Stress Flashcards
What is the alarm reaction?
When the autonomic nervous system rapidly mobilises resources the body needs in response to a significant challenge
What is stress?
The toll that life takes on emotional and physical health
What happens in the alarm response?
Increased respiration - more oxygen available to muscles
Increased heart rate and haematocrit
Enhanced mental functioning and sensory awareness/alertness
Increased fuel availability by liberation of glucose and protein breakdown
Sweating
Increased blood pressure
What changes occur when the alarm response is prolonged?
Prolonged muscle tension causing muscle pain
Stomach and bowel mortality increases
What are the negatives of stress response?
Cortisol is released from the adrenal cortex - leads to liberation of glucose
Can cause insulin resistance and diabetes
Hypertension and cardiovascular disease
Immune system is suppressed so more vulnerable to infection
What is a stressor?
Anything that produces stress (a stimulus)
What is the transactional model?
Conceptualises stress as a process of interactions between individuals and different stressors
Says that stress is a result of how people appraise events and their ability to cope with them
When demands outweigh resources, we need to cope
What is primary appraisal?
It there a threat?
How bad could it be?
(Benign, challenging, threatening?)
What is secondary appraisal?
Asking if one has the resources/skills to cope
What is reappraisal?
Reconsider the situation once you have tried to cope with it
What factors can improve impact of stress?
Good social network
Being younger
What makes the impact of stress worse?
Not having a good social network
Older - harder to relax after a stressful response
Financial difficulties
Anxiety disorders
What do people with anxiety disorders do that makes stress worse?
Overgeneralise (things are always bad)
Catastrophise (worst case scenario)
Personalisation (think it is their fault)
What are some cognitive strategies for managing stress?
cognitive restructuring, hypothesis testing, change way of thinking
What are some emotional strategies of managing stress?
Counselling
Emotional disclosure
Social support
