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Date post: 05-Aug-2015
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ANXIETY & STRESS: LET’S TALK ABOUT IT! The Occupational Therapy Center at Jefferson in Second Life Garden of Healthy Aging
Transcript

ANXIETY & STRESS:

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT!

The Occupational Therapy Centerat Jefferson in Second Life

Garden of Healthy Aging

• Anxiety is the way people react to stress and prepare for events (ADAA, 2013; Mayo Clinic, 2012)

• A certain amount of anxiety is natural; people have worries, fears, and feelings of discomfort when facing situations in their lives

• Anxiety can go beyond this normal amount and make it difficult to function in everyday life (NIMH, 2012)

What is Anxiety?

•Anxiety may appear as feelings of intense worry or dread, even about something small•Some common physical signs of anxiety are “butterflies” in the stomach, increased heart rate, and sweating (Mayo Clinic, 2012)

• There are anxiety disorders that have specific triggers or symptoms, but people experience anxiety on an everyday basis

• The things that cause anxiety are unique to a person, as well as the ways that a person copes with anxiety• Some common coping strategies include medication and therapy for persistent anxiety (ADAA, 2013; Mayo Clinic, 2012)

• People often find ways to distract themselves to cope with anxiety, such as through exercise, breathing, and support from friends and family

SENSE OF CONTROL

• Feel comfort in having ability to manipulate, control, change, or maintain stability • Examples of situations where this

is not possible:• Public transportation (train stations,

airplanes)• Caring for a family member with an

illness or disability • Certain social settings, such as

classrooms or restaurants

SOURCES OF STRESS

• Sudden changes in scheduling, delays, cancellations• Needing to rely on others • Feeling cut off from others (lack of communication)• Dealing with familial or other relationship issues that are beyond my ability to control (illness)

WHAT CAUSES STRESS OR ANXIETY FOR YOU?

ANXIETY

• Sources of stress become anxiety when the stress continues over time and interferes with daily functioning

HOW DO I COPE?

•Time management•Exercise •Deep breathing•Talking about it!

MANAGING RESPONSIBILITIES

AND TIME

Finding the time to do everything you want and need to do can become stressful.

Organizing time well is a hard skill to learn

WHY CAN JUGGLING EVERYTHING BECOME STRESSFUL?

Many responsibilities to schedule into the day, like:

• Schoolwork • Work• Caring for kids and pets• Cleaning and cooking• Leisure activities like sports• Socializing and friends• Appointments

But only 24 hours to fit everything in!

ANXIETY’S EFFECT ON HEALTHY LIVING

• It can be easy to grab quick but unhealthy food while rushing to do other things• Exercising often gets put on the bottom of

the to-do list• Staying up late to get things done is a

resort for some• But all of these options negatively affect

the body and its ability to function productively

ANXIETY’S EFFECT ON PRODUCTIVITY

• If the task is difficult or important it can sometimes cause anxiety.

• Procrastination, or putting things off until later, can result from this anxiety.

• Procrastinating can decrease the number of productive hours in the day, leading to more anxiety and stress!

LEARNING TO BALANCE YOUR TIME

• Plan and prioritize each day• Skip the things that aren’t necessary• Delegate, or get help from others• Reduce distractions• Take care of your body!• Take breaks when needed• Keep a time journal

Mayo Clinic, 2013

WHAT DO I DO?

• Use my planner!• Write a list of the things that need to get done

that day• Number those things from most to least

important• Work on something for about an hour, take a

break, then move on to something else for an hour• Run and do yoga to release the anxiety that the

more stressful things can cause!• Keep working and switching between different to-

do’s to stay interested and motivated.

LET’S TRY IT TOGETHER!

Reflect on your day so far, or even write down what you did hour by hour.• How much time was productive? Necessary?• Did you waste any time?• Are there imbalances between the things you focus your time on?

Now schedule the rest of you night hour by hour.

Don’t get frustrated if you get off-track, just adjust it and keep trying.

TIME FOR SOME RELAXATION!

• Sit in comfortable position• Close eyes• Take 5 deep breaths in through

nose, out through mouth• Allow rib cage to expand,

then exhale slowly• May use imagery to

enhance relaxation • Beach• Forest• Meadow


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