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
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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).
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…
