Causes of STRESS
What is positive stress called?
Eustress
Name one physiological change of the stress response
Increased heart rate, release of hormones, sweating, dilated pupils
Name the two types of coping
Emotion focused and Problem focused
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 risk factors for your mental health
Substance use
Sleeping too much
Ignoring the problem
Negative thinking
Eating too much
Mental Health Issues are rare
Myth. 1 in 4 adults over 18 has a mental health diagnosis. 1 in 6 children has a mental health diagnosis
True or False: All stress is bad
False
What are some physical symptoms of stress?
Low energy, headaches, upset stomach, tense muscles, rapid heart beats, insomnia, frequent colds or infections, dry mouth, nervousness, and more.
Name two problem focused coping strategies
Making a plan
Facing the problem head on
Explain how exercise works to help reduce stress
Uses up stress hormones
Releases endorphins
Releases tension from muscles
List one biological protective factor
Test anxiety cannot be reduced
Good news! Yes it can! It is a learned response that can be unlearned. Here are a few simple strategies to help control and conquer test anxiety.
• Prepare well. It sounds obvious, but it's true. Review all material from class daily. Do not wait until a quiz or test is announced to begin review
• Practice deep breathing or relaxation techniques
• Develop good test-taking skills. Break tests into smaller parts. Work on the easier parts first.
• Ask to take your tests alone and not with the class
• Ask the teacher to give you an oral test before or after school or during lunch
• Stay positive
• Get a good night's sleep
• Exercise and eat healthy
• Listen to music
List two examples of external stressors that can cause negative stress
Loss of job, death of a family member, extreme heat
How does stress affect muscles?
Muscles become more tense, shoulders and neck may ache
Name 2 emotion focused coping skills
What is the evolutionary purpose of the stress response?
In response to danger, your body prepares to face a threat or flee to safety.
List one psychological risk factor
over thinking, negative thought patters
Any level of test anxiety is bad
On the contrary, having a small amount of test anxiety can be helpful. The desire to get the right answer can be motivating, can cause us to focus and set in motion our learning skills. A healthy amount of nerves can help us rise to the occasion.
What are some common causes of internal stress?
Pessimism, inability to accept uncertainty, Rigid thinking, Lack of flexibility
Name four organs that are affected by stress.
Brain, heart, lungs, Stomach, Kidney, liver
What is it called when coping skills are not helpful or adaptive
Maladaptive
Name the 3 Fs. for a bonus 100 points name the 4th F
Fight - Flight - Freeze
Fawn
List one social factor that is protective
Friends, family, access to services
Stress and anxiety are the same
False.
Stress, like anxiety, is an emotional response.
Stress is usually caused by an external trigger, like taking an exam or getting into a fight with a friend. Anxiety, on the other hand, can be an internally created fear that seems to take on a life of its own.
Both have a similar set of symptoms: fatigue, difficulty concentrating, anger or irritability, and trouble with sleeping. Unlike stress, clinical anxiety is not short-term and does not go away after the stressor is taken away.
Fear vs. Anxiety
Fear is the emotional response to a real or perceived threat. Anxiety is the anticipation of a future threat. People also use the word “anxiety” to describe lingering nervousness or a constant sense of tension or worry.
Name 2 hormones that are released during a stress response
Long term or chronic stress can cause... (mental or physical)
Name two of your own coping skills
ANY
Name the part of the brain that interprets a situation as stressful
What part of the brain consolidates learning and memory of stressful events
Hippocampus
2 in 5 adults experience anxiety and 2 in 5 adults experience depression
Fact. At least 40 million adults experience anxiety and 40 million adults experience depression in the United States