WHAT IS WHAT IS STRESS ?STRESS ?

The body and mind’s reaction to everyday demands and threats

TYPES OF STRESSTYPES OF STRESS

EUSTRESS – positive stress

DISTRESS- negative stress can result from too much pressure or trauma and you don’t know how to cope with it

STRESSORSSTRESSORS

• THINGS THAT PRODUCE A STRESS THINGS THAT PRODUCE A STRESS RESPONSERESPONSE

• examplesexamples

STRESSORSSTRESSORS

• BIOLOGICAL-BIOLOGICAL-mental or physical mental or physical illnessillness

• Ex. being blind, Ex. being blind, break an armbreak an arm

• ENVIROMENTAL-ENVIROMENTAL-poverty, pollution, poverty, pollution, crowding, noises crowding, noises and natural and natural disasterdisaster

MORE STRESSORSMORE STRESSORS

• COGNITIVE OR COGNITIVE OR THINKINGTHINKING- the - the way you perceive way you perceive a situationa situation

• PERSONAL PERSONAL BEHAVIORBEHAVIOR- - negative reaction negative reaction of the mind and of the mind and body because of body because of drugs,alcohol, etc.drugs,alcohol, etc.

STRESS CONTINUEDSTRESS CONTINUED

• LIFE SITUATIONSLIFE SITUATIONS- - having someone having someone or something die, or something die, divorce, trouble divorce, trouble relationshipsrelationships

Stress Response Stress Response SequenceSequence

1.1. Alarm- First stage, when the body Alarm- First stage, when the body and mind go on high alert. Body and mind go on high alert. Body produces adrenaline to prepare produces adrenaline to prepare the body to respond to a stressor. the body to respond to a stressor. The heart speeds up, providing The heart speeds up, providing more blood to the brain and more blood to the brain and muscles. Breathing becomes muscles. Breathing becomes faster, providing more oxygen to faster, providing more oxygen to the brain and muscles.the brain and muscles.

2. Resistance2. Resistance–The second stage, when the The second stage, when the body tries to repair damage body tries to repair damage from the stressful event and from the stressful event and return to its normal state. return to its normal state. Physical resistance reaches its Physical resistance reaches its peak, that is why people have peak, that is why people have been known to do amazing been known to do amazing feats of strength.feats of strength.

3. Fatigue3. Fatigue• Third stage, resulting in a tired feeling Third stage, resulting in a tired feeling

that lowers one’s activity level of that lowers one’s activity level of activity. activity. – Physical fatigue – build up of lactic Physical fatigue – build up of lactic

acidacid– Pathological fatigue – overworking the Pathological fatigue – overworking the

body’s defenses in fighting diseasebody’s defenses in fighting disease– Psychological fatigue – constant worry, Psychological fatigue – constant worry,

depression, boredom, and isolationdepression, boredom, and isolation

Stress and YouStress and You• Each person handles stress differently Each person handles stress differently

based on personalitybased on personality– Type A – competitive, high- Type A – competitive, high-

achieving most likely to develop achieving most likely to develop heart disease or other health issuesheart disease or other health issues

– Type B – “laid-back” non-competitive Type B – “laid-back” non-competitive type less likely to develop problemstype less likely to develop problems

– Hardy – seems to stay healthy Hardy – seems to stay healthy despite major or traumatic stressorsdespite major or traumatic stressors

Possible Effects of Possible Effects of StressStress

• High blood pressureHigh blood pressure• HeadacheHeadache• AsthmaAsthma• Immune responseImmune response• Psychosomatic response – a Psychosomatic response – a

physical disorder causes by stress physical disorder causes by stress (migranes, panic attacks, (migranes, panic attacks, stomachaches, digestive problemsstomachaches, digestive problems