ELEMENTARY SEL & Wellness

We recognize April as National Stress Awareness Month to bring attention to the negative impact of stress. Managing stress is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Feeling emotional, nervous or having trouble sleeping and eating can all be normal reactions to stress. Here are some healthy ways you can deal with stress:

• Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to the news, including those on social media. Staying informed is important, but constantly hearing about traumatic or worrisome events can be upsetting. Consider limiting news to just once a day and disconnecting your phone, TV and computer screens for a while.
• Take care of your body.
  
• Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate.
• Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
• Exercise regularly.
• Get plenty of sleep.
• Avoid vaping and excessive alcohol, tobacco and substance use.
• Continue with routine preventive measures (vaccinations, well visits, mammograms, etc.) as recommended by your healthcare provider.
• Make time to unwind. Listen to soft or relaxing music. Use a calming app, Take time for yourself. Read a book. Meditate.
• Talk to others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling. Find a parent, friend, counselor, doctor or pastor to discuss your problems.
• Connect with your community or faith-based organizations.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol. These may seem to help, but they can create additional problems and increase the stress you are already feeling.
• Recognize when you need more help. If problems continue or you are thinking about suicide, talk to a psychologist, social worker or professional counselor.

Life can be stressful—you may feel stressed about performance at school, traumatic events (death of family member, a natural disaster, or an act of violence), or a life change. Everyone feels stress from time to time.

What is stress? Stress is the physical or mental response to an external cause, such as having a lot of homework or having an illness. A stressor may be a one-time or short-term occurrence, or it can happen repeatedly over a long time.

What is anxiety? Anxiety is your body's reaction to stress and can occur even if there is no current threat.

If that anxiety doesn’t go away and begins to interfere with your life, it could affect your health. You could experience problems with sleeping, or with your immune, digestive, cardiovascular, and reproductive systems. You also may be at higher risk for developing a mental illness such as an anxiety disorder or depression. Read more about anxiety disorders.

Stress and Anxiety

• Generally is a response to an external cause, such as taking a big test or arguing with a friend.
• Goes away once the situation is resolved.
• Can be positive or negative. For example, it may inspire you to meet a deadline, or it may cause you to lose sleep.

TCHATT (Texas Child Health Access Through Telemedicine) provides telemedicine or tele-heath programs to children within Cuero ISD. TCHATT also helps to identify and assess the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents and provide access to mental health services. Cuero ISD is proud to be part of this program that helps students get access to mental health treatment and resources.

Ruby Rodriguez, M.Ed. ~ Director of Special Programs

Kathy F. Scott, LMSW ~ Elementary School Climate Specialist

Courtney Kalinowski M.S., LPC ~ Junior High School Climate Specialist

Lacy Timpone, M.Ed., LPC ~ High School School Climate Specialist

Website: www.cueroisd.org
Location: 960 East Broadway Street, Cuero, TX, USA
Phone: 3612751900

Facebook: facebook.com/cueroisd/