1. Stress and health

2. Sources of stress

3. Stress
*stress- a person’s reaction to his or her inability to cope with a certain tense event or situation
varies for each person

4. Components of stress *Stressor- A STRESS-PRODUCING EVENT OR SITUATION
*dISTRESS- (bad stress), stress that stems from acute anxiety or pressure, takes a toll on the mind and body
*eustress- (good stress), results from motivating strivings and challenges

5. SOURCES OF STRESS
*conflict situations- when a person must choose between two or more options that tend to result from opposing motives
Approach-Approach, avoidance-avoidance, approach-avoidance, double approach-avoidance
*How much stress you feel changes on how you evaluate the situation

6. Environmental stressors
*Noise
Loud, irregular, uncontrollable, can increase blood pressure and stress hormones
*Crowding (feeling crowded, if unpleasant for culture)
Crowded High-rise apartments show increased aggression
Intensifies reactions, but does not create them
*Life changes, even if positive
*day-to-day hassles
Being late
Gradually weakens the health
Can be offset by uplifts

7. How were the numbers compiled
How were the numbers compiled? Does each life event have the same stress level for every person? What accounts for these differences? Describe how expectation/outlook affects the intensity of life events. In your experience, are people who dislike change better equipped to cope with stress than people who claim to welcome change in their lives?

8. Sources of stress- analyzing concepts
to summarize, some psychologists believe that stress is an event that produces worry. Others believe that stress is an individual’s response to such an event. Still others believe stress is an individual’s perception of the event.
Which definition of stress do you agree with? Why?

9. Reactions to stress

10. holistic Physical, psychological, behavioral
Ancient coping mechanisms are our automatic response often
Can be positive or negative responses

11. General Responses *Fight or Flight Response
Adrenal glands  increase blood sugar, adrenaline
Too long can be harmful
*general adaptation syndrome- alarm, resistance, exhaustion

12. General adaptation syndrome
Stress
resistance
Phase 1
Alarm
reaction
(mobilize
resources)
Phase 2
Resistance
(cope with
stressor)
Phase 3
Exhaustion
(reserves
depleted)
The body’s resistance to stress can last
only so long before exhaustion sets in
Stressor
occurs
General adaptation syndrome

13. Emotional and cognitive responses
*Anxiety, anger, fear
*Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly, recurring thoughts, poor decision making, unjustified distrust of others
*Continued frustration burned out
*Can lead to mental illness

14. Behavioral and physical reactions
Short-term- nervous habits, drugs, shaky voice, posture changes
Sometimes positive- helping others during disasters
*escape the situation
*Psychosomatic symptoms (real, physical symptoms that are caused by stress or tension)prolonged stress may cause health problems
Difficulty breathing, insomnia, migraines, urinary and bowel irregularities, muscle aches, sweating, dryness of mouth, peptic ulcers, hypertension, certain types of arthritis, asthma, and heart disease
*stress weakens, illness may follow
Continued stress  fight or flight is exhausted immune system is suppressed

15. Factors influencing reactions to stress
*”type A” personalities
Always prepared for fight or flight
Increased risk for heart disease
Road rage reflects the driver’s anger and lack of self-control
*those who are not emotionally expressive
Increase risk for cancer
*perceived control over stressors
We prefer predictable stress
*Social support

16. reactions to stress
Studies show that there can be long-term benefits of stress. In one study of people who experienced frequent illness, subjects were found to be more empathetic and more able to tolerate uncertainty. Stressful situations also require people to learn ways to manage the stress. In the process of resolving the stressful situations, they gain confidence in their abilities. This confidence can benefit people later as they encounter other stressful situations.
Do you think the long-term benefits of stress outweigh the short-term struggles? What would likely happen to someone who did not learn to successfully manage stressful situations?

17. Coping with stress

18. Psychological coping strategies- Defensive
*cognitive appraisal- the interpretation of an event that helps determine its stress impact
*Denial
*Intellectualization- analyze the situation from an emotionally detached viewpoint
These prevent a stress reaction, but do not deal with the stressor

19. Psychological coping strategies- active
*active- Changing our environment or modifying the situation to remove stressors or reduce the level of stress
*hardiness- control, commitment, challenge
*controlling stressful situations
Leave a family gathering, young couple waiting to marry and have a baby not at the same time
*problem solving instead of setback
*Explanatory style- optimist versus pessimist
Pessimists are more likely to die at a younger age
*relaxation
Progressive relaxation, meditation

20. Psychological coping strategies- active
*biofeedback
*humor
*exercise
May burn off stress hormones
Aerobic exercise reduces cardiovascular response following stressful life events and immediate stress
*Support groups and professional help
*training
*improving interpersonal skills

21. Coping with stress Depression score 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
Before treatment
evaluation
After treatment
No-treatment
group
Aerobic
exercise
Relaxation
treatment

22. Coping with stress
Why would writing about a stressful experience help you better cope with it?
Think of a stressful situation that you have recently experienced. How did you cope with it?

23. Coping strategies
Time management has become a source of stress in our society. These suggestions may help you.
Set realistic expectations of what you can accomplish each day.
Try living in the present; getting the most out of each moment.
Take at least 30 minutes each day to relax, meditate, or otherwise free your mind of all distractions (no TV or phone).
Simplify your life in some measurable way.

25. Stress in your life

26. Autonomy
*autonomy- the ability to take care of oneself and make one’s own decisions
Separating from the family, physically and emotionally

27. college
Many approach college with high and often unrealistic aspirations
May change mind and image of oneself
Sources of change
Challenge high school identity
Greater diversity among students
Developmental friendships- friends force one another to reexamine their basic assumptions and perhaps adopt new ideas and beliefs
Coping with change
Focus more narrowly
Detaching emotionally from the experience
Keep options open until you can make a choice- resynthesis (combining old ideas with new ones and reorganizing feelings in order to renew one’s identity

28. working Each experience is different each person reacts differently
Work satisfaction sources
Resources, Financial reward, challenge, relations with coworkers, comfort
May change careers
Retire, parenting, not satisfied
*Comparable worth- the concept that women and men should receive equal pay for jobs calling for comparable skill and responsibility

29. Extra- sources of stress
Remember the difference between distress and eustress. List as many items as possible that create distress or eustress in your life.
Categorize the types of stress using the following categories
social stressors
environmental stressors
biological stressors
psychological stressors
Write a paragraph summarizing your lists.

30. extra- sources of stress
Write down on a sheet of paper five common stressors in your daily life. Do not put your name on the paper
I will collect and put them on the board.
What do you consider to be the most serious stressful events or situations? Why?

31. Extra- sources of stress
The ssrs lists events considered stressful for adults. Assume your job is to develop a similar scale for teenagers. In what ways would your scale be different?
First, develop a list of life events that you deem stressful to teenagers and rank them from 1 to 20, with 20 being the most stressful. Assign each event a value based on how much adjustment the event requires.
Provide a copy of your list to several friends and ask them to circle the events that they have experienced in the past year.
Ask each person to indicate any illnesses they have had in the past year.
For each person, add up the values for the events they have circles. Note the illnesses they recorded.
Does your rating scale show any relationship between stressful events that teenagers face and illnesses they experience? Explain.

32. Extra- sources of stress
Explore how personal space variations among cultures can create stress. Write a paragraph that expresses how a person who is used to much personal space feels when the space is invaded.
Then write a paragraph from the point of view of the person who is used to little personal space.

33. Extra- reactions to stress
Select a high-stress job such as air traffic controller, firefighter, police officer, medical resident
Identify the sources of job stress
Design a poster that can be displayed on the job site to warn workers of the health hazards of stress. Posters can be informative, inspirational, or humorous

34. Extra- coping with stress
Let’s try progressive relaxation

35. Extra-coping with stress
Progressive relaxation
Lie on the floor
feet- point feet straight out and curl toes lightly. Release and relax.
Legs- keeping legs straight, lift feet off floor 10 inches. Relax.
Stomach and chest- take a deep breath and tighten stomach muscles as your hold your breath. Push shoulders back and hold as your exhale slowly. Relax.
Arms- tighten arm muscles as you move hands toward arms. Relax.
Face and neck- smile broadly, tighten neck muscles, push eyebrows up and tighten. Relax.
How do you feel?
When would you be most likely to use progressive relaxation techniques?

36. Extra- stress in your life
Your future happiness in the world of work depends on factors like what you are doing, where you work, who you work with, and why you are working there. Use these factors to create a list of jobs or careers that might suit you. explain your choices.