____% reported that they ate too much or ate unhealthily due to stress.
60%
True or False: There is a limit to how much happiness money can buy
True! Research tells us that once people make above a certain salary it does not increase their happiness levels
True or False: Heightened stress can effect your senses (sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch)
True! Stress can impact the ability to retrieve memories, suppressing the connection in the brain that allows our senses to learn.
This is the name of the stress hormone
What is cortisol
___% of Canadians say work/school is a significant source of stress
65%!
Name 2 positive ways you relieve stress
EX: Exercise, talking with a loved one or professional, breathing exercises, going for a walk....
What is negative thinking?
Making a problem bigger than it really is, resulting in stress.
What is the happy hormone?
Dopamine