Name:______________________

Time: 10 – 15 minutes

Ask a student to draw an outline of a human body on the board.

Ask the class to help with ideas about where in the body people experience a stress response. As the class responds, note their responses on the appropriate part of the body.

1. Be sure that the symptoms noted below are included.

• Immediate symptoms:
  • Muscles tighten
  • Breathing quickens
  • Pupils dilate
  • Skin turns pale
  • Heart speeds up

• Short term symptoms
  • Headaches
  • Stomach aches
  • Trembling, tics
  • Teeth grinding
  • Accident prone
  • Bedwetting, frequent urination
  • Problems concentrating
  • Problems sleeping
  • Weight loss or weight gain

2. Note that if stress continues unmanaged, other problems can develop.

Connect some of these physical symptoms to the development of common health problems, such as high blood pressure, asthma, or diabetes.