Stress
What is stress?
the body’s response to a challenging or threatening situation as well as our emotional responses.
What is anger?
is a normal emotion that everybody experiences.
is a physical reaction in our body, often in response to a threat or problem.
What is an I statement?
I feel___when____.
OR
I feel ______ when______because______. What I need is ________
What is a coping skill?
Something that helps you feel better and manage anger or stress.
You're in a race and you pass the person in second place.
What place are you in now?
Second place.
What is one purpose of stress?
To respond quickly to difficult situations
OR
To perform well under pressure
What is the Anger Iceberg?
(Bonus 100 points if you can give an example)
The Anger Iceberg shows us that anger is a secondary emotion and often there are other emotions we are feeling when we are angry.
Ex: Someone is angry at their best friend for not inviting them to the movies with other people. They could also be feeling hurt, sad, or rejected.
How can you practice healthy communication in this situation?
You’re playing a video game when your mom gets home from work. She turns off the power and tells you to get going on homework—even though you don’t have any. All your progress in the game is lost.
I feel frustrated when you turn off my game because I worked hard to get to level I was on and I don't actually have any homework. What I need is for you to ask me about my homework before just turning off the power.
Name 2 skills that can help manage anger.
- deep breathing
- progressive muscle relaxation
- meditation
- exercise
What has four fingers and a thumb but isn't alive.
a glove
Name 4 common symptoms of stress.
Headaches, back pain, sweating, stomach upset, fatigue, worry, irritability, can't focus, memory problems, over eating, poor sleep, social withdrawal, etc.
Each person in your group needs to name 1 trigger for anger and 1 early warning sign of anger.
Triggers: being called mean names, being shoved, someone not listening, being blamed, etc.
Warning signs: clenching jaw, going quiet, yelling, can't stop thinking of what makes you angry, feel hot, clench fists, etc.
How could you practice problem solving in this situation?
Someone you thought was a friend spreads a rumor about you. At lunch, you see the person sitting with a bunch of friends. They’re all looking at you and laughing.
Answers can vary.
Give 3 examples of a distraction coping skill.
Watch a movie, read a book, listen to music, clean up, arts and crafts, etc.
While a cat was outside, it started to downpour. The cat couldn't find any shelter and got completely soaked by the rain, yet not a single hair was wet.
It was a hairless cat.
What is an example of good stress?
- nerves before a test or competition
- stress that helps you feel motivated
- stress that is not overwhelming and does not last too long
Explain what the WHY of anger means.
The why of anger, is taking time to reflect on what made you angry and how you can respond in the future.
How could you practice using an I statement in this situation?
Your roommate leaves their dishes in the sink for 3 days straight.
I feel frustrated when you don't do your dishes because they get in the way when I am trying to cook in the kitchen. What I need is for the dishes to be put in the dishwasher by the end of the day.
Each person in your group name 1 coping skill you use to manage stress.
answers vary.
I start in little, but end in full, you'll find me in half and complete.
the letter L
Name 4 negative effects that can happen when you are chronically stressed.
weakened immune system, depression, heart disease, anxiety disorder, poor diet and exercise, muscle pain, sleep problems, irritability, substance use, memory problems, skin diseases, etc.
What are the 4 steps we discussed for managing anger?
(partial credit for each one you guess correct)
1. Recognize Triggers and Warning Signs
2. Learn what helps calm anger
3. Learn to understand the WHY of anger
4. Practice Healthy Communication and Problem Solving
How could you practice problem solving in this situation?
A teacher accuses you of cheating after you ace a test. When you try to defend yourself, the teacher says there is no way you could have gotten all of the right answers on your own.
Answers can vary.
Lead the group in a relaxation exercise.
Answers may vary.
Explain what the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous systems do.
sympathetic nervous system activates the stress response
parasympathetic nervous system calms the body