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

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

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

Conceptualizing Mind-Body Health STRESS

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. Process by which environmental events threaten or challenge or threaten us, how these threats are interpreted, and how they make us feel.

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

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

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

Examples of stress responses Psychological responses Psychological responses Emotions Emotions Anxiety disorder Anxiety disorder Depressive disorders Depressive disorders After effects After effects Cognitive ability, tolerance and frustration, aggressiveness, helplessness, decreased sensitivity to others, withdrawal Cognitive ability, tolerance and frustration, aggressiveness, helplessness, decreased sensitivity to others, withdrawal Related to perceived control Related to perceived control

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

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. What are some possible responses? What are some possible responses? How will those responses address the stress being caused by the situation? How will those responses address the stress being caused by the situation?

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

Illustration: Relationships between stress and disease Scenario: Chronic alcohol use Scenario: Chronic alcohol use Moderate use may not be problematic Moderate use may not be problematic Heavy use associated w/cancer, infections disease, HIV Heavy use associated w/cancer, infections disease, HIV Stress affects alcohol use, but what are the mechanisms? Stress affects alcohol use, but what are the mechanisms? Stress alters metabolism of alcohol? Stress alters metabolism of alcohol? Complex interactions between body, mind, and environment related to stress and health Complex interactions between body, mind, and environment related to stress and health

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. Dr. David Speigle presented evidence supporting the use of various stress reduction and coping techniques in the general population and among breast cancer patients. Which methods interested you and why? What did you think were the most striking examples of evidence in support of Dr. Speigle’s techniques? Which methods interested you and why? What did you think were the most striking examples of evidence in support of Dr. Speigle’s techniques?

Wrap-up Stress Stress Physiological and Psychological Responses Physiological and Psychological Responses Stress responses Stress responses Dealing with stress Dealing with stress Stress and Health Stress and Health Have a great week!