Basics Of Stress Flashcards
Define a stressor
Any event that causes stress and/or is perceived as a threat & challenge to our ability to cope
Define stress
A state of psychological & physiological arousal produced by internal or external stressors perceived by individuals as challenging or exceeding our ability/resources to cope (State of mental, emotional and physiological tension in response to a stressor
Define an internal stressor
Stimulus from within the individuals body that causes a stress response
Give some BIOLOGICAL examples of an internal stressor
- Pain/Illness
- Nervous system dysfunction
- GABA dysfunction
Define external stressor
Stimulus from outside an individuals body that promotes the stress response
Give some examples of SOCIOCULTURAL external stressors
- Fight with a friend
- SACS
- Meeting new people
- Working long hours
- Financial difficulty
Give some examples of PSYCHOLOGICAL internal stressors
- Negative thoughts
- Attitude
- Rumination
- Low self-esteem
Give some examples of ENVIRONMENTAL external stressors
- Loud noises
- Extreme tempretures
psychological stress is…?
Subjective & can cause positie and negative effects
Define distress
Stress characterised by negative psychological state
When does Distress often occur?
When a stressor presents undesirable circumstances that appear to lead only to negative outcomes
Define Eustress
Stress characterised by positive psychological state & involves positive emotions
When does eustress occur?
When the stressor provides opportunities/circumstances for the individual
Define Acute Stress
Stress characterised by intense psychological & physiological symptoms that are brief in duration & goes away when stressor is delt with
What happens during acute stress?
Adrenaline is relseased from adrenal glands & the sympathetic nervous system is activated
