1. Mind-Body Interactions: Physical & Psychological Contributions to Health HW 280 Unit 8 Seminar

2. Agenda  Discuss examples of mind-body effects on wellness  Explore physical and psychological paths  Wrap-up

3. Mind-Body Connections So Far...  Emotions and Cognitions as mental states  Physiology and Exercise  CAM  Premise that stress causes and worsens illness  Stress reduction or mediation can contribute to well-being

4. Conceptualizing Mind-Body Health STRESS

5. What is Stress?  Process by which environmental events threaten or challenge or threaten us, how these threats are interpreted, and how they make us feel.

6. Stress is a Psychophysiological Process  Environmental & Social Context  Responses Physiological Behavioral Cognitive Emotional  Examples of stress responses? Combination

7. Examples of Stress Responses Physiological: Fight or Flight Response  Massive response involving body systems The catecholamine system  Adrenaline and noradrenaline making the brain more sensitive, keeping all senses on guard. The cardiovascular (heart) system.  Increase heart rate, blood pressure, suppress immune response The neuroendocrine system  Releases cortisol and other hormones that impact things like cognition, memory

8. Reactivity  Useful concept in thinking about physiological responses to or bodily changes during stress  Extent to which physiological indices change in response to stress  Differences in reactivity independent of perceived stress (high and low responders)... Dispositional  Variability  What are the implications for stress?

9. Examples of Stress Responses  Psychological Responses Emotions Anxiety disorder Depressive disorders After effects  Cognitive ability, tolerance and frustration, aggressiveness, helplessness, decreased sensitivity to others, withdrawal  Related to perceived control

10. Dealing with Stress Appraisal  Stressors require perception of threat  Experiments of Lazarus (1965)  Factors that impact appraisal Coping  Choice of response to stress after immediate threat

11. Discussion Point: Identify and Discuss Coping Mechanisms Consider this scenario: You find that you are not being included in important projects and decisions at work. You’ve mentioned your interest in being involved to your supervisor briefly. Your supervisor only marginally acknowledged your concerns. Your professional development and contributions are important to you, so this situation is causing you stress.  1) What are some possible responses?  2) How will those responses address the stress being caused by the situation?

12. Stress and Illness  Exploration of links between stress and illness  Behavioral factors also play a role  Mechanisms of Behavioral Influence Psychophysiological responses Behavioral changes Wellness/Illness Behaviors  Onset, progression, and extent of disability

13. Discussion: Methods to reduce or mitigate stress  Dr. David Speigle presented evidence supporting the use of various stress reduction and coping techniques in the general population and among breast cancer patients.  1) Which methods interested you and why?  2) What did you think were the most striking examples of evidence in support of Dr. Speigle’s techniques?

14. Wrap-up  Stress  Physiological & Psychological Responses  Stress responses  Dealing with stress  Stress and Health  Any questions?! Have a great week!