1. UNDERSTANDING RESPONSES TO STRESS
Chapter 11
UNDERSTANDING RESPONSES TO STRESS

2. Stress
A broad class of experiences in which a demanding situation taxes a person’s resources, or coping capabilities, causing a negative effect

3. Early Stress-Response Theories
Walter Cannon
Fight-or-flight response
Body prepares for situation that individual perceives as threat to survival
New research indicates that men and women have different neural responses to stress

4. Early Stress-Response Theories Continued
Hans Selye
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
Three stages
Alarm or acute stress stage
Resistance or adaptation stage
Exhaustion stage
Psychological reactions (Lazarus)
Distress
Eustress

5. Neurotransmitter Stress Responses
Serotonin synthesis more active
May impair serotonin receptor sights and brain’s ability to use serotonin

6. Immune Stress Responses
Interaction between nervous system and immune system during alarm phase of GAS
Negatively affects body’s ability to produce protective factors

7. Types of Conflict
Approach-Avoidance
Avoidance-Avoidance
Vacillation

8. Mediators of the Stress Response
Stressors
Perception
Personality
Social support

9. Mediators of the Stress Response Continued
Self-help groups
Low- and high-quality support
Culture
Spirituality and religious beliefs

10. Nursing Management of Stress Responses
Measuring stress
Social Readjustment Rating Scale (Holmes and Rahe; 1967, 1978, 1997)
Measures level of positive and negative stressful life events over a 1-year period
Assessing coping styles

11. Coping Strategies Seeking comfort Relying on self-discipline
Intense expression of feeling
Avoidance and withdrawal
Talking it out
Privately thinking it through
Working it off

12. Coping Strategies - continued
Engaging in self-healing and mind/body practices
Spirituality and prayer
Symbolic substitutes
Somatizing

13. Behavior Stress-Management Techniques
Benson’s relaxation techniques
Meditation
Guided imagery
Breathing exercises

14. Behavior Stress-Management Techniques Continued
Physical exercise
Progressive muscle relaxation
Biofeedback

15. Cognitive Approaches to Stress Management
Cognitive reframing
Mindfulness
Journaling
Humor