Ch. 15, Sec 1 Vocabulary:

1. Ch. 15, Sec 1 Vocabulary: • Stress: a person’s reaction to his or her inability to cope with a certain tense event or situation • Stressor:a stress-producing event or situation • Stress reaction: the body’s response to a stressor • Distress: stress that stems from acute anxiety or pressure • Eustress: positive stress that motivates you • Conflict situations: when a person must choose between two or more options that tend to result from opposing motives.

2. Ch. 15, Section 2Vocabulary continued … • Anxiety: a vague, generalized apprehension or feeling of danger • Anger: the irate reaction likely to result from frustration • Fear: the usual reaction when a stressor involves real or imagined danger • Immune system:the body’s natural defense system against infection

3. Stress and Health

4. How do you define stress? • Are some people more prone to a “stressful” or “stressed-out” personality?

5. Stress: • A person’s reaction to his or her inability to cope with a certain tense event or situation • BUT, what is stressful for one person may not be for someone else. • Ex: flying • First time flyer vs. flight attendant

6. Stress Facts • The American Academy of Family Physicians estimates that 60% of the problems brought to physicians in the U.S. are stress related. Many are the result of stress; others are made worse or last longer because of it.

7. Health Problems with Excessive Stress • Stroke • Gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers • Impaired immune system • Insomnia, headache • Backache • Drug & alcohol use

8. How Stress Promotes Illness • Direct effect • Raises blood pressure • Impairs immune system • Indirect effect • Less positive behaviors (exercise, healthy diet, lack of sleep) • More negative behaviors (drinking, smoking, unhealthy diet)

9. BURN RUST OUT OUT (Distress) (Boredom) EUSTRESS (The optimal amount of stress) The Stress Target Zone Eustress = positive stress which results from motivating strivings and challenges. “Good stress which motivates us”

10. Stress Continuum • Rust Out (Boredom) • Fatigue, frustration, dissatisfaction • Eustress • Creativity, problem solving, change, satisfaction • Burn Out (Distress) • Over-stimulation, ineffective problem solving, exhaustion, illness, low self-esteem

11. Types of Stressors • Environmental • Heat, noise, crowding • Physiological • Drugs, caffeine, tobacco • Emotional (psycho-social) • Pressures, life

12. Appraisal of Stressors High Stress See stressor as a threat Stressor Stress Appraisal See stressor as a challenge Low Stress

13. Hardiness • Commitment • Control • Challenge Are you a “Hardy” Person?

14. Conflict Situations(Figure 15.2, page 415) • Approach-Approach: choose between 2 good options • Avoidance-Avoidance: choose between 2 “bad” options • Approach-Avoidance: a decision that might have a good and/or bad outcome • Double approach-avoidance: choose between multiple options, each has good and bad.

15. Reactions to Stress: Ch. 15, Section 2 • Physiological • Increased HR • Tense muscles • Cognitive • Worry, lack of concentration • forgetfulness • Emotional • Anger, sense of dread • Behavioral • Less patient, hurrying

16. Reactions to Stress: Ch. 15, Section 2 • Fight or Flight response: self defense mechanism to cope with immediate, threatening danger. • (Ex: see a snake … kill it or run? Regardless, your adrenaline will go up, causing heart beat and breathing to increase which gives you more energy to react)

17. Reactions to Stress cont. • General Adaption Syndrome • Hans Selye • 3 stages in a body’s stress reaction • #1 Alarm (fight or flight defenses) • #2 Resistance (find ways to cope with the stress to avoid negative consequences) • #3 Exhaustion (adrenal glands and hormone levels have reached their max)

18. Emotional and Cognitive responses to stress • Anxiety – most common response to a sudden stressor. We see a potential, but unclear threat in the stressor. • Anger – a result from frustration • Fear – when the stressor involves real danger

19. Physical Reactions to Stress • Compromise your immune system (as we discussed earlier) • Psychosomatic symptoms – real, physical symptoms caused by stress (headaches, stomach aches)

20. Behavioral Reactions to Stress • Develop nervous habits (trembling, pacing, biting names, pulling hair) • Gulp down meals, smoke or drink more, take drugs, exhaustion • Some positive behavioral reactions like saving someone’s life during a crisis • What happens when stress gets out of control?? • Severe anxiety • Phobias • Addictions • Psychological Disorders

21. Coping with Stress: Ch. 15, Section 3 • Cognitive appraisal • Denial • Intellectualization • Hardiness • Controlling stressful situations • Problem solving • Relaxation • Support groups and professional help

22. Active Coping Strategies Accepting Re-Appraising Praying Problem Solving Controlling Seeking Social Support Passive Coping Strategies Ignoring Escaping Confronting Relaxing Exercising Seeking Social Support Types of Coping Strategies

23. Stressorwithin your control Active CopingStrategies Stress Outcome Stressorout of your control Passive CopingStrategies Coping with Stress

24. Summary of Stress You may not be able to smooth out the surf, but you can learn to ride the waves!