Healthy Active Living June 2014 | Page 4

SECRETS TO A STRESS FREE LIFE

Are you stressed? Do you feel like the whole world is against you? We can help.

What is stress?

'The none specific response of the body to any demand for change."

How does stress develop?

You are faced with a difficult or uncomfortable situation.

-This is know as a stressor

-The bodies reaction to a stressor is called the stress response

-Example sweating, increased heart rate, anxiety, etc.

What are stressors?

Stressors are the name given to the things that cause you to feel stressed and anxious.

Examples:

-Family life: fighting, divorce, siblings

-School: becoming part of a social group, trying out for a team, test and assignments, teachers pressuring you, fear of looking bad, etc

-Environmental stressors: elevated sound levels, over-illumination, overcrowding

Stress can even come from little things like not being able to get somewhere fast enough or having too much homework.

Postive sitiuations can also be stressful:

Eustress- good stress, challenges and excites us, motivates us to confront things

Examples:

-getting married

-joining a high level sports team

-getting into college ot university

-starting a new job

"Being in control of your life and having realistic expectations about your day-to-day challenges are the keys to stress management, which is perhaps the most important ingredient to living a happy, healthy and rewarding life."

Marilu Henner

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/stress.html#lFIGKcltQ1eOqsYJ.99