1. STRESS & ADAPTATION Concepts of Nursing NUR 123 Concepts Related to the Care of Individuals

2.  Stress: is a condition in which the human system responds to changes in its normal balanced state.  Stressor: is any thing that is perceived as challenging, threatening or demanding.  Adaptation: is the change that takes place as a result of the response to a stressor. Sources of stressors:  Internal stressors: e.g. illness, abnormal change, or fear  External stressors: e.g. noise, cold environment, death, move

3. General Adaptation Syndrome  General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) — biochemical model of stress (Hans Selye) –Alarm reaction –Resistance –Exhaustion

4. Alarm Reaction  Person perceives stressor, defense mechanisms activated  Fight-or-flight response  Hormone levels rise, body prepares to react   Activates the sympathetic nervous system  Shock and counter-shock phases (1 min - 24 hrs)

5. Resistance  Body attempts to adapt to stressor. Enhanced ability to fight stressor via moderate physiological arousal; ability to withstand additional stressors is reduced.

6. Exhaustion  Results when adaptive mechanisms are exhausted  Body either rests and mobilizes it’s defenses to return to normal or dies Depletion of resources brings on diseases and disorders (e.g., chronically high heart rate and blood pressure increase chances of heart attack and stroke).

7. Physiological responses to stress  Increases heart rate  Increases respiration  Increased blood pressure  Dilated pupils  Muscle tension  Headache

8. Emotional Responses to Stress  Depression  Anger  Anxiety (most common) –Mild –Moderate –Severe –Panic

9. Coping Mechanisms  Crying, laughing, sleeping, cursing  Physical activity, exercise  Smoking, drinking  Lack of eye contact, withdrawal

10. Factors Affecting Stress and Adaptation  Sources of stress  Types of stressors experienced  Personal factors

11. Stress Management Techniques  Relaxation  Meditation  Crisis intervention  Breathing exercise  Exercise  Medication  Music  Yoga

12. Crisis Intervention  Crisis: is a disturbance caused by a precipitating event such as a perceived loss, a threat of loss, or a challenge, that is perceived as a threat to self.  Crisis Intervention –Identify the problem –List alternatives –Choose from alternatives –Implement the plan –Evaluate the outcome