Analyzing Stress Management and Prevention Program

Stress Management and Prevention Program Part 1 What is Stress? Information to Remember Resources: Tools: Part 2 The human Body is a Battleground Information to Remember Resources: Tools: Part 3 Famine or Feast? Information to Remember Resources: Tools: Part 4 The Whole World is Under Stress Information to Remember Resources: Tools: Part 5 What to Do when in Stress Information to Remember Resources: Tools: Part 6 The Benefits and Wisdom of Meditation Information to Remember Resources: Tools: Part 7 Sight, Sound and Body Information to Remember Resources: Tools: Part 8 The Wellness Program Information to Remember Resources: Tools: What is Stress? Information to Remember: The Complete Description of Stress If one perceives a sense of threat to one's physical, mental and spiritual health, whether real or imaginary, then he is under stress.

In essence, stress means an inability to handle the perception of such threats. (Kitchen, 2013). The Wellness Model The concept of a holistic health can be perceived from the wellness model. As a collective, it represents a balance of all aspects of human well-being; a good synchronization of the physical, rational, emotive, and spiritual facets. (Seaward, 2009) The Various phases of the "fight-or-flight" reaction The way a human body responds to external stimuli is processed via information that it regards as either safe or a threat.

The flight or fight responses are triggered by specific external indicators that affect our body by changing our internal state. Resources: Inventory: Are You Stressed? (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 1.1) Self-Assessment: Poor Sleep Habits Questionnaire (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 1.3) Tools: My Health Philosophy (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 1.2) A Good Night's Sleep (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 1.4) Part 2: The human Body is a Battleground Information to Remember: Stress: Physiology and Anatomy The human body is an amalgam of a variety of systems that perform all the required functions to make a body work on everyday basis.

For a body to be considered physiologically sound it is important that all systems are functioning optimally (Kitchen, 2013). Immune System and Stress Stress can take toll on the immune system, making it more susceptible to attacks of all kinds. The purpose of the immune system is to protect the body against all kinds of threats that might deter optimal physiological functioning of the body for example bacteria, viruses, parasites, fungus etc. (Sapolsky, 1998).

Disease and Stress One such affect that stress has on the human body is general "wear and tear." A body under continuous stress or affected by stress can suffer damage to joints, blood vessels, circulation, stomach and any other organ that might be taking the most hit from this damaging stimulus.

Resources: Immediate, Intermediate, and Prolonged Stress Effects (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 2.2) Physical Symptoms Questionnaire (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 3.1) Tools: My Health Profile (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 3.3) When Your Biography Becomes Your Biology (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 3.5) Part 3: Famine or Feast? Information to Remember: Effect on Emotions Anger, fear and all other triggers linked with stress are natural and normal reactions. Excess of any of such signals becomes a problem; otherwise, these emotions act as the body's alarm system, throwing the body into a survival mode.

Human Spirit The human spirit is the exact opposite of stress, giving the body facets of a higher meaning, self-reliance, love, belief, illumination, community, empathy, mercy, spirituality that gives simplicity, grace and many other such traits to a human being. Personalities that are prone to Stress Character was once related with time urgency, but now? It is connected with unsolved anger problems and a hostile constitution. Inter-reliant personalities have plenty of indicators that can raise the possibility of stress and a lack of coping mechanisms.

Resources: The Psychology of Your Stress (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 4.1) Anger Recognition Checklist (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 5.1) Tools: Fifteen Minutes of Fame (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 4.3) Dreams: The Language of Symbols (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 4.4) All You Need is Love (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 4.7) Part 4: The Whole World is Under Stress Information to Remember: Stress around the Globe While human beings have created lives that are far more comfortable with innumerable comforts and possibilities, the overall situation around the globe for human psyche has worsened. The environment is one of such issues and problems.

The stress levels are astronomical plagued by problems of security, global warming, war, poverty, and overpopulation. Resources: Stress-Prone Personality Survey (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 6.2) Stress-Resistant Personality Survey (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 6.3) Mandala of the Human Spirit (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 7.2) Tools: Perfection vs. Excellence (Seaward, 2008, Exercise 6.5) The Hero's Journey: Exploring the Wisdom of Joseph Campbell (Seaward, 2008, Exercise7.13) Part 5: What to Do when in Stress Information to Remember: If we split the human growth into three phases based on the "Hero's Journey template" that are departure, initiation, and return we can formulate what to do when (Seaward, 2009).

A Change in Perception One way to tackle stress is to reevaluate a situation -- that from a negative standpoint from a neutral or positive standpoint without ignoring the existence of an issue. Laughter Laughter had been seen as an excellent therapy option. Laughter has been linked with good health and humor (Seaward, 2009). Healthy Boundaries and Assertion Being assertive and setting reasonable boundaries prevents a lot of undue stress and anxiety. Both of these acts promote strength of personality and a good balance.

Resources: The Time-Crunch Questionnaire (Seaward, 2008, Exercise15.1) Time Mapping (Seaward, 2008, Exercise15.4) Tools: Reframing: Seeing a Bigger, Clearer Perspective (Seaward, 2008, Exercise8.1) Healthy Boundaries (Seaward, 2008, Exercise9.3) Part 6: The Benefits and Wisdom of Meditation Information to Remember: Meditation and Sensory Weight-- In today's world our senses are under a lot weight, there is so much information to process and so much to think about that we experience a "Sensory overload." Meditation helps silence all the noise and create a serenity-filled path inwards.

Physiological Benefits of Meditation -- Regular meditation has been proven to improve well-being. Heart rate is better managed, oxygen consumption is lowered, there is less muscular stress and an overall feeling of freshness (Seaward, 2009). Resources: Three Short Guided Visualizations (Seaward, 2008, Exercise20.2) Tools: Bridging the Hemispheres of Thought (Seaward, 2008, Exercise18.3) Part 7: Sight, Sound and Body Information to Remember: Music and Art Therapy --Both art and music have known to positively affect the.