DESTRESS THE STRESSOR

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DE-STRESS THE STRESSOR Prepared by Janice Park,
Ph.D. Gerontology Specialist
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What is stress?
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Where does stress come from?

• Environment--weather, wind, noise, traffic, etc.
• Social Stressors--financial problems, deadlines,
  disagreements, demand on your time, family
  illness, etc.
• Physiological--illness, lack of exercise, in
  ability to sleep, poor nutrition
• Your Thoughts

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What happens that allows us to suddenly have
these amazing bursts of strength?

• Central Nervous System
• Physical Changes
• Chemical Changes

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What are long-term effects of stress?
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What happens when the stress is present all the
time?
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• Hypertension
• Migraine Headaches
• Ulcers
• Chronic Diarrhea
• Increase Susceptibility to Fractures
• Cold and Flu
• Worsen Arthritis
• Worsen Diabetes

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What are some symptoms of too much stress?
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Who is at risk?
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How to be stress hardy

• Proactive

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Tips for managing stress

• Ask for help
• Accept/control
• Duty trap
• Flexibility

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• List priority tasks
• Break big tasks into smaller parts
• Make time to relax

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Avoid

• Tobacco
• Alcohol
• Drugs

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SAY NO!!!
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• Laugh
• Humor

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Frogs are smartThey eat the things that bug
them!
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Avoid the Duty Trap
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Where do you draw the line?
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Stress Diary

• Keep a journal

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Ways to reduce stress

• Breathing
• Chest
• Abdominal
• Diaphragm

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• Breathing for awareness and relaxation
• Breathing to release tension
• Activity body inventory
• Body scanning

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Anti-Stress Stretches
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Other Stress Reducers

• Music
• Exercise
• Mediation
• Visualization