Anna B. Perkowski Dr. Thomas Welch PSYCH101: Portfolio Assignment The Impact of Stress The Impact of Stress Anna B. Perkowski Dr. Thomas Welch PSYCH101: Portfolio Assignment

What is Stress? What is Stress? Stress – “the term used to describe the physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses to events that are appraised as threatening or challenging” (Ciccarelli. 2018) This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

Common sources of stress Too much to accomplish Random interruptions Doubt Mistrust Unclear policies Ambiguity Inconsistency Being unappreciated Lack of communication Lack of control Long work days Insecurities Discrimination or harassment Financial obligations Relationships Inappropriate amount of sleep Common sources of stress Common sources of stress

Stressors – “events that cause a stress reaction” (Ciccarelli, 2018)

Stress and the Immune System Psychoneuroimmunology – “the study of the effects of psychological factors such as stress, emotions, thoughts, and behavior on the immune system. Stress triggers the same response in the immune system that infection triggers. (Mailer & Waltkins, 1998). Stress releases chemicals in the brain that affects the vagus nerve (the longest nerve that connects the body to the brain). This activation of the receptor sites signals the brain that the body is sick. This causes the brain to respond by activating the immune system.

Combating Stress Combating Stress Track your stressors - keep a journal to identify which situations create the most stress and how you respond to them. Develop healthy responses – instead of attempting to fight stress with fast food or alcohol, do your best to make healthy choices when you feel the tension rise Take time to recharge – designate time to replenish and return to pre-stress level of functioning. Learn how to relax – techniques such as meditation, deep breathing exercises and mindfulness can help melt away stress. Get some support – accepting help from trusted friends and family members can Improve your ability to manage stress.

Organizations/resources that professionals can look to for guidance on managing stress. World Health Organization - www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/en/oehstress.pd American Psychological Association - http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/work- stress.aspx American Heart Association - http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/StressManagement/Stress- Management_UCM_001082_SubHomePage.jsp

References References Ciccarelli, S. K., & White, N. J. (2018). Psychology An Exploration (Fourth ed.). New York, NY: Pearson. American Psychological Association. Coping with Stress at Work. (n.d.). Retrieved April 5, 2018, from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/work-stress.aspx Maier, S. F., & Watkins, L. R. (1998). Cytokines for psychologists: implications of bidirectional immune-to-brain communication for understanding behavior, mood, and cognition. Psychological Review, 105

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