What is Situational Stress?

• You experience situational stress when you’re in a scary situation you have no control over.
• This could be an emergency, but more commonly it’s a situation that involves conflict or a loss of status/acceptance in the eyes of your group.
  • e.g. Getting fired from your job
  • e.g. Making a major mistake in front of others

Coping skills to manage situational stress

KEY POINT: This type of stress often appears suddenly, like in a situation you did not anticipate, so it is important to increase your awareness and skills.

Technique 1: Recognize “automatic” physical and emotional signals that your body sends out when you’re under pressure

• Every person reacts differently to situational stress. 
• How do you respond to stress?
• How can you control this response?
• Back to Week One to review Physical and Emotional Signs

Technique 2: Use effective conflict resolution skills

• ​​​​​​Conflicts are an important cause of situational stress.
• Try to come up with win-win solutions to the problem.

Technique 3: Acknowledge, name, and manage emotions in the moment 

• Ask yourself: “What feeling am I experiencing right now?”
• Use coping skills to manage those feelings

Anger

Depression

Loneliness

Self-Compassion

Go Forward to Stress Management Workshop: Week Five