Page 38 - Unit 8: Signs of Stress

What does this unit teach us?

▪ WHEN STRESS CHEMICALS ARE RELEASED INTO OUR BODY, WE NEED STRONG CONTROL

CENTRE SKILLS TO MANAGE.

▪ WITHOUT THESE, OR IF THE STRESSOR IS TOO BIG, WE MAY GO INTO AUTOMATIC STRESS

RESPONSE OR SUBCONSCIOUSLY FIND WAYS TO FEEL GOOD AGAIN

▪ The stress response is automatic.

▪ We need strong Control Centre Skills to manage when stressors get high.

▪ If stress levels are already high and our EF Skills are weak, it is likely we will show signs of stress and

have unhelpful stress responses (e.g.flight, fight, flock, fawn, find, flop or freeze)

▪ 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 levels rise 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.