Stress  Reaction of mind and body to demands on life Stressor Something that causes stress

Eustress vs. Distress  Eustress- stressor that is positive, motivational, increases confidence, increases productivity  Distress- stressor that is negative, breaks you down, hard to deal with

Eustress Examples  Dating  Planning for a dance (homecoming, turnabout)  Competitions  Try outs  Getting a job  School expectations  Planning weddings, vacations  Later in life- a baby Distress Examples  Death in the family  Homework, tests, and projects  Drama with friends  Peer pressure  Pressure from parents  Annoying siblings

Stress really starts with…  Your PERCEPTION of the event or situation.  Lizard and newscaster Lizard and newscaster Lizard and newscaster

General Adaptation Syndrome  3 Stages  Alarm- fight or flight response  Body reactions: adrenaline, ^ heart rate, ^ oxygen, muscles tighten, mind on high alert  Resistance- Body functions at higher than normal levels until it effectively deals with stressor  Body attempts to return to a state of balance called homeostasis.  Exhaustion/Fatigue- can occur with long periods of stress (divorce, death, loss of job)  Can lead to stress related illness (minor to serious)

 80% of doctors visits are attributed to stress  Why was the general adaptation syndrome helpful to the caveman? Why is it damaging to humans today?

Signs of Stress  Physical Signs  Headaches, trembling or twitching, upset stomach, migraines, sweating, rash, constipation, diarrhea, pounding heart, muscle aches and tightness, trouble sleeping, grinding teeth, dry mouth, nervous twitches or tics, dizziness, back pain, ringing in ears

 Emotional Signs  Frustration, nervousness, boredom, edginess, feeling powerless, being quick to anger, impatience, mood swings, worrying, loneliness, confusion, crying, low self-esteem, becoming easily upset without a cause

 Mental Signs  Trouble reading or thinking clearly, lack of creativity, constant worry, obsessive thoughts, inability to make decisions, forgetting, losing sense of humor and perspective

 Behavioral Signs  Not eating, overeating, compulsive talking, verbal or physical outbursts, fidgeting, using alcohol, caffeine, or other drugs, smoking, gambling, tapping feet, drumming fingers, hurrying, forgetting one’s values, withdrawing, reckless and high-risk behaviors like driving too fast withdrawing, reckless and high-risk behaviors like driving too fast

Psychosomatic Illnesses Physical conditions caused or aggravated by stress

Examples  Decrease immune functioning  Temporal Mandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ)  Muscle stiffness/pain  Asthma  Irritable Bowel Syndrome  Ulcers  Migraine headaches  High blood pressure  Heart attack  Stroke

Personality Types Type A- impatient, competitive, driven to work hard, aggressive *Is more likely to suffer from stress related illnesses if stress isn’t managed Type B- laid back, less hurried, patient, noncompetitive