StressStressandand

HealthHealth

We all experience stress but we don’t all find the same situations

stressful. Stress means different things for different people, and everyone has their own way of coping with it. Some people can even worry themselves sick and some research links stress directly to illness and death

StressStress Stress has many definitions Stress has many definitions but we will define it as… but we will define it as…

the experience of being the experience of being threatened by taxing threatened by taxing circumstances either by circumstances either by internal or external factorsinternal or external factors

Stress also depends on how Stress also depends on how people appraise or evaluate people appraise or evaluate environmental events.environmental events.

Types of StressorsTypes of StressorsStressorsStressors Things that cause us stressThings that cause us stress psychologically or physically demanding psychologically or physically demanding

events or circumstances that lead events or circumstances that lead to to stressstress

linked to weight gain or physical illness such linked to weight gain or physical illness such as heart disease, anxiety, and depressionas heart disease, anxiety, and depression

catastrophic eventscatastrophic eventsmajor life changesmajor life changesminor hasslesminor hassles

The Physiology of StressThe Physiology of Stress Hans SelyeHans Selye is the big daddy of stress is the big daddy of stress research research

He came up with a He came up with a stage theorystage theory for for stressstress

““General Adaptation General Adaptation Syndrome”Syndrome”

What does this mean??What does this mean??

Stage 1 - AlarmStage 1 - Alarm

The point we recognize something The point we recognize something is going onis going on

maybe a threatening situation maybe a threatening situation

The The sympathetic nervous systemsympathetic nervous system is activated is activated

Heart rate increases, blood is diverted Heart rate increases, blood is diverted away away from other body functions to from other body functions to muscles needed muscles needed to react to react

Flight or fight responseFlight or fight response

Stage 2 - ResistanceStage 2 - Resistance

The body remains The body remains biologically ready and tries biologically ready and tries to fight off the stressto fight off the stress

Hormones are released to Hormones are released to maintain the state of maintain the state of readiness readiness

If the resistance stage lasts If the resistance stage lasts too long the body can too long the body can deplete its resourcesdeplete its resources

Stage 3 - ExhaustionStage 3 - Exhaustion

ExhaustionExhaustion The body returns to The body returns to normal normal

state state

Burn OutBurn Out We can be We can be moremore vulnerable vulnerable

to disease in this stage to disease in this stage especially if our resources especially if our resources

were depleted by an were depleted by an extended resistance extended resistance stagestage

Remember !!!!Remember !!!!Selye’s three stages Selye’s three stages

ARE a GASARE a GAS

ARE = ARE = AAlarm,larm, R Resistance, esistance,

EExhaustion xhaustion

andand

GAS = GAS = GGeneral eneral AAdaptation daptation SSyndromeyndrome

Measuring StressMeasuring Stress

Holmes and RaheHolmes and Rahe designed a test to designed a test to measure stress measure stress

Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) Used life-changing units (LCUs) Used life-changing units (LCUs) Changes in life like changing jobs, moving, or marriage Changes in life like changing jobs, moving, or marriage

or deathor death The more LCUs the more stress and risks in healthThe more LCUs the more stress and risks in health

SRRSSRRS #2 – for minors

CopingCopingEfforts to manage stressEfforts to manage stress Some are good and confront the Some are good and confront the

problem and some are problem and some are destructive destructive like the use of alcohol like the use of alcohol and drugs to and drugs to escape the problemsescape the problems

Factors that improve Factors that improve copingcoping Social supportSocial support Faith FactorFaith Factor Optimism – positive psychologyOptimism – positive psychology Perceived control – internal locus Perceived control – internal locus

or external locusor external locus

Personality and StressPersonality and StressType A vs. Type BType A vs. Type B

Type AType A known as stress junkies – highly competitive, aggressive, known as stress junkies – highly competitive, aggressive,

and incapable of relaxation and incapable of relaxation at a higher risk for coronary heart diseaseat a higher risk for coronary heart disease

Type BType B patient, relaxed, and easy-goingpatient, relaxed, and easy-going

Type ABType AB – for those who are mixed – for those who are mixed