[Part 1 of STRESS HAPPENS can be found here.]
Some people have a lot of stress and handle it well.
Some people have a lot of stress and handle it poorly.
Some people have a little bit of stress and handle it well.
Some people have a little bit of stress and handle it poorly.
Which of the above statements best describes you?
BIG stress. Little stress. Negative stress. Positive stress. Learning about stress is only part of what you need to know. You also need to know how to manage your stress in healthy ways. Managing your stress in healthy ways will help you mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally.
What happens when stress happens and we do not manage it well? Let’s take each of the categories mentioned above–mentally, physically, socially, emotionally. Some possible outcomes may include:
Mentally→ distraction, poor concentration, negative thinking, low motivation, confusion, trouble making decisions, difficulty learning new information, drop in grades, procrastination
Physically→ headaches, sleep difficulties, fatigue, chest pain/tension, grinding teeth, upset stomach, over/under eating, weakened immune system
Socially & Behaviorally→ bad choices such as using drugs or alcohol to cope, other risky behaviors, withdrawal from social activities, relationship issues
Emotionally–depression/sadness, anxiety, moodiness, irritability, mood swings
These are not exhaustive lists.
Some people choose unhealthy, unsafe, and/or negative coping strategies when they are stressed. They may not even realize that they are doing this. All they realize is that the negative choice, in the short-term, allows them to escape something. For example, a teen gets high at night when he hears his parents arguing and yelling in the other room, or an older sister yells and curses at her little brother after she is told by her mother that she has to babysit her brother this weekend when she had planned to go out with friends instead.
The irony to negative coping strategies is that while a person may feel some relief in the short-term, the negative coping strategies in and of themselves eventually become additional stressors, thereby increasing the person’s stress in the long run.
There are many unhealthy ways to cope with stress. Any behavior or thought that is negative, is harmful to the person or someone else, is illegal, or can result in something being damaged (including physical property and relationships!) is not a good way to cope with stress.
Fortunately, the good news is that there are an unlimited number of ways to cope with stress in healthy ways, and most of them are FREE. So, let’s get busy examining some of these.
HEALTHY WAYS TO COPE WITH STRESS INCLUDE…
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Going on a walk or hike.
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Painting or coloring or making a craft.
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Dancing.
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Playing a musical instrument.
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Laughing!
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Journaling or writing a story.
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Playing with your pet.
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Getting at least 8 hours of sleep.
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Going fishing.
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Playing a game (board, video, or sports).
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Listening to music.
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Helping someone else.
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Reading a book.
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Talking with a friend.
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Counting your blessings.
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Practicing deep breathing.
4-7-8 DEEP BREATHING
Regarding the last activity on this list, PRACTICING DEEP BREATHING, here are the simple, quick, do-it-anywhere-anytime instructions for one popular type of deep breathing called 4-7-8 DEEP BREATHING:
STEP ONE: INHALE THROUGH YOUR NOSE TO THE COUNT OF 4.
STEP TWO: HOLD THE BREATH TO THE COUNT OF 7.
STEP THREE: EXHALE THROUGH YOUR MOUTH TO THE COUNT OF 8.
STEP FOUR: REPEAT STEPS 1 THROUGH 3 FOR SEVERAL MINUTES!
Whether we are able to control (or not) all the stressful events in our lives, we always have the power to control how we handle the stress that comes our →–way. Make it a priority to handle your stress in ways that are healthy and safe.
IF INTERESTED, FOUR MINI LESSONS ON STRESS! CAN BE FOUND IN OUR TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS STORE.