Additional March Post

Content:

As it already is evident that my essential question and research is all based off stress, I decided to research some potential activities that I can use for my Final presentation activity time. I came across gold when researching, because I think that I found a pretty cool activity that demonstrates the whole "limiting" concept that I go over in my first answer.

The activity would consist of the class forming a circle with their seats, a rather tight circle (as tight as possible). I would then begin to throw balloons in the middle of the circle (the objective is to keep the balloons from hitting the ground). Each balloon would be labeled with "homework", "work", friends" and etc. I would throw in as much balloons as possible that it takes for them to finally let a balloon hit the floor. Then I would conclude by explaining how the balloons represented everyday obstacles and how we need to learn how to limit ourselves and what we take on in order to avoid being stressed out. I mean it is obvious, the more you have on your plate, the more energy its going to require for you to complete the tasks, and once the energy runs out you end up relying on stress as a survival last resort. In conclusion, I believe I have found a pretty neat activity for my final lesson.

 

Blog 18: Third Answer

Content:

• Essential Question: What is the best way a therapist can help an adolescent cope with stress?
• Answer #3: The best way a therapist can help an adolescent cope with stress, is by teaching the adolescent how to identify feelings and express their emotions.
• 3 Details Supporting the Answer:

1. Many people who are stress prone tend to have difficulty with feelings. They may have a problem knowing what their feeling. Or at times people are able to identify their feelings but do not know how to express them. When feelings begin to come up during stressful times, there is often a tendency to maintain that stress which ultimately only increases your stress. 
2. Feelings are effected by stress. When under stress, your body is in a state of psychological distress which is directly linked with emotions. Since your already set to have emotional issues, it will not take much to set you off. 
3. An important first step is identifying your feelings. Secondly, you must learn how to express your feelings. This can be achieved through sharing your feelings with another person, or writing them out in a journal, or by "physically discharging" them by crying or venting anger perhaps with a pillow. Once you've given some expression to your feelings you can reach the final step and communicate your feelings to whomever brings out these emotions from you. To sum it up, the ability to gain awareness of and express your feelings is an essential part of the process of recovering from stress. 
4. (Additional Supporting Detail) Feelings can be compared to charges of energy that need physical release or discharge from the body. When not expressed enough, they tend to be stored in your body in the forms of tension, stress, and anxiety. Your physical health as well as your sense of well-being relies on your participation of acknowledging and expressing your feelings during both good and difficult times.   

My Research Sources:
This book that my mentor gave me:
Bourne, Edmund J. The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook. N.p.: New Harbinger Publications, 2011. Print. 
My Mentor:
Karla Vallejo Rodriguez, Marriage and Family Therapist, employed at Pacific Clinics

• Concluding Sentence: Our emotions and feelings are very important to our health and well-being. Our emotions can be compared to charges of energy that need release or will be stores up in your body as forms of stress, tension, and anxiety. One of the best ways for a therapist to help an adolescent cope with stress is by teaching the adolescent how identify and express their emotions. Once they are able to be aware of their feelings and know how to properly express them, then they will begin to live a less stressful way of life.

Blog 17: Fourth Interview

Content:
Post 20 open-ended questions for approval you want to ask an expert in the field of your senior project.  The focus of your questions should be on your many answers.   

1.) How will an adolescent best grasp knowledge about his/her stress and use it to their advantage? 
2.) What is the best relaxation skill to possess and why is it better than the rest?
3.) How would food and nutrients effect an adolescent's stress level?
4.) What makes adolescent's stressed in the first place?
5.) Is it better for an adolescent to attempt to handle their stress on their own or with the guidance from somebody, and why so? 
6.) How would an adolescent with a very stressful and busy lifestyle ever have the time to try and fix their stress?
7.) What are the main pieces of information that an adolescent should know in order to become successful gatekeepers of their emotional ways? 
8.) As an adolescent is it potentially physically or mentally dangerous to have stress? (Like I know when your older it can lead to heart problems, etc. As an adolescent are there any risks like that though?)
9.) How do you teach an adolescent how to become more stress-educated?
10.) Is stress inevitable? Can we only apply treatment to stress but never really just erase all stress completely for good?
11.) What are some examples of stress relief skills and tactics?
12.) If as an adolescent you are not able to treat your stress, will it be impossible or nearly impossible to do so as an adult?
13.) Where you ever stressed out a lot as an adolescent? If so how did you personally deal with your stress?
14.) What are the gatekeepers to an adolescent's stress and emotional levels?
15.) When in terms to stress, would physical training and exercise help relieve stress more? Or would something solely mental and non-active be more beneficial to ease your mind, and why so?
16.) If you were an adolescent in this present day, which stress reliever route would you chose and why?
17.) When dealing with stress is better to use a mixture of different stress tactics or stick solely to one thing that helps you with your stress the most, and why? 
18.) Can technology somehow help an adolescent manage our stress? Or is technology part of the problem when it comes to stress? Please explain. 
19.) Is there a certain method that gets you to become less stressed faster? More efficiently? Which? Why so?
20.) What is the best way a therapist can help an adolescent cope with stress?