Estimated watch time: 5 mins 03 secs
Summary:
Learning stress management strategies is important for your mental and also physical health. Stress management lets you learn to neutralize the effects of inevitable daily stress. Stress management can also help prevent the effects of chronic stress. This guide features steps to a good starting point: identifying your usual stress patterns to see where you need to make changes.
Video Materials:
Other Videos in Series:
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u003ch5u003eu003cstrongu003eExercises:u003c/strongu003eu003c/h5u003ernThere will be exercises associated with each lesson that you will be able to u003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Stress-Management-Worksheets-compressed.pdfu0022u003edownload hereu003c/au003e or u003ca href=u0022https://recovery.force.com/app/s/login/?ec=302u0026amp;startURL=%2Fapp%2Fs%2Fu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopener external nofollowu0022u003eaccess through our portal.u003c/au003ernu003ch5u003eu003cstrongu003eMedically-reviewed articles:u003c/strongu003eu003c/h5u003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/#Who_Is_at_Risk_For_Stressu0022u003eWho Is at Risk For Stress?u003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/stress-statistics/u0022u003eHow Common Is Stress?u003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/stress-myths/u0022u003e9 Common Myths About Stressu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/harmful-effects-of-stress/u0022u003ePhysical Effects of Stressu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/mental-health/stress/stress-management-techniques/u0022u003e10 Stress Management Techniquesu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernu003ch5u003eu003cstrongu003eWebinars:u003c/strongu003eu003c/h5u003ernu003culu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/professionals/webinars/critical-events-stress-management/u0022u003eCritical Events and Stress Managementu003c/au003eu003c/liu003ern tu003cliu003eu003ca href=u0022https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/professionals/webinars/secondary-trauma-vs-vicarious/u0022u003eSecondary Trauma vs Vicarious Traumau003c/au003eu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003e
Transcript:
u003ch3u003eStress Management Part 1u003c/h3u003ernu003ciu003eWelcome to this series on stress management, in this lesson we will be going over why stress management is important.u003c/iu003ernrnStress is any change or demand in your environment that causes you to have a negative reaction. That reaction can be physical, mental, emotional, or all three.rnrnBy definition, stress is normal, since your environment constantly shifts and changes. You are constantly reacting to those shifts and changes.rnrnAs you experience those environmental changes, your body and mind react. Your body and mind alert you to the possibility of threat.rnrnStress management is a way of neutralizing the effects of all the stress that comes at you daily. It’s a set of tools you can use to combat the potentially negative effects of too much stress.rnrnu003cbu003eHow do you know you’re stressed?u003c/bu003ernrnBecome aware of symptoms and signs that let you know you are under too much stress.rnrnThose symptoms and signs are warnings that stress is starting to take a toll on you. Use your awareness of the signs to prompt you to look at your stress management plan and make some revisions.rnrnu003cbu003eThe symptoms and signals of stress are different for everyone but can include:u003c/bu003ernu003culu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003ePhysical reactions like: u003c/bu003eappetite and sleep problems, headaches and stomach aches, fatigue, sweating, grinding your teeth, tension in your body, back pain, skin irritations and chest pain.u003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003ePsychological reactions like: u003c/bu003epanic attacks, feeling overwhelmed, irritability, anger, withdrawing from others, memory issues, tearfulness, and compulsive behaviors like drinking, smoking or eating too much.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernKnowing the particular way you respond to stress is a good first step to stress management.rnrnu003cbu003eIs it stress or anxiety?u003c/bu003ernrnStress and anxiety are experienced in similar ways. There are a few differences.rnrnStress tends to be relatively short-term. Once you have a little distance from the environmental trigger or you’ve figured out how to manage it, your stress reactions are likely to go away.rnrnAnxiety tends to be more long-term. It may not appear related to a specific trigger. If there is a trigger, the negative effects tend to linger after the trigger is behind you.rnrnu003cbu003eWhy it is important to have stress management tools:u003c/bu003ernrnLeft unmanaged, in addition to the signs and symptoms already mentioned, stress can have chronic effects because your body remains on high alert. Chronic stress reactions can include:rnu003culu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003eEffects on the body: u003c/bu003ecardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, a compromised immune system, skin problems, respiratory issues and obesityu003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003eEmotional effects:u003c/bu003e anxiety disorders, depression, mood swings and sexual dysfunctionu003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003eCompulsive behaviors: u003c/bu003eeating disorders and addictions to nicotine, alcohol and drugsu003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernu003cbu003eThe types of situations, or stressors, that can trigger a stress reaction include:u003c/bu003ernu003culu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003eDaily hassles. u003c/bu003eThese are the little things that bother you, but may not seem overly problematic. Things like an unpleasant encounter with a coworker, a long wait at the doctor’s office or accidentally overdrawing your bank account.u003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003ePositive stressful situationsu003c/bu003e. Even positive events can cause what is called u003cbu003eeustressu003c/bu003e. You may not experience getting married, starting your dream job or renovating your home as a negative event, but these events have the same kind of effects on the body and mind as negative stressors.u003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003eNegative stressful situationsu003c/bu003e. These are the most readily identified stressors because they clearly cause u003cbu003edistressu003c/bu003e. These are things like losing your job, a relationship breaking up or a death.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernYou may not experience a negative stressor very often, but even daily hassles and eustress can combine to cause problematic stress reactions. There is a cumulative effect across all of these types of stress.rnrnu003cbu003eIdentifying your typical patterns is a good start for stress management.u003c/bu003ernu003culu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003eHow are you dealing with the stress now? u003c/bu003eDo you talk to a friend, go for a walk or ignore it and try to muscle through?u003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003eHow have you dealt with stress in the past?u003c/bu003e Are there things you have done in the past that were helpful? Can you start doing them now?u003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003eWhat have you tried that has worked?u003c/bu003e Maybe talking to a friend or walking has helped.u003c/liu003ern tu003cli aria-level=u00221u0022u003eu003cbu003eWhat have you tried that has not worked?u003c/bu003e Ignoring the problem or muscling your way through probably do not work. They may work in the short-term, but probably not long-term.u003c/liu003ernu003c/ulu003ernExamining your patterns helps you decide what to do more of, and what to do less of.rnrnWhen you’re under stress, it is difficult to make time for the things that reduce your stress. Of course, that’s the most important time to make space for those things.rnrnThank you for choosing The Recovery Village. If you or a loved one are struggling with mental health or substance abuse and would like to find out more about the programs we offer, please reach out to us directly at u003ca href=u0022tel:855-387-3291u0022u003e855-387-3291u003c/au003e.
