Chapter 4
Section 1- Stress and Your Health
Section 2- Dealing with Stress
Section 3- Coping with Loss
Section 4- Preventing Suicide
What Causes Stress?



Stress is your body’s and mind’s response to
a demand.
Stress can be caused by many different
situations or events- called stressors
A stressor is any situation that puts a demand
on the body or mind
Types of Stressors





Environmental stressors- poverty, crowding,
natural disasters
Biological stressors- illness, a disability, an
injury
Thinking stressors- a test, math homework
Behavioral stressors- not getting enough
sleep or exercise, drinking alcohol
Life change stressors- death of a loved one,
getting married, moving
Physical Response to Stress



Fight-or-flight response- your body provides
you with energy to either fight or flight
Epinephrine- a.k.a. adrenaline, is a hormone
your body releases in times of stress
Your heart rate increases, your breathing
speeds up, your muscles tense up, etc.
Positive Stress




Stress that energizes you and helps you
reach a goal
Called eustress
It is healthy for an individual to feel eustress
Signs of eustress include: alert, focused,
motivated, energized, confident
Negative Stress




Stress that makes you feel sick and keeps
you from reaching a goal
Called Distress
Too much distress is very unhealthy
Signs of distress include: nervous, forgetful,
confused, frightened, unsure
Long Term Stress Can Make You Sick

If your body experiences stress continuously
over a long period of time, you increase your
risk for a wide range of stress-related
diseases such as:
-Headaches
-Heart attacks
-Weakened Immune system
Dealing with Stress








Take care of yourself!
Exercise regularly
Get enough rest
Eat healthy
Learn to relax
Have fun
Maintain good relationships
Let the little things go
Change Your Attitude








Use positive self-talk
Have a positive outlook on situations
Be confident about yourself
Don’t worry about things out of your control
Manage your time
Prioritize your goals
Know and set your limits
Make a schedule
Coping with Loss



Examples of loss: death of a family member,
the divorce of one’s parents, the death of a
pet, a breakup with a boyfriend/girlfriend
Normal and common feelings with loss:
sadness, anger, numbness
Loss can cause you stress
The Grieving Process





Denial
Anger
Bargaining
Depression
Acceptance
Help for Dealing with a Loss




Get plenty of rest and relaxation
Share memories and thoughts about the
deceased
Express your feelings
Do not blame yourself or others
Help Others




Show your support
Let the person know you are there for him or
her
Tell the person that you have faith that he or
she will learn to live with this loss
If the person seems depressed, tell a trusted
adult
Preventing Suicide





Suicide is the act of intentionally taking one’s own
life
Most people who attempt suicide don’t really want to
die, they feel helpless about how to end their
emotional pain
However, suicide is never the solution
All talk of suicide should be taken seriously
If you have any fear of a friend or family member
taking their life, tell someone….find them help
Teens and Suicide



Suicide is the third leading cause of death for
people between the of ages 15 and 24
Suicide is preventable and you are the best
person to protect yourself from it
Sometimes the physical and emotional
changes during the teen years may make
teens feel more emotional, impulsive, and
focused on today
Warning Signs for Suicide







Feeling hopeless
Withdrawing from family and friends
Neglecting basic needs
Experiencing loss of energy
Taking more risks
Using alcohol and drugs
Giving away personal things
*These signs indicate that the person is feeling
unheard, confused, depressed, and frightened
Giving and Getting Help





Take all talk of suicide seriously
Tell your friend that suicide is not the answer
Change negative thoughts into positive
thoughts
Don’t keep a secret
Anyone who is suicidal needs professional
help
Suicide Newspaper Article- 10 points
Write a feature article on teen suicide for the school
newspaper. In this article should be the following:

Facts/statistics, warning signs/symptoms, how to
help/prevent suicide, where to get help, and false beliefs
about suicide
6 points
Minimum length- 1 page
2 points

All group members actively participating

2 points
Relaxation Reflection
Please fill a page with your responses!



Did the guided meditation help you relax and
reflect on your life? What did you think
about?
Would you consider doing something like this
again to melt away stress? How do you feel?
What sort of things in your life cause you
stress? What are specific changes you want
to make in your life to reduce your stress?
What is the take-home
message of today’s lesson?

A. Losing someone special is very sad and it
is important to show empathy.

B. Depression can lead to suicide.

C. Suicide is preventable and you all are the
first line of defense.