Stress management and lifestyle modifications as education. For this assignment, you will write one section about yourself and write one section about another person (participant) of your choice
Stress management and lifestyle modifications as education
Stress management and lifestyle modifications are important factors in patient education. For this assignment, you will write one section about yourself and write one section about another person (participant) of your choice. You will develop a stress management plan for yourself and a stress management plan for your participant.
Develop a paper providing stress management and lifestyle modifications as education. (Please note that while there may be pharmacological options for treatment, this assignment focuses solely on the stress management and lifestyle modifications component.)
Write your paper in two sections: Self and another individual (friend, child, relative, etc.).
For each of the two sections include:
- Introduce the purpose of the paper and provide a general overview of yourself/subject.
- Identify the stressors in the person’s life. Include information about the stressors being acute or chronic. Does the individual recognize the impact of these stressors?
Select concepts from at least two different chapters. Here are some psychological concepts to consider. You are not limited to these concepts and may select others:
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- How does the stressor(s) impact emotions and motivation?
- How does the stressor(s) impact cognition, learning, or memory?
- How does the stressor(s) impact personality?
- Is there a physiological reaction being caused by the stressor(s)?
- A minimum of three appropriate lifestyle modification/stress management techniques with full descriptions and supported by theory/scholarly sources. These should be at least one paragraph each, fully detailed as though yourself/subject were reviewing this information for the first time. (You must select different lifestyle modifications for yourself and your subject.) Include information about resources the individual can use (websites, apps, etc.). The resources must be age appropriate.
- A minimum of one conclusion paragraph using scholarly source(s) to defend the selection of the techniques suggested. Include a discussion about the influences of positive psychology on health and well-being.
Notes:
Stress is part of being human, and it can help motivate you to get things done. Even high stress from serious illness, job loss, a death in the family, or a painful life event can be a natural part of life. You may feel down or anxious, and that’s normal too for a while.
Talk to your doctor if you feel down or anxious for more than several weeks or if it starts to interfere with your home or work life. Therapy, medication, and other strategies can help.
In the meantime, there are things you can learn to help you manage stress before it gets to be too much. These tips may help you keep stress at bay:
- Keep a positive attitude.
- Accept that there are events that you cannot control.
- Be assertive instead of aggressive. Assert your feelings, opinions, or beliefs instead of becoming angry, defensive, or passive.
- Learn to manage your time more effectively.
- Set limits appropriately and say no to requests that would create excessive stress in your life.
- Make time for hobbies and interests.
- Don’t rely on alcohol, drugs, or compulsive behaviors to reduce stress. Drugs and alcohol can stress your body even more.
- Seek out social support. Spend enough time with those you love.
- Seek treatment with a psychologist or other mental health professional trained in stress management or biofeedback techniques to learn more healthy ways of dealing with the stress in your life.
There’s a lot more you can do to help manage stress. Consider these lifestyle changes:
Exercise
To start with, physical activity can help improve your sleep. And better sleep means better stress management. Doctors don’t yet know exactly why, but people who exercise more tend to get better deep “slow wave” sleep that helps renew the brain and body. Just take care not to exercise too close to bedtime, which disrupts sleep for some people.
Exercise also seems to help mood. Part of the reason may be that it stimulates your body to release a number of hormones like endorphins and endocannabinoids that help block pain, improve sleep, and sedate you. Some of them (endocannabinoids) may be responsible for the euphoric feeling, or “runner’s high,” that some people report after long runs.
People who exercise also tend to feel less anxious and more positive about themselves. When your body feels good, your mind often follows. Get a dose of stress relief with these exercises:
If you don’t have the time for a formal exercise program, you can still find ways to move throughout your day. Try these tips:
- Bike instead of driving to the store.
- Use the stairs instead of the elevator.
- Park as far as you can from the door.
- Hand-wash your car.
- Clean your house.
- Walk on your lunch break.
Attachment
Stress management