stress Flashcards
Psychological stress (response)
Mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances.
Physiological stress (response)
Sensory, emotional and subjective experience associated with potential damage of body tissue and bodily threat
types of stress
Eustress (‘good stress’) Positive stress which is beneficial and motivating; typically the experience of striving for a goal which is within reach. Eustress is motivating.
Distress (‘bad stress’) Negative stress which is damaging and harmful. Typically occurs when a challenge (or threat) is not resolved by coping or adaptation.
acute stress
Short-lived response to a novel situation experienced by the body as a danger (usually without conscious processing). It is healthy & adaptive, and necessary for survival. E.g. noise, fire, hunger, brief illness
chronic stress
Arises from repeated or continued exposure to threatening or dangerous situations, especially those that cannot be controlled e.g. physical illness, abuse, poverty
3 phases of the general adaption syndrome
- Alarm – threat or stressor identified or realised; body’s response is state of alarm (fight or flight)
- Adaption – body engages defensive countermeasures
- Exhaustion – body runs out of defences, resources depletes
5 elements of the human stress response
- Biochemical
- Physiological
- Behavioural
- Cognitive
- Emotional
how are stress responses mediated
Stress responses are primarily mediated via the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) system) & the hypothalamo-pituitary (HPA) axis.
These responses lead to changes that influence future responses to stress, also reflecting brain plasticity
biochemical and molecular stress responses
Glucocorticoids(cortisol)
Catecholamines (adrenaline & noradrenaline)
• Acute stress: immune suppression
• Chronic stress: partial immune suppression + low-grade chronic inflammatory response
examples of physiological stress responses
- Breathing more rapid to increase oxygen
- Blood flow increases by up to 400% & directed to heart and muscles
- Increased heart rate & blood pressure
- Muscles tense
- Glucose released, insulin levels fall: boost energy to muscles
- Red blood cells discharged from the spleen
- Mouth becomes dry (saliva and mucus dry up)
- Sweating
- White blood cell redistributed where injury may occur i.e. bone marrow, skin, lymph nodes; less available elsewhere
later physiological responses to stress
- Headache
- Chest pain
- Stomach ache
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Low energy
- Loss of libido
- Colds & infections
- Cold hands & feet
- Clenched jaw & grinding teeth
behavioural responses to stress
- Easily startled & hypervigilant
- Change in appetite – both directions
- Weight gain (obesity) or weight loss
- Procrastinating and avoiding responsibilities
- Increased use of alcohol, drugs & smoking
- Nail biting, fidgeting and pacing
- Sleep disturbances especially insomnia
- Withdrawal
cognitive responses to stress
- Constant worrying
- Racing thoughts
- Forgetfulness and disorganisation
- Inability to focus
- Poor judgement
- Being pessimistic or seeing only the negative side
- Altered learning
emotional responses to stress
- Depression & sadness
- Tearfulness
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Aggression
- Low self-esteem and worthlessness
- Boredom & apathy
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Rumination, anticipation & avoidance
what are 2 key parts of the brain when responding to stress?
amygdala
hippocampus
