What Is Stress

What is Stress?What is Stress?

Psychological state Psychological state associated with associated with physiological and physiological and hormonal changes hormonal changes caused by conflict, caused by conflict, trauma, or other trauma, or other disruptive influences disruptive influences (stressors).(stressors).

StressorsStressors

Traumatic events outside the usual range of Traumatic events outside the usual range of human experiencehuman experience

Uncontrollable eventsUncontrollable events

Unpredictable eventsUnpredictable events

Events that challenge the limits of our Events that challenge the limits of our capabilities & self-conceptcapabilities & self-concept

Internal conflictsInternal conflicts

Finals exams are a good example:Finals exams are a good example:

They challenge the limits of our intellectual They challenge the limits of our intellectual capabilities.capabilities.

They carry the possibility of failureThey carry the possibility of failure

Highly Challenging EventsHighly Challenging Events

Everyday HasslesEveryday Hassles

They can make you feel They can make you feel sick, and unable to sleep sick, and unable to sleep or concentrate properly.or concentrate properly.

These can accumulate These can accumulate and create an overall and create an overall feeling of stress that we feeling of stress that we can’t blame on one can’t blame on one thing.thing.

Stress ResponsesStress Responses

STRESS

BehaviouralSleep disturbance

Use of alcohol/drugsAbsenteeismAggression

EmotionalDepression/anxiety

IrritabilityCryingSuicide

Loss of humour

CognitiveLack of concentration

Negative thoughtsWorrying

Poor Memory

BiochemicalIncreased metabolic rateAltered hormone levels

(adrenaline, cortisol, ACTH)Altered endorphin levels

PhysiologicalHigher blood pressure

Rapid shallow breathingIncreased heart rateDilation of pupilsMuscle tension

Dry mouth

Early Warning Signs of Exhaustion Early Warning Signs of Exhaustion StageStage

HeadachesHeadaches

GI disturbancesGI disturbances

Skin rashes & hivesSkin rashes & hives

Fatigue and DizzinessFatigue and Dizziness

HypertensionHypertension

Aggravation of: arthritis, colitis, asthma, ulcers, Aggravation of: arthritis, colitis, asthma, ulcers, diabetesdiabetes

Stress & Health Related Stress & Health Related BehavioursBehaviours

EXAM PERIOD =STRESS

SMOKE MORE

POOR DIET

MORE ALCOHOL

LESSSLEEP

LESS EXERCISE

Personality & StressPersonality & Stress

Type AType A

Competitive, achievement-oriented, sense of Competitive, achievement-oriented, sense of time urgency, difficulty relaxing, impatient, time urgency, difficulty relaxing, impatient, angry, hostile, outwardly confident but full of angry, hostile, outwardly confident but full of self-doubtself-doubt

Type BType B

Relaxed, easy-going, unpressuredRelaxed, easy-going, unpressured

Examples of Type A BehavioursExamples of Type A Behaviours

Thinking of, or doing, two things at once Hurrying the speech of others Unduly irritated by queues If you want something done you have to do it yourself Frequent knee jigging or rapid finger tapping Frequent use of obscenities Playing every game to win, even with children Impatience when watching someone else do something you think you could do better or faster Rapid blinking or tic-like eyebrow lifting

The Life Events Scale for StressThe Life Events Scale for Stress

Life Event Value Death of spouse 100 Divorce 73 Death of close relative 63 Marriage 50 Fired from job 47 Pregnancy 40 Sex difficulties 39 Change in finances 38 Death of close friend 37 Son/daughter leaving home 29 Trouble with in-laws 29

The Life Events Scale The Life Events Scale (continued)(continued)

Life Event Value Begin/end school 26 Change in living conditions 25 Revision of personal habits 24 Trouble with boss 23 Change in residence 20 Change in school 20 Change in recreation 19 Change in sleeping habits 16 Change in eating habits 15 Holiday 13 Christmas 12

Behavioural Stress Behavioural Stress ManagementManagement

Progressive Progressive relaxationrelaxation

YogaYoga

MeditationMeditation

HypnosisHypnosis

BiofeedbackBiofeedback

Personal Coping StrategiesPersonal Coping Strategies

Trust in timeTrust in time

Do not isolate yourselfDo not isolate yourself

Think positivelyThink positively

Keep a sense of humourKeep a sense of humour

Think of yourself as relaxedThink of yourself as relaxed

Exercise and Get a petExercise and Get a pet

Stress can be a positive Stress can be a positive thingthing

Stress is likely to be Stress is likely to be detrimental to detrimental to health only if it is health only if it is unresolved & long-unresolved & long-lastinglasting