Student Wellbeing

‘Stress Management’ 

Stress is what a person feels when they are worried or feeling uncomfortable about something challenging in their environment.  Stress can be positive, people can be excited and engaged by challenging situations. However, we commonly use the word ‘stress’ to refer to the negative feelings we have about the challenges we experience.  Stress can be a response to one single challenging experience, or it can be the build up over time of lots of smaller or long lasting challenges.

When we experience intense emotions, these feelings are embodied. That means they are felt in our bodies, not just in our minds. Our responses to intense or long lasting negative emotions might include reactions like: difficulty sleeping, crying, palpitations (rapid heartbeat), sweating, goosebumps, nausea, trembling, shivering, headaches, stammering, difficulty speaking, lump in the throat, loss of voice, difficulty concentrating, difficulty remembering, having nightmares, being short-tempered and having tantrums.

To manage these reactions, we often need a way to physically calm down.  As teachers and parents there are ways we can help, including: listening, refocusing the child’s attention on something positive, changing the subject, empathising, giving choices and setting limits.

Of course we are only human and won’t be experts at helping straight away.  Don’t be hard on yourself! 

All the best for the school holidays and as always, thanks for listening!

Guy Toomey