1. DESCRIBING AND IMPACTS ON HEALTH
Stress
DESCRIBING AND IMPACTS ON HEALTH

2. STRESS
The process of appraising and responding to threatening or challenging events.
stressors + stress reactions
What causes YOU stress? mins

3. SOURCES OF STRESS Three types of Stressors 1 : Catastrophes
Unpredictable, large-scale events
Natural disasters, terrorism/war, depression/famine, etc.
2 : Significant Life Changes
Life transitions
Going away to college, getting married, losing a job, moving, death of a family member, accident/illness/surgery, etc.
3 : Daily Hassles
Rush hour traffic, annoying siblings/coworkers, long lunch lines, too many things to do, etc.

4. Physical Effects of Stress
Stress appraisal activates the hypothalamus
Which triggers the pituitary gland and SNS of the ANS
Heart rate increases
Respiration rapid and shallow
Liver releases glycogen
Pupils dilate
Goosebumps triggered by SNS
Glands and hormones (epinephrine and corticosteriods)
Muscle tightness

5. THEORIES OF PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIONS TO STRESS

6. WALTER CANNON Stress is a unified mind-body experience (1930s)
Not the first to think it, but pushed idea forward
Emotion arousing incidents produce an outpouring of epinephrine and norepinephrine
SNS is activated
Fight or Flight Response
Other physiologists identify second response system and adrenal glands secrete cortisol (helps decision making)

8. HANS SELYE video Studied animals’ reaction to stress (1936)
Maintained the body’s adaptive response to stress is “generalized” (General Adaptation Syndrome)
Three phases:
Alarm
Resistance
Exhaustion
Dis Psy #23

10. The Brain As time permits, two clips from The Brain #21 and #22
The Brain Learner.org

11. FRIEDMAN & ROSENMAN (1956)
Found a correlation between stress and heart disease
Monitored the cholesterol levels of accountants
Measured just before and up to tax deadline (April 15)
Cholesterol levels returned to normal by June!

12. Type A and Type B Behaviors
Competitive
Hard-driving
Impatient
Anger prone
Type B
Easygoing
Relaxed
More patient
Remain calm when stressed

13. PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTIONS TO STRESS

14. Psychoneuroimmunology
Examining the interaction of psychological and physiological processes that affect the body’s ability to defend itself against disease
External defense system
Skin
Mucus linings
Internal defense system
Immune system

15. Psychological Reactions to Stress
Short term effects
Emotional reactions (anger, anxiety, embarrassment)
Cognitive reactions (concentration, distractibility)
Long term effects
Psychophysical (asthma, chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety disorders, panic attack, depression, infertility and/or PMS)

16. Psychological Reactions to Stress
Positive Aspects to Stress
Motivation levels and alertness levels of an individual can be increased.
Cultural Differences
People from different cultures may use different methods of dealing with stress
Coping strategies depend on cultural context

17. coping with stress 3 mins

18. Coping: Strategies to deal with stress
Emotional strategies
Cognitive strategies
Behavioral strategies
Physical strategies

19. Emotional Strategies Cognitive Strategies
Used in situations that are perceived as unchangeable
Situations aimed at regulating our distress, emotional responses (social support)
Cognitive Strategies
Reappraisal
Locus of Control (Internal vs. External)
Problem Solving (recall conflict resolution)

20. Behavioral Strategies
Time management (effective and efficient use of time)
Behavior Modification (application of operant and classical conditioning to make positive behavioral changes)

21. Physical Strategies Relaxation Training (progressive relaxation)
Biofeedback (recording and recognizing information about changes in one’s physiological state)
Meditation (technique used to promote inner peace and tranquility)
Aerobic exercise (sustained exercise to increase cardiovascular and lung fitness)
Diet and Nutrition (eating healthy choices and well-balanced meals)
Social support (friends and family as a source of encouragement)

23. Take care of yourself!