Stress and Coping Flashcards
What is stress
defined by Dr. Hans Syele as the bodies nonspecific response to the demands placed on it by a stressor
GAS and LAS
What is coping
Being able to control or modify your response to stressors through thought and behaviors to avoid harm and restore balance
successful coping = return to homeostasis
Unsuccessful coping = range of symptoms requiring intervention
What is stress neutral
Typical day to day stress, well within coping & managing
What is challenge manageable stress
moderate to greater stress but with resources and coping actions person is able to reduce, eliminate or manage stress
What is severe stress
Stress threat exceeds coping capacity, leads to a state of exhaustion
Fight or flight is due ___
to the release of catacholaminies, epinephrine and non epinephrine
What does fight or flight lead to
Increased heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac output, blood glucose and blood flow to muscles
Pupil dilation
What is a physiological stressor
Originates as a physiological trigger and associated with injury or illness
Acute: immediate response and often intense and necessary for survival
Chronic: can lead to debilitating disease
What is an emotional stressor
More common, generates state of unpleasant arousal
Acute: triggered by triggering event
Chronic: Long term associated with psychosocial stressors
What is acute stress
Most common and typically occurs for a short period of time
Reaction to a real or perceived threat
What is epidsodic acute stress
Self inflicted
Occurs by taking on unrealistic assessments beyond what is typical or reasonably expected
What is chronic stress
Sustained, threat or pressure that wears on a person continuously
associated with a loss of hope that the situation will imporve
What are the types of stress
Acute, Episodic, and Chronic
What is cognitive appraisal
The process of sorting out info to derive meaning and is the underlying factor in how an individual will respond
Occurs in 2 phases
Primary cognitive appraisal
1st phase
Initial evaluation for harm to self or to a loved ones wellbeing, self esteem
The first impression that occurs immediately on exposure to a stressor
Secondary cognitive appraisal
2nd phase
Involves the evaluation of resources available to overcome, reduce or eliminate the stressors. selects coping response/options
What is primary prevention
Focuses on preventing illness as a result of stress through effective coping for health and wellbeing
What are the coping strategies
Problem focuses, emotional focused and meaning focused
What is problem focused coping strategy
Generating solutions to reduce or eliminate the identified stressors
what is emotional focused
Maintaining emotional control through self regulating thinking and behavior; won’t improve the situation but will make the person feel better
What is meaning focused
Individual draws on values, beliefs and goals to modify personal interpretation and response to a problem
find ways to reframe or modify the persons interpretation and response
What are some common positive coping stratagies
Education, social support, exercise, therapeutic lifestyle change, music therapy, Relaxation, yoga
What is maladaptive coping
Ineffective coping strategy
Do not address the underlying problem
Ignores the underlying cause of the stressor and may lead to other problems
physiological stressor
The body potentially harmful reaction to stimulus
psychological stressor
Compromises the emotional and cognitive factors involved in the appraisal of threat
social cultural stressor
When social systems are challenged by factors such as racism, economic hardship or political
What is a stressor
An event or stimulus that disrupts the persons sense of equilibrium
Can be physical, mental or emotional
May be positive or negative depending on the variables
What is distress
Negative stress.
Stress that is beyond the ability of the affected person to cope with or adapt to
What is Eustress
Good Stress, Is associated with accomplishments & victory
What is avoidance
Using both behavioral and cognitive processes to avoid a stressor
What is approach coping
Confronting and trying to change the stressor by taking direct action
What is the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
Evoked when the stimulation or stressor is strong enough to activate the automatic nervous system of the CNS
3 stages: Alarm, resistance and exhaustion
Describe the alarm reaction
Heart races, BP increases, breath is faster, fight or flight kicks in
Describe resistance
When the body attempts to move toward the restoration of homeostasis while continuing to respond to the stressors. Body starts to calm down
Describe exhaustion
If the body cannot maintain its adaptation to the stressor, the stressor will overwhelm the individuals ability to cope which results in the depletion of energy and resources.
the body may rebound from the stressor after a period of rest or disease will develop.
What is a local stress response (LAS)
When one organ or body system reacts to stress = may produce local adaptation syndrome & manifests as inflammation, or hypoxia
What is allostasis
How homeostasis is reestablished to assist the body in maintaining stability
