STRESS 101
Stress is your body and mind's response to what?
Demands, challenges, or pressure
TRUE or FALSE: Stress can be a trigger for substance use
TRUE
Can you control another person's behavior?
NO
TRUE OR FALSE: Not getting enough sleep can make stress harder to manage
TRUE
What is the largest animal on Earth?
BLUE WHALE
TRUE or FALSE: All stress is bad for you
FALSE: Some stress can motivate us or help us respond to challenges
Why might someone feel tempted to use substances when they're stressed?
They may want quick relief, distraction, or escape from uncomfortable feelings
Can you control how you respond to another person's behavior?
YES
What chemical found in coffee and energy drinks can increase feelings of jitteriness or anxiety?
CAFFEINE
TRUE OR FALSE: Cows have best friends
TRUE: Research shows that cows form preferred social bonds
What are the 3 common automatic stress responses that start with F?
Fight, flight, freeze
Why can using substances to manage stress sometimes create MORE stress later?
It can create additional consequences or problems without resolving the original stressor
SCENARIO: You're stressed about a test next week. Name one part of the situation that you can control
EXAMPLES:
- Studying
- Asking for help
- Preparing
- Getting enough sleep
Name one way that physical activity can help with stress
What is a group of flamingos called?
A. a sparkle
B. a flamboyance
C. a fabulous
D. a pinkening
B. FLAMBOYANCE
Name one reason chronic stress can make everyday problems feel harder to handle
It can affect sleep, mood, concentration, energy, and our ability to regulate emotions
What is one warning sign that stress may be increasing someone's risk of returning to substance use?
EXAMPLES:
- Increased cravings
- Isolating
- Glorifying past use
- Stopping coping skills
- Irritability
- Reaching out to people associated with use
What can happen when we spend too much energy trying to control things that are outside of our control?
Stress & frustration can increase
About how many hours of sleep do most teens need each night?
8 - 10 hours
Which fruit is technically a berry?
A. strawberry
B. raspberry
C. Banana
D. cherry
C. BANANA
What is the difference between ACUTE stress and CHRONIC stress?
Acute Stress = short-term
Chronic Stress = continues over a longer period of time
SCENARIO: You have a strong craving after an extremely stressful day. Name 3 things you could do before deciding whether to use
EXAMPLES: Delay the decision, contact support, change environments, use a coping skill, play the tape forward, distract yourself, eat / rest, identify the trigger
SCENARIO: Someone is spreading a rumor about you. Name one thing you can control and one thing you can't control
CONTROL: Your response / actions
CANNOT CONTROL: What the other person says or does
Name 3 basic needs that are easy to neglect when you're stressed
EXAMPLES: food, sleep, water, hygiene, social connection
What is the technical term for a brain freeze?
A. Cranial frostbite
B. Frozen sinus syndrome
C. Cold-induced brain shock
D. Sphenopalatine Ganglioneuralgia
D. Sphenopalatine Ganglioneuralgia