Week 6 Stress and Coping Flashcards
Stress
an actual or alleged hazard to the balance of homeostasis in our body
Homeostasis
state of steady internal, physical, chemical, and social conditions maintained by living systems
Stressors
physical, psychological, or social stimuli that can produce stress and endanger homeostasis
Eustress
positive form of stress, serves a benefit
Distress
negative form of stress, does not serve a benefit
Appraisal
how a person interprets the impact of the stressor
Stress occurs when
an individual considers the event as a threat and the ability to respond to the demands placed on the individual by the event to be overwhelming
Trauma
when symptoms of stress persist beyond the duration of the stressor
Acute stress
stress experienced on a daily basis from minor situations
Chronic stress
stress experienced on an ongoing basis (>6 months)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
begins when a person experiences or witnesses a traumatic event and they respond with an intense fear or feel intense feeling of helplessness
- traumatic events such as MVA, natural disaster, person violent or assault
- common among HCP, veterans, first responders
Secondary traumatic stress
The trauma a person experiences from witnessing suffering of others
- component of compassion fatigue
- common among HCP and first responders
- nightmares, difficulty relating, difficulty sleeping, withdraw
Crisis
occurs when coping mechanisms are ineffective and a change must be made
Developmental crisis
also called maturational crisis
- occurs when a person moves through different stages of life
Situational crisis
external crisis, typically unexpected trauma
Adventitious crisis
also called events of disaster
- occurs during a major national disaster, man-made disaster, crimes of violence
Primary appraisal
- appraising the event in terms of its personal meaning
- stress results when a person identifies an event or circumstances as a harm, loss, threat, or challenge
Secondary appraisal
- concurrently happens with primary - appraisal
- a person considers available resources and coping strategies
stress occurs if the demand of the event placed on the person exceeds their ability to cope
Coping
- cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage a stressor
- coping is unique for everyone, and can be impacted by goals, beliefs, personal resources, cultural background, age, and types of stress experienced
- there are good coping mechanisms and bad coping mechanisms
- coping can decide if something is a stressor or not
Factors Influencing Stress and Coping
the appraisal of stressors, the amount of type of social support, and coping strategies all depend on previous life experiences and affect how a person reacts to that stressor
- situational and social stressors place people who are vulnerable at higher risk for prolonged stress
- very unique from person to person
- not a one size fits all
Situational factors
- stressors in the workplace
- adjusting to a new diagnosis
Maturational factors
- stressors based on life stage
- Erikson’s developmental theory
- may include many milestones such as beginning a family and career, losing parents, seeing children leave home, accepting physical aging
Sociocultural factors
- environmental, social, and cultural stressors
- examples - poverty, physical disability, social isolation
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
- 3 stage reaction to stress
- triggered by a physical or psychological event
- big in neuroendocrine system
- pituitary gland initiates the GAS after encountering a physical demand
- involves several body systems in responding to stress
- body is trying to return to allostasis