Stress Flashcards
Symptoms of cognitive stress
Negative thoughts
Loss of concentration (leading to an increase in accidents. Acute stress= short-term memory and learning difficulties)
Tension headaches
Symptoms of emotional stress
Tearful Mood swings Irritable Aggressive Bored Apathetic
Symptoms of biochemical / hormonal stress
Metabolic changes - Endorphin levels altered
Increase in cortisol levels
Define stress
When the demands made upon an individual are greater than their ability to cope
What are the two main types of stress?
Distress - negative stress which is damaging and harmful
Eustress - positive stress which is beneficial and motivating
What are stressors? Give examples
“Stressors” – Things that cause stress.
Can be: acute (short-term), or chronic (long-term)
Acute Examples: Any situation that is perceived even subconsciously or falsely, as a danger e.g. video games, remembering dangerous events
Short-term danger e.g. fire
Short-term infection e.g. tonsillitis
Noise
Hunger
Chronic examples: Physical health Home and neighbourhood Financial Work Spouse/partner Children Friends
What is the difference between internal and external stressors?
Internal Stressors:
Physical (inflammations, infections)
Psychological (personal expectations, attitudes and beliefs, worry about an event)
External Stressors:
Environmental factors i.e. overcrowding
Work
Social & cultural pressures
Responses to stress
The Fight/Flight Model - These elicit a physiological response i.e. an increase in arousal or activity rate
Lungs take in more oxygen (breathe more rapidly)
3 or 4 x increase in blood flow
Spleen produces RBCs to carry more O2
Muscles tense
Blood flow directed away from skin to support muscle and heart tissue
Mouth becomes drier (saliva and mucus dry up), may be swallowing difficulties and throat spasms
WBCs redistributed where injury may occur i.e. bone marrow, skin, lymph nodes
The General Adaptation Syndrome
Alarm – When the threat or stressor is identified or realized, the body’s stress response is a state of alarm.
Adaptation - the body engages defensive countermeasures against the stressor
Exhaustion – the body begins to run out of defences, resources depleted
The interaction model
Stress is an interaction between the person and environment:
Introduces the concept of appraisal
Impact of stressors, influenced by
Coping methods adopted, &
Past experience with stressors
Symptoms of physiological stress
Shallow breathing
Raised blood pressure
Increase in acid production in the stomach
Symptoms of behavioural stress
Increase in:
Absenteeism
Smoking
Alcohol (tension-reduction theory)
Eating
Weight gain or loss
General Effects Model: Changes patterns of food intake generally
Individual Differences Model: Only in vulnerable groups of individuals
Stress-eating Paradox: No clear patterns to explain why some overeat and others under eat.
Sleep disturbances
Insomnia
Early waking, disturbed sleep during the night
Stress illness model
several factors mediate the stress–illness link, including exercise, coping styles, life events, personality type, social support and actual or perceived control
Physcial illnesses causing stress
Cancer Heart disease ME / Chronic fatigue syndrome Infertility / Recurrent Miscarriage Irritable bowel syndrome
Social stress
similar to behavioural - social relationships, participation in activities / work
