Stress Flashcards
What is Psychological Stress?
When demands are placed on an individual surpassing their ability to cope
What are the 2 types of stress?
1) Eustress (Good) –> Motivating
2) Distress (Bad) –> Damaging/Harmful
What is Acute Stress and an example?
Short-Lived response to novel situation experienced by body as danger (E.g. Hunger, Noise)
What is Chronic Stress and an example?
Repeated/continued exposure to threatening or dangerous situations (Can’t be controlled)
E.g. Physical Abuse, illness, unemployment
What are the 5 signs of stress?
1) Physiological
2) Behavioural
3) Cognitive
4) Biochemical
5) Emotional
How are stress responses primarily mediated?
1) Autonomic Nervous (sympathetic-adrenal-medullary
2) Hypothalamo-Pituitary Axis (HPA)
Describe General Adaptation syndrome
Body’s short term and long term reactions to stress
What are the 3 stages of GAS?
1) Alarm (Burst of energy - stressor found)
2) Adaptation/Resistance (Defensive countermeasures)
3) Exhaustion (Energy depleted, out of defences)
What happens in Biochemical stage of stress?
Endorphins and Cortisol (Increase learning levels and memory) are increased
What happens in the Physiological stage?
Shallow breathing, Greater volume of HCl, raised blood pressure
What happens in the Behavioural stage?
Over-eating, anorexia, insomnia, higher drug/alcohol/smoking use
What happens in the cognitive stage?
Negative thoughts, no concentration, worse memory, tension headaches
What occurs in the emotional stage?
Mood swings, boredom, apathy, aggression, irritability
What is the stress-illness model?
Individuals susceptibility to illness/disease increase as individual exposed to stressors which cause strain
What are 3 symptoms of PTSD?
1) Recurrent/distressing recollections of events
2) Persistent avoidance of stimuli linked to event
3) Increased arousal (Persistent) e.g. Insomnia
