High School Stress Management

Student Learnings: What students should know and be able to do

• Define:
  • Stress, stressor, eustress, distress, burnout, homeostasis, wellness
• Identify the three stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome: alarm, resistance, exhaustion.
• Identify characteristics of each stage.
• Recognize the role of the autonomic nervous system, para-sympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems’ role in the stress response.
• Identify the main stress hormones:
  • Cortisol
  • Adrenaline
• Define “fight or flight” response.
• Identify cognitive, physical, emotional, behavioral signs of stress response.
• Recognize the relationship between personality, self-esteem in the stress response.
• List different stressors for different age levels.
• List environmental stressors.
• Define communication.
• Recognize different types of communication:
  • written word
  • spoken word
  • symbolic gestures
  • visual images
  • multimedia
  • gestures
• List characteristics of good communicators.
• Identify characteristics of difficult people.
• Identify healthful ways to deal with difficult people.
• Recognize anger and conflict management skills.
• Identify the relationship between stress and disease.
• Recognize the role of nutrition and exercise as a stress management technique.
• Students will describe the following stress management techniques:
  • yoga
  • aromatherapy
  • colors
  • humor
  • time management
  • massage
  • reflexology
  • hypnosis
  • acupressure and pressurepoints
  • acupuncture
  • music therapy
  • pet therapy
  • meditation
  • breathing
  • biofeedback
  • visualization and imagery
  • humor, attitude and mood
  • managing change
  • tai chi