Stress Lecture 3

What is stress? Stress occurs when you feel that something is putting your health and safety at risk, and that you aren’t able to deal with the challenge.

Specific stressor Mental component Emotional component Physiological component War Natural disaster Daily hassles Family problems Busy at job/school Abuse Depression Illness Thinking that the problem is (1) damaging (2) too much for you to handle. Fear Anxiety Frustration Hopelessness Depression. Increased heart rate and blood pressure changes in metabolism Sleep Immune system (1)(2)(3) (4) The Components of Stress :

Types of stressors Harm and loss situations –Creates negative stress (distress) Threat situations –Creates negative stress (distress) –Makes you worried about possible harm or loss Challenge situations –Creates positive stress (eustress) –Perceived as a chance for growth

What happens to the body? Fight-or-flight response –An automatic nervous system reaction to stress –Prepares you to either confront or run away from a stressful encounter Release of adrenaline –Elevates heart rate and blood pressure –Constricts blood vessels of the skin –Dilates pupils of the eyes –Frees sugar from storage –Activates certain immune cells

What happens to the body? The fight-or-flight reaction is a natural response and is helpful for short periods of stress. If stress is chronic (lasts a long time), this response can cause damage. Chronic stress can make a person anxious, depressed, tired, burned out, and at risk of physical and mental illness.

Stress and illness Stress causes the mind and body to wear out by requiring more energy than usual Stress weakens immunity –People who are stressed may become sick more often or heal more slowly Stress can lead to unhealthy behaviors –People often turn to habits such as smoking, drinking, binging, or overwork to cope.

Homework In your journals, make a list of all of the things that stress you out.