8th Grade RISE - Strategies of Managing Stress

Strategies for

Managing

Stress

What did the last lesson
explain about the effects

of stress?

● Stress can be negative or positive
● In many stressful situations,

focusing on the positive can help
you grow

Multiple Choice

What type of stress is a negative, threatening form of stress?

• Distress

• Eustress

• Mistress

Multiple Choice

What is a positive, challenging form of stress?

• Distress

• Eustress

• Mistress

Multiple Choice

What are some reactions to distress?

• A. Decreases performance

• B. Causes concern

• C. Feels exciting

• D. Both A & B

Multiple Choice

What are some reactions to eustress?

• A. Positively Motivating

• B. Decreases performance.

• C. Improves focus.

• D. Both A & C

Open Ended

What are some signs of stress?

Signs of Stress...

● Irritability and anger
● Trouble sleeping
● Neglecting responsibilities
● Eating changes
● Getting sick more often

Poll

What is your most common source of stress?

• School & Homework

• Extracurricular Activities

• Friendships/

  Relationships

• Social Media

• Home

Open Ended

Why is it important to manage stress?

Why is it important to

manage stress?

● Stay healthy
● Keep your emotions under control
● Think more clearly
● Make better decisions

Poll

Are you good at managing your stress?

• Yes, I have strategies and am able to manage my stress most of the time.

• Sometimes, I have some strategies but am not always good at using them.

• No, I don't have any strategies and it is a struggle to manage my stress.

Poll

What are some helpful things you are doing now to handle stress in your life?

• Getting Enough Sleep

• Exercise on a regular basis

• Have a trusted adult to talk to

• Listen to Music

• Use coping strategies (Take deep breaths, Use a fidgets, Etc)

Open Ended

What are some other strategies you use to reduce your stress?

Stress Management

●Sleep Well - Sleep needs to be a
priority to keep stress in check

●Exercise - An essential stress reliever
for people of all ages

●Talk it Out - Talk about stressful
situations with a trusted adult

●Listen to Music - Music can help
relieve stress and calm yourself down
or stimulate your mind

●Make Time for Fun and Quiet - Find
time to do the things that bring you
joy

●Get Outside - Spending time in
nature is an effective way to relieve
stress and improve overall well-being

●Write about it - Expressing oneself in
writing can help reduce mental
distress and improve well-being

●Find Ways to Minimize Stress -
What is in your circle of control?

Facing stressors is a fact of life. These strategies can help keep stress in check:

Highly Effective Tips for Relieving Stress

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all option when it comes to stress relief.
What works for one person might not work for another. And what
works for you at home might not be an option when you’re at
school or in the community. So it’s important to have a variety of
stress relief tools at your disposal. Then you’ll be able to pick a
strategy that works best for your current circumstances.

Here are some strategies to consider…

1. Slow Breathing

Slow breathing with long exhalations helps shift

your nervous system toward a calmer, more

restful state. This can result in positive changes in
the body, like a lower heart rate and lower blood

pressure.

2. Reframing the Situation

Reframing difficult situations can help you have

better relationships with friends and family and be

happier in life.

3. Positive Self-Talk

People who notice good things may lead

happier, healthier, and more satisfied

lives.

4. Guided Imagery

Imagine yourself in your “happy place” - maybe
picturing yourself sitting on a beach, listening to
the waves, smelling the ocean, and feeling the

warm sand underneath you.

5. Progressive Muscle Relaxation

This video will guide you through an

emotion-management strategy called progressive

muscle relaxation. Research suggests that

progressive muscle relaxation can help reduce key
signs of stress among teenagers. It can also help

people sleep better.

➔ Which of these strategies will you

use to manage your stress?

➔ When and where could you use

the strategies you chose?

➔ How would you recognize when

your stress management

strategies aren’t working and you

need to reach out for support?

Wrap

Up