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7th Grade Presentation

By Jenny Baker, Kayse Amevor, and Tracie Garrard

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I can differentiate between Stress and Anxiety
I can name 3 strategies to cope with stress
I can take a one minute vacation

Objectives

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I know I am successful when:

I am successful when I can differentiate between stress and anxiety.
I can name 3 coping strategies.

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PREFRONTAL CORTEX

HIPPOCAMPUS

AMYGDALA

"THE SMART ONE"

"THE JUMPY

SUPERHERO"

"THE LIBRARIAN"

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A

Tries to protect us at all costs
Often mistakes stress for real threats and stops the Prefrontal Cortex from making good decisions

Amygdala

The amygdala is like the brain’s super hero, protecting us from threats. It helps us to react quickly when there is danger. Sometimes it’s good to react—when there’s a real physical threat, like when you see a football coming your way. The amygdala simply decides that there’s not enough time to think about it and makes us react quickly: you move your head away from the path of the football. In this way, the amygdala can decide whether we get to think about the information our body gathers through our senses or not.

But there’s a problem. The amygdala can’t see a difference between real danger and something stressful. You could say it’s jumpy and that it makes mistakes.

When we’re angry, sad, or stressed the amygdala thinks there’s real imminent danger. We then simply react without thinking. We might say or do something we regret immediately. We might even start a fight or just freeze when we’re offended, or supposed to take test, or speak in front of the class. Fear and stress shuts down our thinking in this way.

Write on your paper what is something your amygdala would do.

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Prefrontal Cortex

Figures stuff out for us
Helps us make good, well-balanced choices
Sends and retrieves memories to and from the Hippocampus
When the Amygdala is upset, the prefrontal cortex can't help us

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Stores and recalls memories
Plays a major role in learning
When the amygdala is upset, the hippocampus can't do it's job

Hippocampus

Memories

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STRESS- When your mind dwells on negative outcomes or things that could go wrong. It is also the body's normal reactions when changes occur.

ANXIETY- state of excessive uneasiness and apprehension for an extended period of time. Affects you physically and

mentally.

Definitions

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Stress can be positive, keeping us alert, motivated, and ready to avoid danger.

Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between stressors.

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Your body's natural reaction to danger or perceived danger.

This response instantly causes hormonal and physiological changes. These changes allow you to act quickly so you can protect yourself. It’s a survival instinct that our ancient ancestors developed many years ago.

Fight, Flight or Freeze

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Stress

Stress happens in your mind
Stress can help us to

prevent something bad

from happening or to take action if something does happen

Stress can act as a reminder to do things

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What causes Stress?

A change in your family’s financial situation
Friend drama
Injury or illness of family member or friend
Parents fighting
Upcoming sports or performances
Personal illness or injury

Feeling unsafe at home or school temporarily
Trouble in school or at home
Tests
Moving
Big projects
Made a big mistake

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!!!Warning!!! Stress!

What do people DO when they are feeling stressed or worried?

What do people LOOK like when they

feel stressed?

What do people SAY when they are feeling stressed or worried?

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Is it Stress or Anxiety ??

Normal

Problem

Short-term
Triggered by certain events and situations
Irregular
Can be positive or negative

Excessive and persistent
Interferes with daily life
May not have an identifiable trigger

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Stress or Anxiety?

I have a test tomorrow. I stay up all night studying.

The state soccer championship is coming up. I practice every day for an hour.

I'm worried I might trip up the stairs. I avoid all stairs.

I know that no one likes me. I avoid people so they can't be mean to me.

I am worried about Student Body Officers elections. I eat some chocolate to help me feel better.

I get in a fight with my friends. I can’t eat or sleep for several days.

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Fatigue, aches and pains
Unusual eating patterns
Sleep difficulties
Increasingly negative outlook
Decreased sense of pleasure in life

Over-Stressed?

Signs of Burnout

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Relax...

Take a

one

minute

vacation...

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SURVIVAL GUIDE

My Coping Strategies

What makes me smile/laugh

Mindful breathing

What can I make, create, play or build

Get moving

Find my best listener

or hug giver

You can

say NO

What is the definition of coping?

Things you do on purpose to reduce a negative emotion.

Discuss each coping strategy

Practice

spiral breathing

blowing out the candles: breathe in the smell of the cake, hold for one second, blow out the candles

What are some coping skills you can think of that start with A?

N?

Q?

Write on white board

You've come up with some great ideas! But not all coping skills work in all situations.

Some of you might have written that you like to hike when you feel stressed or anxious. When you are at school, is the appropriate coping skills to use? Probably not. What about hiking at night? Probably not safe for us to do that either. That might cause us more stress! You now have this incredible resource of things that you can try when you feel stressed or anxious. This is so powerful and can be so helpful for you to have as a reminder. Please keep this with you. Put it on your phone or hang it on your wall in your room. Have this handy so that you can use it when you are in a pinch!

***If you have time, you can have students categorize or label their coping skills for when they are at home, when they are at school, night, morning, in public, or alone.***

***If you do not have time, give students a homework assignment to categorize their coping skills and reward them if they show you their list!***

What are some other coping skills?

What helps you if you're feeling stressed? Write your coping skills on the worksheet

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When to get Help

When stress or anxiety increases dramatically

Suicidal thoughts or plans of suicide

Feelings about hurting yourself or others

If stress or anxiety does not respond to coping skills or management techniques

If stress or anxiety affect day-to-day functioning or mood for two weeks or more

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SafeUT App:

Anonymous tip line

Submit a tip or chat with a representative!

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I know I am successful when:

I am successful when I can differentiate between stress and anxiety.
I can name 3 coping strategies.

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References

Mindfulness and the Brain- How to Explain it to Children- https://blissfulkids.com/mindfulness-and-the-brain-how-to-explain-it-to-childre
The Difference Between Worry, Stress and Anxiety- https://www.nymc.edu/media/schools-and-colleges/nymc/pdf/student-life/TheDifferenceBetweenWorryStressandAnxiety-TheNewYorkTimes.pdf
Stress Less at School- Google Slides https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yYdYYjxIwbd-tMkpkX0U9q4Hi-DYEhF_SnA13voFxpY/edit#slide=id.gd24f8f7c0e_3_58
Meet the Hippocampus- https://kidsdiscover.com/quick-reads/meet-hippocampus-memories-go-make-sense/
Stress and Anxiety Management Project- https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/11lT_ZDtDqmbcdEsUYcQN1ec_IO_FAcyT/edit#slide=id.p5