Managing Stress
Coping with Stress 1.Prevention (Situational) 2.Problem-focused approach (Rational coping / Reframing) 3.Emotion-focused approach (Body focus – reducing impact of stress)
Healthy lifestyle Time-management Attitude Prevention
Aerobic exercise –As reliever of depression and stress –Neurosci Vid #22: Activity, Exercise, and the brain Depression score No-treatment group Aerobic exercise group Relaxation treatment group
Time-management Time stress Strategies (develop in small groups) Common time-consumers? (identify and minimize) Prioritizing Avoiding procrastination
Personality style (e.g., Type A or B; hostility/cynicism vs. “laid-back” Optimism Attitude
Type A Modifying Type A life-style can reduce recurrence of heart attacks Percentage of patients with recurrent heart attacks (cumulative average) Year Life-style modification patients Control patients Modifying life-style reduced recurrent heart attacks
2. Problem-focused approach Problem-solving Assertiveness (e.g., saying “no” to demands) Cognitive restructuring (managing self-talk – particularly unrealistic, irrational self-talk)
Cognitive Restructuring Stressful event (tough psych test) Threat I’m gonna bomb!”) Challenge (“I’ve got to apply all I know”) Panic, freeze up, Procrastinate… Optimal Aroused Focused Prepared Appraisal Response
Social support Research on s.s. and health/well-being grooming in primates “tend-and-befriend” love, relating, and oxytocin ( Neurosci Vid # 51) 3. Emotion-focused approach
Relaxation strategies Biofeedback Emotion-focused approach