week 8: health stress and coping

Question 1

what is stress

Answer 1

A negative emotional experience accompanied by predictable physical, psychological, and behavioural responses directed at alleviation or accommodation

Question 2

what is a stressor

Answer 2

Stimuli that contributes towards stress

Question 3

types of stress

Answer 3

distress

eustress

Question 4

types of distress

Answer 4

acute stress

chronic stress

Question 5

General Response to Stress

Answer 5

flight or fight (SNS)

nurturing/comfort

Question 6

3 stages of stress

Answer 6

1. Alarm reaction stage
2. Resistance
3. Exhaustion

Question 7

what happens in the Alarm reaction stage of stress

Answer 7

Distress signal is sent to the hypothalamus
Hypothalamus triggers release of adrenaline and cortisol
Increases HR, blood pressure and blood sugar levels
Fight/flight (SNS)

Question 8

What happens in the resistance stage of stress

Answer 8

• Body tries to counteract physiological changes
• Parasympathetic branch of the ANS returns the body by reducing cortisol production
• HR/BP return to normal

Question 9

what happens if the stressor remains

Answer 9

body will stay in alert, stress hormone production continues, stress hormone resources gradually depleted

Question 10

what happens in the exhaustion stage of stress

Answer 10

Body depleted , no longer equipped to fight stress, leads to depression/anxiety
Development of stress-related health conditions

Question 11

common pathological consequences of prolonged stress

Answer 11

fatigue, muscle wasting, steroid diabetes
hypertension
ulcers
bone decalcification
loss libido 
suppressed ovulation
impaired disease resistance
apathy
accelerated neural degeneration during age

Question 12

The Sympathetic Division of the ANS

Answer 12

most involved in activities associated with the expenditure of energy from reserves stored in the body

Question 13

Physiology of Stress

Answer 13

Sympathetic activation

Hypothalamic – Pituitary – Adrenal (HPA) axis

Question 14

Hypothalamic – Pituitary – Adrenal (HPA) axis

Answer 14

Acute stress appraisal can be performed by the amygdala and bypass the cortex
Amygdala – implicated in perception of fear and learned fear response

Question 15

Sympathetic activation

Answer 15

Cerebral cortex: Psychological appraisal
Signal to hypothalamus
Hypothalamus initiates SNS arousal via the HPA axis

Question 16

HPA Axis

Answer 16

Hypothalamus
-Controls body temp, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, sex drive
-Part of the limbic system, size of an almond, sends signals to adrenal cortex
Pituitary
-Pea sized structure below hypothalamus, produces adrenocorticotropic hormone that switches on adrenal gland
Adrenal Gland
-On top of the kidneys, pumps cortisol/adrenaline into the bloodstream, produces faster heart rate, pushes blood to muscles, heart, BP goes up, breath more rapidly, small airways in lungs open up, extra oxygen to the brain, sight and other senses get sharper.
-Adrenaline triggers release of blood sugars and fats, supplying energy to all parts of the body.

Question 17

Cortisol

Answer 17

Produced by the adrenal glands in response to the pituitary and hypothalamus
Fuels fight or flight

Question 18

how does cortisol Fuel fight or flight

Answer 18

Manages how body uses carbs, fats
Keeps inflammation down
Regulates BP
Increases glucose
Boosts energy

Question 19

an individuals perception of the event (appraisals)

Answer 19

primary appraisal: the individual determines the threat

secondary appraisal: the individual determines the coping resources needed/available

Question 20

types of secondary appraisal responses

Answer 20

problem-focused

emotion-focused

Question 21

problem-focused approach to secondary appraisal

Answer 21

changing the stressor

eg. creates a plan to aid in the coping of stress

Question 22

emotion-focused approach to secondary appraisal

Answer 22

regulating feelings/emotional response to the stressor instead of addressing the stressor
eg. meditation or therapy