What's stress?
What is stress?
The body's reaction to pressure, challenges, or difficult situations.
Name one physical sign that someone might be stressed.
Headache, stomachache, tense muscles, fast heartbeat, sweating, etc.
You have to play in an important game and you're stressed about losing. What can you control, and how could focusing on it help?
You can control your preparation, effort, attitude, and how you respond during the game.
The goal of stress management is to never feel stressed.
Myth — stress is a normal part of life; the goal is learning how to manage it.
External stress is caused by something happening outside of you. Name a common external stressor.
What are two emotions someone might feel when they are stressed?
Angry, worried, frustrated, overwhelmed, sad, etc.
Where might someone feel tension in their body when stressed? Name one place.
Shoulders, neck, stomach, jaw, head, etc.
Why's it helpful to have more than one coping skill?
Different situations may require different coping skills.
You can control what you do about a stressful situation even when you can't control the situation itself.
Fact.
Internal stress comes from your thoughts, worries, expectations, or feelings. Name a common internal stressor.
Self doubt, perfectionism, negative self-talk, anxiety or depression, procrastination or lack of motivation.
Give an example of when stress could be helpful.
It can motivate someone to study for a test, prepare for a competition, or pay attention to danger.
Name two ways stress can affect someone's sleep.
Trouble falling asleep, waking up frequently, sleeping too much, nightmares, etc.
Journaling
If you're using a coping skill but still feel stressed afterward, the coping skill didn't work.
Myth — a coping skill can help lower your stress without making it disappear completely.
Name a time when someone may experience short term stress.
Giving a presentation, meeting a deadline, or experiencing a near-miss accident
Name two ways stress can affect a person.
Physically, emotionally, mentally, or behaviorally.
How could stress affect someone's eating habits?
Overeating or undereating
What's the difference between a coping skill and avoiding a problem?
A coping skill helps you manage your feelings so you can handle the situation; avoidance means continually running away from or ignoring the problem.
You can control other people's reactions if you use the right coping skill.
Myth, you can never control how other people react
Name a time when someone may experience long term stress.
Ongoing financial problems, workplace pressures, caregiving for someone with a chronic illness
What is the difference between a stressor and stress?
A stressor is something that causes stress; stress is the reaction to it.
Name one behavioral sign of stress.
Nail biting, pacing, avoiding people, etc.
You have a huge test tomorrow and you're stressed. Would making a study plan be considered a coping skill? Why or why not?
Yes, it's a way to help manage the stress. It's a problem-focused coping skill.
You can choose whether or not you experience an emotion.
Myth- you can't always control what you feel, but you can work on how you respond.
A friend doesn't respond to your text for three hours. You start thinking, "They're probably mad at me." Why is this an example of external AND internal stress?
The unanswered text is the external stressor; the thought that they're mad at you is internal stress