Stress Management

TIMING

(mins)

DETAIL

Introduction:

Ask the students what they feel about stress. Do they feel it? Why? Ask how they deal with it. Then tell them that the lesson is going to cover the following points.

(each of these is explained in the lesson content below)

-       What is stress and how does our body react to it

-       Does it have a positive or negative effect on a person

-       How do we identify what causes us this stress

-       Examples of different stressors

-       The reactions of the Body, Mind, Emotion and Behaviour to stress

-       How do I manage stress

-       Various tips on how to be better organized

-       The benefit of not allowing stress to get the best of us

Notes to teacher:

This lesson does not intend for us to get in to the mind of the student and solve their stressful situations. Rather this is to open their mind to what might be causing those stressful situations, how they can cope with some of them and in some cases realize that a situation does not necessarily have to be stressful (an example of put the glass down, see folder X. Stress management).Examples that are asked of the students should not encourage personal and deep family issues as we are not trained to give advice on such matters.

The power point presentation has the bullet points of discussion which need to be elaborated on.

Content: Less content in the actual PP allows for more discussion. Too many notes on the PP makes students look for answers there as opposed to thinking for themselves.

Slide 2 –

Discusses basic situations from which we feel that stress has been placed on us. Too much college work, having to work as well as study and the responsibilities of both. Having children and still coming to study here. Responsibilities to family as well as to your self.

How does our body react to it? Our natural response can be to either fight or run away or in some cases we pretend the problem does not exist.

Students may have their own points of view and hence a discussion may ensue.

Slide 3 -

How do we react to various levels of stress?

With responsibility comes deadlines, with deadlines comes stress. However, in some cases both the deadline and a limited amount of stress can actually give a person motivation to perform. To push forward and complete the task.

At other times, the presence of stress can have a negative effect on a person unprepared to face it. Sometimes we take on more than we can handle and therefore the level of stress also increases. Our inability to then handle and complete each task can then force us in to a situation where we stop doing it, do it all wrong, forget to do some things etc.

Students may have their own points of view and hence a discussion may ensue.

Slide 4 & 5

What are stressors? Slide 3

They are situations or people who bring about a feeling of stress in us.

Examples are given in the slide 4. Discuss each point briefly with the students. Ask them if they have examples that they can give from their daily routine.

Slide 6 & 7

Negative reactions of stress on our Body, Mind, Emotions and Behaviour

Explain and discuss briefly each point. Give the students the opportunity to bring out their own ideas and feelings. 

Slide 8 & 9

These slides talk about various ways in which students can “combat” stress. Go over each point with the students before showing them the “put the glass down” presentation. The teacher can also physically demonstrate this instead of showing the presentation and get the students to come up with answers to the questions.

In slide 9, ask the students if they have managed to change their understanding

Slide 10  (conclusion):

Having gone through the lesson, ask the students what they feel are the benefits of being better organized as opposed to stressed. Discuss all the points and make note of additional points that they may come up with. This can be added to the lesson as necessary.