1. Psychology 40S Stress and Health
Carla McMurray
Source: PSYCHOLOGY (9th Edition) David Myers Worth Publishers, © 2010

2. Events Reactions Definition
As a group, on the top half of your chart paper, write down events in your life that cause stress.
On the bottom half, describe your most prominent reaction to that stress, i.e. how do you react physiologically/ mentally?
Sweaty palms, pounding chest, etc.
Create a personal/group definition for stress
Events
Reactions
Definition

3. When we feel severe stress, our ability to cope with it is impaired.
Stress and Health
Stress is any circumstance (real or perceived) that threatens a person’s well-being.
Preview Question 11: What is stress?
Lee Stone/ Corbis
When we feel severe stress, our ability to cope with it is impaired.

4. Stress is normal
Stress is a normal even essential part of life that goes hand in hand with working toward any goal or facing any challenge.
Whether we like it or not, we cannot escape stress but we can however learn to cope with stress so that it makes our lives interesting without overwhelming us.

5. Stress can be maladaptive
Stress can be adaptive
In a fearful or stress causing situation, we can run away and save our lives.
Stress can be maladaptive
If it is prolonged (chronic stress), it increases our risk of illness and health problems.

6. Two Types of Stress
Distress (Negative Stress) – stress that stems from acute anxiety or pressure. This type of stress can take a harsh toll on the mind and body. Eustress – positive stress which motivates and challenges the person

7. Stress Appraisal
Stress is not merely a stimulus or a response. It is a process by which we appraise and cope with environmental threats and challenges.
Bob Daemmrich/ The Image Works
When short-lived or taken as a challenge, stressors may have positive effects. However, if stress is threatening or prolonged, it can be harmful.

8. Activity
Choose a stressful event in your life and write it down. Appraise it first as a threat and then as a challenge. Explain what that would look like.

9. Stressful Life Events
Catastrophic Events: Catastrophic events like earthquakes, combat stress, and floods lead individuals to become depressed, sleepless, and anxious.
Significant Life Changes: The death of a loved one, a divorce, a loss of job, or a promotion may leave individuals vulnerable to disease.
Daily Hassles: Rush hour traffic, long lines, job stress, and becoming burnt-out are the most significant sources of stress and can damage health.
Preview Question 12: What events provoke stress response?

10. The Stress Response System
Fight or Flight
Walter Cannon introduced the term stress.
He proposed that the stress response (fast) was a fight-or-flight response marked by the outpouring of epinephrine and norepinephrine from the inner adrenal glands

11. Fight or Flight Response

12. Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
Sympathetic NS “Arouses”
(fight-or-flight)
Parasympathetic NS “Calms”
(rest and digest)

13. Stress and the Heart
Stress that leads to elevated blood pressure may result in coronary heart disease, a clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle.
Plaque in
coronary artery
Artery
clogged
Preview Question 13: Why are some of us more prone than others to coronary heart disease?

14. Stress and Colds
Experiment: Drops of the common cold virus where given to subjects. Those who were stressed were twice as likely to develop a cold.

15. Personality Types
Type A is a term used for competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone people.
Type B refers to easygoing, relaxed people.
Type A personalities are more likely to develop
coronary heart disease.

16. Personal Control
External Locus of Control: When people feel that chance or outside forces beyond their control determines their fate. Internal Locus of Control: When people feel that they control their own fate.

18. Develop An Internal Locus of Control
Realize that you always have choice to change your situation.
If you feel trapped, make a list of all possible courses of action.
Brainstorm with a friend to get more ideas
When you have a list, evaluate each one and decide on the best course of action for you.
Repeat this practice when you feel trapped in frustrating situations in your life.
Tips:
Notice your language and self talk.
Phase out phrases like, ‘I have no choice’, and, ‘I can’t…” You can replace them with, ‘I choose not to,’ or, ‘I don’t like my choices, but I will…’
Your attitude affects your stress level more than you may realize.

19. Social Support
Supportive family members, marriage partners, and close friends help people cope with stress. Their immune functioning calms the cardiovascular system and lowers blood pressure.

20. Stress Coping Strategies
As you watch the 6 videos on the website, fill out the Stress Video sheet. Hand in for marks.