Page 28 - Course Handbook 2023

Can you read the signs of stress

Unit 8: Signs of Stress
What happens when stressors get too much?
accurately?

WHAT WE KNOW / UNDERSTAND PICTURE PROMPTS

WHEN STRESS CHEMICALS ARE RELEASED INTO OUR BODY, WE NEED STRONG
CONTROL CENTRE SKILLS TO MANAGE.
WITHOUT THESE SKILLS, THE AUTOMATED STRESS RESPONSE CAN TAKE OVER OR
WE SUBCONSCIOUSLY FIND WAYS TO FEEL GOOD AGAIN

▪ Stress responses are automatic. They are designed to help us survive
(from thousands of years ago).

▪ There are mobilizing stress responses, designed to help us fight the
stressor, fix it or flee it. There are also immobilizing stress responses –
just like a hedgehog rolling into a ball. Do you hide and freeze? Do you avoid? Do you run?

▪ We need strong Control Centre Skills to manage if stressors get big.

▪ If stress levels are already high and our Control Centre Skills are
weak, it is likely we will show signs of stress and go into unhelpful Do you throw? Do you mask I’m fine! Do you replace?
or bury?
I’m
stress responses such as flight, fight, flock, fawn, find, flop or freeze. scared! 30
▪ Alternatively, we may subconsciously seek to fill our needs in any way
possible – and this may not be a helpful way.

▪ When we experience stressors day-after-day, stress rises in our body.
▪ If there are no emotional buffers to help us to become calm each day,
our stress levels can set permanently on high.

▪ At times such as these, we are likely to fall into powerless positions

and blame, feel helpless or try to ‘fix’ others.