Stress
[Definition/Overview - insert text]
Behaviors to be Aware of:
[clinical guidance from MGH]
Physiology: What’s going on in your brain?
[insert text/clinical guidance]
Resources/Start a Conversation
Below are some resources and videos or activities to share with students to help start a conversation around this emotion, based on age group.
Elementary School
Breathe, Think, Do: App and Activity (Sesame Street)
Message: Frustration is a normal part of life, but it can overwhelm kids and bring up a lot of big feelings. You can help them to use the “Breathe, Think, Do” strategy to calm down, identify their feelings, and work to solve their problem.
Middle School
Stress: What You Should Know and How to Manage Stress (MindJersey)
Message: Stress can be caused by situations or events that put pressure on us. It can be overwhelming, but it is normal and can be managed
How Stress Affects Your Brain (TEDEd)
Message: Stress isn’t always a bad thing; it can be handy for a burst of extra energy and focus, like when you’re playing a competitive sport or have to speak in public. But when it’s continuous, it actually begins to change your brain. Madhumita Murgia shows how chronic stress can affect brain size, its structure, and how it functions, right down to the level of your genes.
High School
Stress: What You Should Know and How to Manage Stress (MindJersey)
Message: Stress can be caused by situations or events that put pressure on us. It can be overwhelming, but it is normal and can be managed
How Stress Affects Your Brain (TEDEd)
Message: Stress isn’t always a bad thing; it can be handy for a burst of extra energy and focus, like when you’re playing a competitive sport or have to speak in public. But when it’s continuous, it actually begins to change your brain. Madhumita Murgia shows how chronic stress can affect brain size, its structure, and how it functions, right down to the level of your genes.
Teachers & Parents
The Other Side of Stress (Character Lab)
Message: Adversity can make you stronger. Don’t stress about stress. Denying it or worrying about its negative effects is counterproductive. Do adopt a “stress-is-enhancing” mindset and help the young people in your life do the same.
