Understanding Wellbeing Week 3:Stress & Stress Management Substance Misuse

5.1 Identify a range of healthy strategies for preventing and reducing the effects of stress5.2 State the benefits of using healthy strategies5.3 Describe how using one healthy strategy has helped to prevent or reduce the effects of own stress5.4 Give examples of harmful strategies people may use to cope with stress5.5 Identify situations when people may need additional or professional support5.6 Identify support available to people experiencing stress

Session 3 ObjectivesStress & Stress Management

Re-capHomework

discussion/information presentation on stress

management techniques

Tips for managing stress• Eat sensibly and get plenty of

rest• Minimise caffeine, alcohol, and

smoking• Avoid drugs / stimulants• Time management techniques• Don’t take on too much at once• Plan time for yourself

• Make use of relaxation techniques• Breathing techniques and muscle

relaxation

Tips for managing stress• Do at least one thing you enjoy

each day• Take up a new hobby,

particularly:• Something creative• Something practical

• Set yourself goals• Start small, and build up

• Connect with others and give back to others

Unhealthy ways of coping with stress

•Smoking•Drinking too much •Bingeing on junk or comfort food•Zoning out for hours in front of the TV or computer

•Withdrawing from friends, family, and activities

•Using pills or drugs to relax •Sleeping too much•Procrastinating•Filling up every minute of the day to avoid facing problems•Taking out your stress on others (lashing out, angry outbursts, physical violence)

These coping strategies may temporarily reduce stress, but they cause more damage in the long run:

#1: Get moving#2: Engage socially#3: Avoid unnecessary stress#4: Alter the situation#5: Adapt to the stressor#6: Accept the things you can’t change#7: Make time for fun and relaxation#8: Adopt a healthy lifestyle

So what could you do...?

Seeking more support• Self-help information

http://www.exeter.ac.uk/wellbeing/resources/online-resources/http://www.ntw.nhs.uk/pic/selfhelp/

• Referral to Mindsmatter

Local support

Work in pairs Choose 3 scenarios Use your own knowledge and internet

research to find support services appropriate to the ‘scenario/character description’ assigned. Make sure the

services are accessible to the individual described.

Complete the rest of your stress & stress management unit.

Ask questions if you are unsure

Workbook

Unit 04: Develop an awareness of substance

misuse

Identify different types of substances (1.2): Card Matching task

Identify reasons for using (1.1) & factors from someone’s background that may lead them to use (1.3)

Identify possible signs or symptoms (2.1) and give an example of a sign or symptom that could be misleading (2.2)

Outcomes

There are many different types of substances that can be misused. The following group task is designed to help you think about some of the most commonly used/misused . Work together to match up:

Work together and help each other out – answers will follow

Different types of drugs…

Picture cards

Name cards

Effects cards

Almost all drugs that are commonly misused have an effect on the Central Nervous System (CNS). Different drugs have different effects and can be grouped into the following categories:

Now try to group your card sets into the above categories. Note: there is an odd one out – can you identify it?

Different categories of drugs…

Category Name

Category Effect (generally)

Depressant Slow down CNS activity – sedative like effectAnalgesic Use the endorphin system to block pain signalsStimulant Speed up CNS activity Hallucinogen Distort sensory perception

Generally speaking types of drug use and misuse can be grouped into the following areas:

1. Experimentation 2. Recreation 3. Dependent 4. Prescribed (1.1)

An individual’s decision to use drugs may stem from any number of factors…

Work together to make a list of potential factors from a person’s background that may lead them to use drugs

Reasons for using…

Learned Behaviour(parents /

carers)

Social Deprivati

on (no jobs / poor

housing…)

Mental / Physical Health issues

Personality type (risk

taking…) Trauma (abuse / war…)

Signs & Symptoms

There are a variety of signs or symptoms that may accompany substance misuse. It can be helpful to think about these signs and symptoms in 3 different categories:

1. Physical 2. Behavioural 3. SocialWork in groups again to discuss and identify potential signs and symptoms of substance misuse in one of the categories above… (2.1)

Now choose one of the signs or symptoms identified and think of an alternative explanation (2.2)

Physical Behavioural SocialAppearance of eyes Very chatty and loud Associating with

usersRapid weight loss/gain

Aggressive / confrontational

Becoming withdrawn

Evidence of injecting (track marks)

Inappropriate (personal boundaries)

Missing school / work

Excessive sweating Uncoordinated movement

Attracting police attention

Complete pages 9 & 10

Workbook

Use your own knowledge or research to complete Page 11

Homework

3.1 Identify harmful effects of substance misuse on individuals

3.2 Identify harmful effects of substance misuse on society3.3 Give examples of where to get support and advice on substance misuse