Ch. 3 Flashcards
stress
A physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension; an internal state of arousal, or the physical state of the body in response to various demands
Stressors are things that upset or excite us
- Tangible (e.g., dealing with an angry friend)
- Intangible (e.g., emotions that arise when you are participating in an athletic competition)
categories of stressors
- acute time-limited
- brief
- life changing
- chronic
- distant
eustress
positive stress that challenges us to grow, adapt, and find creative solutions (eg, births, reunions, weddings)
distress
negative effects of stress that can deplete or destroy life energy
neustress
neutral stress - not good or bad
general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
our bodies constantly strive to maintain homeostasis
describes the body’s response to a stressor in 3 distinct stages
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adaptive response
the body’s attempt to restore homeostasis
F3
fight flight freeze
- Fight: when faced with a challenge or fearful situation, hormones and physiological changes initiates a fight response
- flight: when fight is not an option
- freeze: cannot move, think or react
cognitive transitional model of stress and coping
- Looks at relationship between stress and health
- Psychological stress is a relationship between a person and his or her environment and the power to deal with the demands of that relationship without unreasonable or destructive costs
- Planful problem solving might have a healthy effect on the emotion response
- Confrontive coping and distancing may make things worse
- An event may be a stressor for one person but not for another
cognitive transitional model of stress and coping: during an event
- A primary appraisal process will be triggered
- A secondary appraisal process will take over
- Coping responses will be initiated
- Stress outcomes will feed back into the cognitive appraisal stage if more needs to be done to resolve the situation
stress and physical health
Stress contributes to approximately 80% of all major illness, including: -Cardiovascular disease -Cancer -Endocrine and metabolic disease -Skin rashes -Ulcers -Ulcerative colitis -Emotional disorders -Musculoskeletal disease -Infectious ailments -Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) -Uterine fibroid cysts -Breast cysts
stress and the immune system
-stressors cause the body to prepare for “fight or flight”
-Emotional response stimulates autonomic nervous system (ANS)
-Sympathetic nervous system (SNS) “speeds things up”
-Parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) “slows things
down,” restoring homeostasis
psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)
focuses on the relationship between the brain’s response to stress and the immune system
hypothalamus
“control centre” of the brain that reacts to stress hormones that have been released by the SNS
epinephrine
a hormone that initiates an increase in blood flow and allows for more oxygen to be taken in and a rise in breathing rate
adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)
released by the pituitary gland and causes release of cortisol, which helps to release nutrients the body has stored for energy
compromised immune system could be a result of
- Our body staying at high levels of stress for long periods of time
- Denying your own feelings over a long period of time
- Prolonged stress
- Traumatic stress
effects of stress on the body
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stress and the heart
- Stress can increase the risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular problems because of its link to negative lifestyle choices
- Stress can be an inherited risk factor in people who develop heart disease at a young age
- Studies of Type A and Type B behaviours: Type A character traits can lead to heart disease
- altering type A behaviour reduced cardia morbidity and mortality in heart attack patients
stress and the digestive system
- Eating on the run, overeating under stress, and gulping food can result in an overworked stomach and increased abdominal pressure
- Drinking lots of water replenishes lost fluids and prevents dehydration
- Fibre-rich foods counteract common stress- related problems
- Increased amounts of cortisol (stress hormone) released is related to abdominal obesity
stress and psychosocial health
-Relationships affect and are affected by stress
-Mild stressors can interfere with intellectual
health
-Stress becomes distress when moodiness, irritability, depression, and anxiety become everyday occurrences
common stressors among students
- Test pressures
- Academic failure
- Financial problems
- Relationship problems
- Daily hassles
- Pressures as a result of competition, deadlines, etc.
- Losses (e.g., breakup or death of a loved one)
general student stressors
- Highest student stressors are self-imposed
- Students bring complex psychological problems with them to campus (e.g., learning disabilities and mood disorders)
- Excessive stress linked to headaches, sleep disturbances, and colds
- Social support, time management, close friendships can help reduce stress
financial stress
- Concern about covering tuition, books, accommodation, food, and accumulated debt during college or university
- There are many proactive strategies for managing financial obligations
