We all have inner strengths and resilience that can help us deal with challenges and stress. While there are myriad strategies to handle stress, the California Office of the Surgeon General identified 7 evidence-based stress buster interventions that can help reduce stress, improve health, and build resilience:
Resources from the California Office of the Surgeon General
The California Surgeon General's Playbook (English)
Link to download Playbook in 7 additional languages: Arabic, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese
The California Surgeon General's Stress Busters Playbook for Caregivers and Kids (English)
Stress Busters Handout from PACEs Connection and ACEs Aware available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Dari, and Farsi.
The California Virtual Training Academy (VTA) provided support in the creation and translation of this handout. This resource was reviewed by the California Collaborative ACEs Learning and Quality Improvement Collaborative (CALQIC) Patient Community Advisory Board. CALQIC also supported translation of the document.
10-minute videos on each of the Stress Busters from California Virtual Training Academy (VTA)
According to the World Health Organization, stress is "any type of change that causes physical, emotional, or psychological strain” and our body's response to a trigger that requires action. Everyone experiences stress, but the response to stress greatly impacts a person’s physical and mental well-being.
There are three types of stress responses: positive, tolerable, and toxic. According to the Harvard Center on the Developing Child, "When toxic stress response occurs continually, or is triggered by multiple sources, it can have a cumulative toll on an individual’s physical and mental health—for a lifetime. The more adverse experiences in childhood, the greater the likelihood of developmental delays and later health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and depression. Research also indicates that supportive, responsive relationships with caring adults as early in life as possible can prevent or reverse the damaging effects of toxic stress response." Learn more about the science of positive and adverse childhood experiences (PACEs).
STRESS BUSTER SOURCES
PACEs Connection would like to acknowledge Intern Hilary Marine's work in compiling Stress Buster resources.