1. KATY RIMSTAD, MA UNIVERSITY OF ST. THOMAS PERSONAL COUNSELING AND TESTING Stress and Health

2. What is stress? Human reaction to change Different for different people Catastrophes Significant life changes Daily hassles Conflict

3. College Undergraduate Stress Scale Add up stress ratings that you have experienced Individual differences in what event is how stressful Cumulative effect Gender differences? Some events occur multiple times in a year

4. Stress Response Systems Fight or Flight Response General Adaptation Syndrome  Alarm reaction  Resistance  Exhaustion

5. Physical Reactions to Stress Sympathetic nervous system activates  Increased heart rate & breathing  Digestion stops  Pain is dulled Stress hormones released  Cortisol  Adrenaline Cannot remain in this state forever

6. Not all stress is bad Needed for motivation and performance Stress x Performance  Some helps, too much interferes  Breakdown point is different for all

7. Stress x Performance Level of stress Performance

8. Related to Stress Heart Disease Susceptibility to disease  Immune System  AIDS  Cancer  Conditioning

9. Perceived Control Poverty inequalities Optimism vs. Pessimism Handout: What are the chances of you getting these health problems?

10. Promoting Health/Coping with Stress Exercise Biofeedback/Relaxation Social Support Spirituality Cognitive Daily Activities Modify Illness-Related behavior

11. Coping Styles Active-Cognitive  1, 6, 7, 10, 11, 15, 20, 21, 23, 26, 29 Active-Behavioral  2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 22, 25, 28, 31, 32 Avoidance  4, 9, 14, 16, 19, 24, 27, 30