Stress Flashcards
What are the two types of stress?
- ) Psychological stress
2. ) Physiological stress
What is eustress
- positive stress which is beneficial and motivating
What is distress
- negative stress which is damaging and harmful
What is acute stress
- this is a short-lived response to a novel situation experienced by the body as a danger
- not conscious
- healthy and adaptive
What is chronic stress
- arises from repeated exposure to threatening situations
What are examples of chronic stress
- ) Physical illness
- ) Physical abuse
- ) Poverty e.g. poor housing
- ) Unemployment
- ) Discrimination
What is stress response (the 3 phases)
- ) Alarm: threat identified + body’s response to state of alarm
- ) Adaptation: body engages defensive countermeasurers
- ) Exhaustion: body runs out of defences
The five elements of the human stress response
- ) Biochemical
- ) Physiological
- ) Behavioural
- ) Cognitive
- ) Emotional
What are stress responses mediated by?
Mediated via the:
- ) Autonomic nervous system (sympathetic-adrenal-medullary system)
- ) Hypothalamo-pituitary axis
The sympathomedullary pathway
- ) Hypothalamus activates the adrenal medulla
- ) Adrenal medulla (controlled by ANS) releases adrenaline + noradrenaline into the bloodstream
- ) Body prepares for ‘fight of flight’
- ) Adrenaline + noradrenaline reinforces pattern of sympathetic activation
- ) Get energy
The pituitary-adrenal system
- ) Higher brain centres activate the hypothalamus
- ) Hypothalamus releases corticotrophin (CRF)
- ) Pituitary gland releases adrenocorticotrophic (ACTH)
- ) Adrenal cortex releases corticosteroids
- ) Corticosteroids causes changes: liver releases energy + immune system is suppressed
The biochemical stress response
- ) Glucorticoids (cortisol)
2. ) Catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline)
What are examples of physiological stress responses
- ) Breathing more rapid
- ) Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- ) Red blood cells discharged from the spleen
- ) Sweating
- ) Mouth becomes dry
- ) Blood flow increases + is directed to heart and muscles
Physiological stress response (later)
- headache
- chest pain
- stomach ache
- low energy
- cold hands and feet
What are behavioural responses
- ) Easily startled
- ) Change in appetite
- ) Weight gain/loss
- ) Procrastinating
- ) Nail biting
What are cognitive responses
- constant worrying
- racing thoughts
- inability to focus
- poor judgement
What are emotional responses
- depression
- tearfulness
- mood swings
- irritability
- aggression
What is allostasis
This refers to how multiple & complex systems adapt collectively in changing environments through dynamic change
What is allostatic load
- refers to cumulative exposure to stressors
Possible links between stress and illness
- ) Cancer: stress linked to survival rather than incidence
- ) Obesity and eating disorders
- ) Gastrointestinal problems: IBS
Symptoms of PTSD
- sweating
- nausea
- trembling
- vivid flashbacks and nightmares
