Stress is the body's response to any demand placed on it and can be caused by both positive and negative experiences. The document discusses the general adaptation syndrome model which outlines how the body responds to stress in three phases - alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. In the alarm phase, stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released to prepare the body for fight or flight. If stress continues long-term without recovery periods, it can lead to the exhaustion phase where the body's ability to cope is overwhelmed, increasing risk of health issues. Both short-term and long-term stress can impact physical and mental health through pathways like increased stress hormone levels.
Stress is the body's response to any demand placed on it and can be caused by both positive and negative experiences. The document discusses the general adaptation syndrome model which outlines how the body responds to stress in three phases - alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. In the alarm phase, stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released to prepare the body for fight or flight. If stress continues long-term without recovery periods, it can lead to the exhaustion phase where the body's ability to cope is overwhelmed, increasing risk of health issues. Both short-term and long-term stress can impact physical and mental health through pathways like increased stress hormone levels.
Stress is the body's response to any demand placed on it and can be caused by both positive and negative experiences. The document discusses the general adaptation syndrome model which outlines how the body responds to stress in three phases - alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. In the alarm phase, stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released to prepare the body for fight or flight. If stress continues long-term without recovery periods, it can lead to the exhaustion phase where the body's ability to cope is overwhelmed, increasing risk of health issues. Both short-term and long-term stress can impact physical and mental health through pathways like increased stress hormone levels.
Stress is the body's response to any demand placed on it and can be caused by both positive and negative experiences. The document discusses the general adaptation syndrome model which outlines how the body responds to stress in three phases - alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. In the alarm phase, stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are released to prepare the body for fight or flight. If stress continues long-term without recovery periods, it can lead to the exhaustion phase where the body's ability to cope is overwhelmed, increasing risk of health issues. Both short-term and long-term stress can impact physical and mental health through pathways like increased stress hormone levels.
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UNIT V
Stress, Coping and Health
Stress - Definition • A psychological and physical response of the body that occurs whenever we must adapt to changing conditions, whether those conditions be real or perceived, positive or negative. • People experience stress when they perceive that there is an imbalance between the demands made of them and the resources they have available to cope with those demands. • Although the experience of stress is psychological, stress also affects people’s physical health. • Short-term stress –isn’t usually a problem. • Stress becomes a risk to safety and health when it is protracted. • There are two types of stress, • Eustress(good stress). • Distress (not so good stress). Eustress • Eustress - the positive response one has to a stressor, which can depend on one's current feelings of control, desirability, location, and timing of the stressor. • Potential indicators of eustress may include responding to a stressor with a sense of meaning, hope, or vigor. • Eustress is positively correlated with life satisfaction and well-being. Distress • Distress is the most commonly referred to type of stress. • This occurs when the demands upon us are so great that they lead to bodily and mental damage. • Distress is damaging, excessive or pathogenic (disease producing) stress. Two types of Distress • Acute stress – intense stress that arrives and disappears quickly. –Meeting with a minor accident –Searching for something you have misplaced • Chronic stress – prolonged stress that exists for weeks. • Poverty • Chronic illness • Both eustress and distress can be equally taxing on the body, and are cumulative in nature, depending on a person's way of adapting to the stressor that caused it. • The body cannot differentiate between distress or eustress. It is dependent on one's perception of the stress. • The same stressor may cause both eustress and distress • Hyperstress – occurs when an individual is pushed beyond what he or she can handle. It results from being overworked or overloaded. This can trigger strong emotional reactions for minor incidents. • Hypostress – occurs when an individual is bored or unchallenged. This can lead to restlessness. For example – any one doing repetitive work. Sources of Stress • Stress is caused by: • Poor match between us and our work • Poor relationships • Presence of psychological or physical violence • By conflicts between our roles at work and outside it. Different Sources of Stress Sources within a person –Illness –Unrealistic self-expectations –Conflict – simultaneous existence of incompatible demands, opportunities. • Approach/approach conflict. • Approach/ avoidance conflict. • Approach/ avoidance conflict. 2. Survival stress – occurs when our survival is threatened. This is controlled mainly by the release of adrenaline, flight/ fight. 3. Change – resistance to change. Success depends on adaptation to and anticipation of change. 4. Environmental stress – noise, pollution, dirty conditions, invasion of personal space. 5. Family – personality of each member of a family impacts other members of the family. Divorce, illness, disability, death. 6. Community and society – interpersonal contacts, neighbours, friends etc. 7. Job stress – time pressures, deadlines, too much work, lack of job security etc. 8. Hormonal factors – puberty, pre- menstrual syndrome, menopause etc. Symptoms • At the college/ organisationlevel: –Absenteeism, –Poor time-keeping, –Disciplinary problems, –Harassment, –Reduced productivity, At the individual level: • Emotional reactions (irritability, anxiety, sleep problems, depression, hypochondria, alienation, burnout) • Cognitive reactions (difficulty in concentrating, remembering, learning new things, making decisions) • Behavioural reactions (abuse of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco; destructive behaviour) • Physiological reactions (back problems, weakened immunity, peptic ulcers, heart problems, hypertension). • THE OFFICAL LIST OF SYMPTOMS OF Stress as listed by the American Institute of Stress. • Frequent headaches, jaw clenching or pain • Gritting, grinding teeth • Difficulty concentrating, racing thoughts • Stuttering or stammering • Trouble learning new information • Tremors, trembling of lips, hands • Forgetfulness, disorganization, confusion • Neck ache, back pain, muscle spasms • Difficulty in making decisions. • Light headedness, faintness, dizziness • Feeling overloaded or overwhelmed. • Ringing, buzzing or "popping" sound • Frequent crying spells or suicidal thoughts • Frequent blushing, sweating • Feelings of loneliness or worthlessness • Cold or sweaty hands, feet • Little interest in appearance, punctuality • Dry mouth, problems swallowing • Nervous habits, fidgeting, feet tapping • Frequent colds, infections, herpes sores • Increased frustration, irritability, edginess • Rashes, itching, hives, "goose bumps” • Overreaction to petty annoyance • Unexplained or frequent "allergy" attack • Increased number of minor accidents • Heartburn, stomach pain, nausea • Obsessive or compulsive behavior • Excess belching, flatulence • Reduced work efficiency or productivity • Constipation, diarrheaLies or excuses to cover up poor work • Difficulty breathing, sighing • Rapid or mumbled speech • Sudden attacks of panic • Excessive defensiveness or suspiciousness • Chest pain, palpitations • Problems in communication, sharing • Frequent urination • Social withdrawal and isolation • Poor sexual desire or performance • Constant tiredness, weakness, fatigue • Excess anxiety, worry, guilt, nervousness • Frequent use of over-the-counter drugs • Increased anger, frustration, hostility • Weight gain or loss without diet • Depression, frequent or wild mood swings • Increased or decreased appetite • Insomnia, nightmares, disturbing dreams • Feeling Tired all the Time • Increased smoking, alcohol or drug use • Excessive gambling or impulse buying Biopsychosocial aspects of stress • Sympathetic nervous system and endocrine system are aroused. • All energy and blood goes to the skeletal muscles, because of the fight-or-flight reaction: you are ready to run away. • There is hardly any energy or blood for the digestive system. • Two major stress hormones are adrenalin (epinephrine) and noradrenalin (norepinephrine). • These are made in the adrenal glands and affect the sympathetic nervous system; they accelerate the heart rate, increase respiration and ensure that energy is released. • They make that the body gets to an increased state of alertness, and so begins the first phase of the general adaptation syndrome. Biopsychosocial aspects of stress • Hans Selye - 'the father of stress research,' developed the theory that stress is a major cause of disease because chronic stress causes long-term chemical changes. • He observed that the body would respond to any external biological source of stress with a predictable biological pattern in an attempt to restore the body’s internal homeostasis. • He introduced the General Adaptation Syndrome model in 1936 showing in three phases what the alleged effects of stress has on the body. –Alarm stage –Resistance stage –Exhaustion stage. • ALARM STAGE –recognition of danger and prepares to deal with the threat, a.k.a. the fight or flight response. • Activation of the HPA axis, the nervous system (SNS) and the adrenal glands take place. • The main stress hormones cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline, are released to provide instant energy. • If this energy is not used by physical activity, it can become harmful. • Too much adrenaline results in a surge of blood pressure that can damage blood vessels of the heart and brain – a risk factor in heart attack and stroke. • The excess production of the cortisol hormone can cause damage to cells and muscle tissues. • Stress related disorders and disease from cortisol include cardiovascular conditions, stroke, gastric ulcers, and high blood sugar levels. • At this stage the body alarms with a sudden jolt of hormonal changes, and the person is immediately equipped with enough energy to handle it. • RESISTANCE STAGE -The body shifts into this second phase with the source of stress being possibly resolved. • Homeostasis begins restoring balance and a period of recovery for repair and renewal takes place. • Stress hormone levels may return to normal but reduced defenses and adaptive energy may be left. • If a stressful condition persists, the body adapts by a continued effort in resistance and remains in a state of arousal. • Problems begin to manifest when this process repeats too often with little or no recovery. Ultimately this moves the person into the final stage. • EXHAUSTION STAGE -At this phase, the stress has continued for some time. The body’s ability to resist is lost because its adaptation energy supply is gone. Often referred to as overload, burnout, adrenal fatigue, maladaptation or dysfunction. • Here is where stress levels go up and stay up!The adaptation process is over and not surprisingly; this stage of the general adaptation syndrome is the most hazardous to ones health. • Chronic stress can damage nerve cells in tissues and organs. Particularly vulnerable is the hippocampus section of the brain. • Thinking and memory are likely to become impaired, with tendency toward anxiety and depression. • There can also be adverse function of the autonomic nervous system that contributes to high blood pressure, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other stress related illness. Psychosocial aspects of Stress Cognition and stress – stress can impair our cognitive functions. High stress levels=poor memory and attention. Emotion and stress – emotions accompany stress. Fear, depression, anger. Social behaviour and stress – stress changes people’s behaviour. People become helpful – earthquakes or hostile - riots Coping with stress • Emotional and physical strain accompany stress. • To avoid this people are motivated to reduce the stress levels. • Some withdraw from the problem whereas others confront. • This is called coping with a stressful situation. • Coping is defined as the constantly changing cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage specific external/ internal demands appraised as taxing or exceeding the resource of the person. • It is a process by which people try to manage the perceived discrepancy between the demands and the resources they see in a stressful situation. • Coping may not necessarily lead to resolution of the problem – avoidance. Types of Coping • Emotion focussed coping – its to regulate emotions experienced because of the stressful event. –Releasing pent up emotions –Distracting oneself –Managing hostile feelings –Relaxation procedures –Meditating –Defense mechanisms • Problem-focused coping – Dealing directly with the stressor to eventually eliminate it. –Doing something constructive –Finding information about the problem and learning new skills to manage the problem. Coping strategies • When an individual chooses one of the coping types and puts it into operation it is referred to as “Coping Strategy”. • An individual who is aware of more typs of coping has the advantage of choosing a strategy that is most suitable in a given context. Types of coping • Confrontive coping – taking the bull by its horn – standing your ground in an argument or discussion. • Painful problem solving – marked by objectivity – absence of emotions – the person chalks out a definite plan of action and follows it. • Seeking social support – tapping resources from ones interpersonal relationships – shoulder to cry on. • Accepting responsibility – blaming oneself. • Positive reappraisal – attaining goals through another way – it is all for my own good • Distancing – making light of the situation – refusal to think too much about it. • Self-control – relieving the stress covertly – keeping things to themselves – keeping others from knowing how bad things are. • Escape – avoidance – focus is shifted from the problem and is fixed elsewhere. Stress and illness • Stress can be defined as a process in which environmental demands strain an organisms adaptive capacity, resulting in both psychological as well as biological changes that could place a person at risk for illness • Stressful life events are related to the risk of infected individuals developing an illness. • Traumatic stressful events may trigger either behavioral or biological processes that contribute to the onset of disease. • Chronic stress has been associated with increased reports of illness. • Long-term exposure to chronic stress may facilitate the development of illness during exposure to stress. • Exposure to chronic stress may results in permanent or at the very least long-term psychological, biological, or behavioral responses that alter the progression of illness. • Those who had either a work related or interpersonal chronic stressors (defined as stress lasting one month or longer) had an increased risk of developing colds compared to those who had no chronic stressor. • In addition, the longer the stress endured, the more likely a person was to become ill. • Psychological stress predicted a greater expression of illness. • However, life experiences were significantly correlated with somatic symptomIs and energy level. • Overall health status was highly correlated with somatic symptoms.