Hlt 215 power_point_1_introduction
- 1. Stress Management HLT 215 Summer 2011 Dr. Esther Benoit
- 2. What is Stress? ● Any demand made on the adaptive capacities of the mind and body Three important things to consider about stress: ○ Personal view of stressor or perception- is the stressor positive or negative? ○ Your reaction to stressful events ○ Stress is a demand upon our body's capacity
- 3. Yerkes Dodson Principle To a certain point, a specific amount of stress is useful, healthy and even beneficial. ● Describes the relationship between stress and performance ● Stress can increase performance, health and well-being ● When stress exceeds our abilities to cope it goes from increasing performance to decreasing performance ● Too little stress = bad ● Enough stress = good ● Too much stress = bad
- 4. Important Terms Stress is the effect, the stressor is the cause. A stressor is any event or situation that a person perceives as a threat that causes the individual to either adapt or initiate the stress response. Eustress is the term used to explain the positive desirable stress that keeps life interesting and helps motivate and inspire Distress negative effects of stress that drain us of energy and surpass our abilities to cope
- 5. Acute vs. Chronic Stress Acute Stress is the result of a short-term stressor. It appears suddenly, is very intense and disappears quickly. Episodic Acute Stress People who seem to constantly experience acute stress- Often blame problems on others or external events. Tend to be over-aroused, short-tempered, irritable and anxious. Chronic Stress Long-term stress coming from problems that don't seem to go away. Unrelenting demands and pressures that go on indefinitely.
- 6. Health Holistic Health describes the physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual and social dimensions. Keyword: WHOLE Health is more than just the absence of disease- we hope to increase our capacity for dealing with stress so we can optimize our health and well-being Dimensions of Health include: ● Physical ● Intellectual (how and what you think/mental health) ● Emotional (feelings) ● Spiritual ● Social (relationships)
- 7. Sources of Stress We are all unique- nature and nurture influence how you will respond to stressful events- KNOW YOURSELF! ● Time Management ● Personal Expectations ● Family Expectations and Family Life ● Employment Decisions and Finances ● School Pressures ● Living Arrangements ● Relationships ● Physical Health Issues ● Environmental Stressors ● Information Overload ● Choices ● Daily Hassles
- 8. Seek Balance ● Look for balance in your life ● We need stress- but not too much! ● You can prevent and manage stress using three basic approaches: ○ Eliminate the stressor ○ Change your thinking ○ Manage the stress
- 9. Terms to Know Stress Holistic Health Stressor Physical Health Yerkes-Dodson Principle Intellectual Health Eustress Emotional Health Distress Spiritual Health Acute Stress Social Health Chronic Stress Koyaanisqatsi Episodic Acute Stress