stress

Question 1

what is stress

Answer 1

Stress is a state of physiological (biological) and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressor that are perceived by the individual as challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope.

Question 2

what are the types of stress

Answer 2

Internal stressors: originate within the individual
EG: Personal problems, physical pain

External stressors: originate outside the individual from situations and events in the environment
EG: too much homework, being nagged by parents

Question 3

what is acute stress

Answer 3

Short period of time
Body bounces back
Positives and negatives
Release of adrenaline, completion of task
Enhance problem solving ability and physical performance
BUT
Increased blood pressure
Can reduce motivation

Question 4

what is chronic stress

Answer 4

Continues over a prolonged period of time
Can have negative physiological and psychological impacts
Social isolation
Long lasting health issues
Unsafe environment
Bullying
can be cumulative

Question 5

What is the fight flight freeze response to stress

Answer 5

All three evolved as part of survival mechanism
fight — confronting and fighting off the threat
flight — escaping by running away to safety
freeze — keeping absolutely still and silent, avoiding detection
Fight-flight-freeze response – involuntary biological physical response to a sudden and immediate threat
It is controlled by the sympathetic nervous system

Question 6

Explain the Lazarus and Folkman model of stress

Answer 6

A psychological process used to describe and explain individual differences in how people respond to stress
Primary appraisal
-benign positive
-irrelevant
-Stressful - harm/loss, challenge, threat
Secondary appraisal: can I cope with the threat?
-Approach
-avoidant

Question 7

what parts of the brain are activated in stress

Answer 7

threats are detected by the amygdala then sent to the hypothalamus for processing

Question 8

List positives and negatives to cortisol

Answer 8

+ Suppresses unneeded bodily functions (including the immune system)
+ energises the body by increasing energy supplies such as blood sugar and enhancing metabolism.
- Physical health problems; digestive problems, weight gain
- Makes the body vulnerable to disease & sickness due to long term impaired immune system functioning

Question 9

What are the stages of General Adaption Syndrome (GAS)

Answer 9

1. Alarm reaction
   
   • shock
   • counter shock
2. resistance
3. exhaustion

Question 10

Define the Gut Brain Axis (GBA) with examples

Answer 10

The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication link between the CNS and the enteric nervous system via the vagus nerve
Ex 1. feeling sick in the stomach when stressed - the brain affecting the gut. Ex 2. an upset stomach affecting our psychological functioning - the gut affecting the brain

Question 11

how does adrenaline get released

Answer 11

After the amygdala sends a distress signal, the hypothalamus activates the sympathetic nervous system by sending signals through the autonomic nerves to the adrenal glands. These glands respond by pumping the hormone epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) into the bloodstream.\

Question 12

what is microbiota

Answer 12

Gut microbiota contributes to good gut health.
Important characteristics include diversity
Examples of keeping gut healthy is eating healthily and having good mental health.
Examples of having unhealthy gut is eating bad food and having bad mental health

Question 13

What is the difference between cortisol and adrenaline

Answer 13

Cortisol: takes a while to activate, and lasts for longer.
Adrenaline: activates very quickly, only lasts for a short period of time