How to Relieve Stress

By Aymber Gibson

Types of stress

Stress can affect you both instantly (acute stress) and over time (chronic stress).

• Acute (short-term) stress is the body's instant response to any situation that seems demanding or dangerous.

• Chronic (long-term) stress is caused by stressful situations or events that last over a long period of time.

Causes of Stress

A. Personal issues1. There are short term and long term causes of stress2. Relationships (family, friends); finances; major life changes (breakup with a boyfriend or girlfriend, family death, moving to a new location)

B. School and Work related issues1. The teachers, homework, classmates2. Unemployment, the type of job you do

How You React

Internally, we all respond to stress the same. Externally, however, people tend to respond to stress in three different ways. When it comes to managing and reducing stress quickly in the middle of a heated situation, it's important to be familiar with your specific stress response.

Common Reactions (Internal)

• Blood pressure rises

• Heart pumps faster

• Muscles constrict.

• When stressed, our bodies work hard and drain our immune system.

Individual Reactions (External)

• Overexcited stress response – You tend to become angry, agitated, or keyed up under stress

• Under excited stress response – You tend to become depressed, withdrawn, or spaced out under stress

• Frozen stress response (both overexcited and under excited) – You tend to freeze: speeding up in some ways while slowing down in others

Common Stress Relief Methods

If under acute stress:

• Talk out your situation

• Meditate

• Stretch or roll your head in circles.

• Go for a short walk.

• Squeeze a rubbery stress ball.

• Message your hand or neck

Creative Methods

• Poetry/Writing

• Dance

• Art:

• Music

Creative methods video

Activity

• Part I: together we will do a quick stress relief activity

• Part II: SEE INSTRUCTION SHEET

The simple act of creating can…

• Free your mind to focus on something unique and nurturing

• Engage your senses in focused sight, sound, and touch

• Make you mindful of your own ability to create new things

• Foster contemplation, quiet reflection and immersion in the activity and object

Creating Continued

• Develop your sense of self-worth, and give value and meaning to the day

• Reveal your thoughts and feelings to yourself and others

• Connect you with the world outside your mind and body