Stress
True/False: All stress is negative stress? Why?
False! All stress is not negative stress. Stress, in tolerable amounts/short-term, manageable amounts, can be beneficial and help us while preparing for a big presentation or taking on a new challenge.
What is self-care?
Self-care refers to the proactive steps individuals take to preserve and improve their overall well-being, encompassing physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects of health
Why might someone have lower confidence?
Someone might have lower confidence due to a variety of factors, including negative experiences in childhood, bullying, ongoing stressful life events, poor body image, feelings of inadequacy, a fear of "failure," lack of social support, comparing themselves to others, perfectionist tendencies, and struggles with mental health issues like anxiety or depression.
Anxiety is our body’s response to ______ and _______. (Think bear in the woods!)
Stress and danger.
What color is Finn?
cream colored
List 5 coping skills for dealing with stress.
Great work!
What do you like to do to relax or unwind?
Thanks for sharing!
How can surrounding yourself with positive people help raise your confidence?
Positive people help you feel good about yourself, because they feel good about themselves – and life in general. They help you build your self-esteem because they have a strong sense of self-esteem. Positive people are there when you begin to doubt yourself.
List 3 positive coping skills for anxiety.
Journaling, talking to someone, spending time outside, reading a book, listening to music, playing with your pet, exercising, writing, self-care, etc.
What kind of dog is Finn?
Mini goldendoodle
List three physical symptoms someone can experience while feeling stressed.
Blurred vision, face flushing, dry mouth, shaky hands or tremors, sweaty feet, stomach hurting, nauseous, headache, sweaty hands, feels like your heart is pounding.
True/False: Mindfulness, seeking support, and challenging negative beliefs are all forms of self-care.
What are positive affirmations?
Positive affirmations are short, positive statements that people say to themselves to replace negative thoughts. They can help people feel more motivated, and boost their self-esteem.
What's a word that starts with "W" and goes hand-in-hand with anxiety?
Worry.
How old is Finn?
4 years old
Explain "the stress response," aka "fight, flight, and freeze response."
Fight - yelling screaming, using mean words, being physical with others (hitting, kicking), blaming, defensiveness, moving towards what feels threatening, irritable, angry, furious, aggressive.
Flight - wanting to run away or escape, having a hard time paying attention, restless, fidgeting, preoccupied moving away from what is threatening, anxious, scared, worried, and overwhelmed.
Freeze - shutting down, mind going blank, urge to hide or isolate onesself, difficulty completing tasks, zoned out or daydreaming, unable to move/feeling stuck, depressed, numb, bored, or feeling helpless.
What do you do to support your own self-care?
Thank you for sharing!!
What are the benefits of positive affirmations?
Positive affirmations can help you feel better about yourself and your life by changing your mindset and reducing negative feelings.
When does anxiety become a problem?
When it stops you from doing everyday activities; when it goes off and there is no real danger; and when it happens frequently.
What is Finn's favorite toy?
Lamb chop!
Explain the difference between stress and anxiety.
While both stress and anxiety involve feelings of tension and worry, the key difference is that stress is typically a response to a specific external trigger, like a deadline or argument, while anxiety is a more persistent feeling of unease or dread that can occur even without a clear identifiable cause, often lingering even after the initial trigger is gone.
What is one type of self-care you would like to start doing or work on? Please explain :)
Thank you for sharing!!
What do you think would help boost your confidence (in a certain area, or overall).
Thanks for sharing!!
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a sudden, unexpected rush of intense anxiety symptoms that can last anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes.
How many tricks does Finn know? (This is a hard one!)
Around 25 (and learning more!)
Sit, down, come, wait, "free/okay!" stand, drop it, leave it, get it, off, spin, touch, paw (with each paw), high five, spin, get on, paws up, rollover, "get your leash!" right side, left side, back up, gentle, watch me.