Stress: How and why do we experience it? Stress is a response to perceived threats that activate thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and physiological arousals that promote adaption and survival Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

What is Stress? Stressor Stress is a physical and mental response to a challenging or threatening situation caused by a… Stressor A stressful stimulus or condition demanding adaption ex: your hands up in the air is a reaction to the stressor (gun) being pointed at you

Stress Appraisal Appraisal Response Stressful event (tough math test) Threat (“Yikes! This is beyond me!”) Challenge (“I’ve got to apply all I know”) Panic, freeze up Aroused, focused Appraisal Response

The Physical Stress Response Nearly any stressor follows the same physical sequence Initial arousal Protective behavioral reaction, fight/flight Internal responses to autonomic/endocrine system Decrease in effectiveness of immune system

Stress Relief Activities Stress is an unavoidable fact of life. As a result, it’s important to find healthy ways to manage stress. Today you will have an opportunity to try out a few different methods of managing your stress. Complete the questions that accompany each activity.

Physical Stress Response Hans Selye (1956 “Father of Stress” General Adaption Syndrome (GAS) A pattern of responses to any serious chronic stressor Prolonged stressor response can contribute to heart disease, ulcers, arthritis, asthma, and even death

The General Adaptation Syndrome Alarm Reaction Alarm reaction – the body mobilizes it’s resources to cope with a stressor Resistance Resistance – the body seems to adapt to the presence of the stressor Exhaustion Illness/death Exhaustion – the body depletes it’s resources Successful Resistance Level of normal resistance Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

IF STRESSOR IS NOT REMOVED IN TIME, THE ORGANISM MOVES TO NEXT STAGE GAS – Stage 1 Alarm Reaction Body mobilizes its resources to cope with a stressor Hypothalamus signals response through endocrine system Adrenal hormones are released The sympathetic nervous system is activated IF STRESSOR IS NOT REMOVED IN TIME, THE ORGANISM MOVES TO NEXT STAGE Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

IF STRESSOR IS NOT REMOVED IN TIME, THE ORGANISM MOVES TO NEXT STAGE GAS – Stage 2 Resistance Alarm reaction (arousal) subsides Body tries to adapt to stressor Hormonal changes to cope with stress Conservation of resources The parasympathetic nervous system is activated and adrenal output slows IF STRESSOR IS NOT REMOVED IN TIME, THE ORGANISM MOVES TO NEXT STAGE Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

IF STRESSOR IS NOT DISAPPEAR IN TIME, DEATH OCCURS TO ORGANISM GAS – Stage 3 Exhaustion Organism tires fighting stressor(s) Symptoms of stage one (alarm reaction) reappear The parasympathetic nervous system overcompensates in an attempt to stop surging hormones IF STRESSOR IS NOT DISAPPEAR IN TIME, DEATH OCCURS TO ORGANISM Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Studying the Stress-Illness Relationship This is the subject of a new field of study: psycho-neuroimmunology, the study of how interacting psychological, neural, and endocrine processes affect health. Psychologists no longer use the term “psychosomatic” because it has come to mean an imagined illness. We now refer to psychophysiological illness, a real illness caused in part by psychological factors such as the experience of stress. Lymphocytes two types of white blood cells that are part of the body’s immune system B lymphocytes form in the bone marrow and release antibodies that fight bacterial infections T lymphocytes form in the thymus and, among other duties, attack cancer cells, viruses, and foreign substances Click to reveal bullets.

Stress and Heart Disease Many factors contribute to heart disease. Biological: genetic predisposition to high blood pressure and high cholesterol Behavioral: smoking, inactivity, and high-fat diet Psychological: chronic stress, and personality styles that worsen the experience of stress In coronary heart/artery disease, the blood vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle itself become clogged, narrowed, and closed. Click to reveal sidebar bullets. Stress increases the risk of heart disease over decades and causes immediate heart attacks. However, stress can also increase cholesterol levels and artery clogging factors in the space of weeks (the accountant study in the text) and prevent the liver from filtering cholesterol and fat from the blood. Clogging of the coronary artery

Stress and the Heart Hopelessness scores Heart attack Death 3.5 3 2.5 1.5 1 0.5 Heart attack Death Low risk Moderate risk High risk Men who feel extreme hopelessness are at greater risk for heart attacks and early death

Stress and the Heart

Stress and the Immune System The human immune system response, which evolved to respond to short-term stressors, may react to chronic stressors by breaking down and turning on itself Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007

Quiz time… go to your email and check this link out http://www. psych

Stress and Personality Personality Types Type A Personality Behavior pattern characterized by intense, angry, competitive, or ‘perfectionist’ responses to challenging situations Type B Personality Behavior pattern characterized by a relaxed, unstressed approach to life