8.MEH.1

What does this standard mean a child will know and be able to do?

8.MEH.1.1 Evaluate stress management strategies based on personal experience.
It is important for a person to feel equipped with strategies for dealing with stressful situations. Just as everyone faces their own set of stressors in various life situations, they should learn to be able to recognize the most effective methods of dealing with stressors. This is often done through trial-and-error…figuring out the best stress-management strategies. This takes self-reflection and personal analysis of one’s previous experiences. A young person may discover, for example, that time management techniques (such as keeping a planner and prioritizing tasks) are helpful to reduce the pressure he or she feels in school. For some young people, exercise is the best way to manage stress. For others, the best ways to cope with stress are relaxation techniques, talking it out with a friend, or writing in a journal. By experimenting with various methods of stress management, the best method can be discovered and used in the future.
 * The student will identify a variety of techniques for managing personal stress.
 * The student will describe the importance of self-reflection in evaluating his or her most effective stress-management strategies.
 * The student will apply effective methods for coping with stress based on personal experience.

8.MEH.1.2 Design a plan to prevent stressors or manage the effects of stress.
A stressor is anything that causes the stress response. It can be a person, place, thing, event, or life situation. In order to reduce the amount of stress in a person’s life and therefore reduce the negative effects of stress, a healthy person can distinguish between the stressors in life that can be eliminated and those that cannot. If students can learn to prevent some stressors and reduce their anxiety levels, they can learn to lead a life free from unnecessary stress. For example, if a student has a math test the following week, he or she can reduce the stress associated with that test by making sure that they are prepared. Being aware of potential stressors and making a plan to avoid them (or be better prepared to face them) is an important life skill. Once an individual is working to prevent or reduce unnecessary stressors, that person needs to learn to manage the effects of the stressors that cannot be avoided, such as conflict between two friends or the pressures of schoolwork. Managing the effects of stress in positive ways (exercise and relaxation techniques, for example) can reduce the negative effects of stress and help one feel more confident in his or her ability to handle future stressors.
 * The student will be able to distinguish between the types of stressors that can be prevented and those that cannot.
 * The student will recognize healthy methods of coping with the effects of stress.
 * The student will plan to prevent stressors and manage stress in positive ways.

8.MEH.1.3 Design effective methods to deal with anxiety.
Stress and anxiety are a part of life. Anxiety is defined as being uneasy and uncertain about the future. Low levels of anxiety are to be expected and can be helpful. If a person is mildly anxious, then he or she is better able to prepare or perform. Learning how to effectively manage anxiety is a key component for maintaining one’s mental health. Methods of coping with anxiety include cognitive therapy, relaxation techniques, physical exercise, improved planning and organizational skills, and in some cases, medication. It may be a combination of methods that is needed to help one deal with his or her anxiety.
 * The student will be able to design effective methods of dealing with anxiety.
 * The student will consider which methods of dealing with anxiety can work best for them.
 * The student will seek help for anxiety that is excessive and not manageable.