Stress Revision Flashcards
What is the definition of Stress?
a state of physiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors, percieved by individuals as excceding the ability to cope
Provide 2 examples of internal stressors
headache pain, worry about a SAC
Give 2 examples of external stressors
being yelled at, being crowded, long work hours
What is acute stress?
high arousal for short time
What is Chronic Stress?
high or low arousal for a LONG time
What do you call acute stress situations which occur frequently?
Episode acute stress
What is Eustress? What might you feel?
positive psychological response to a stressor.
Excitement, motivation, enthusiasm
What is distress? What might you feel?
negative psychological response to a stressor
anxiety, tension, anger
What is the difference between Eustress and Distress?
- negative, positive
2. eustress is associated with excitement, motivation, distress associated with anxiety and tension
What is the similarity of Eustress and Distress?
they both result in same physiological responses
Give examples of physiological responses to stress
increased heart rate, perspiration, increased respiration,
name the 5 sources of stress in intensity of stress.
- daily pressure
- life events
- acculturative stress
- major stressor
- catastrophe
What are daily pressures?
little problems in everyday living.
can have strong/weak effect, be rare/frequent
give examples of daily pressures
flu, headache, mood distrubances
What are life events? give examples
significant events that involve change, forces up to ADAPT
eg. divorce, marriage, starting uni, birth of child
What is acculturative stress? give examples
Stress where you have to adapt to new cultures for a long time.
eg. racial discrimntaion, language difficulties, loneliness
Dont Lie About My Case
daily pressures, life events, acculturative stress., major stressor, catastrophe
What is a major stressor?
extremely disturching and stressful, usually once off but can be ongoing
Which source of stress can be experienced both directly or indirectly?
major stressors
What are the 4 symptoms of Major Stressors?
- physical
- cognitive
- behavioural
- emotional
Give an example of a Cognitive symptom of a Major stressor
instrusive thoughts, recurring mems of the event, nightmare, visual images
What is a catastrophe?
unpredictable events, experiences by masses of people at the SAME TIME
eg. hurricane, terrorist attack
What does GAS stand for?
General adaptation syndrome
What are the 3 stages of GAS?
- alarm reaction
- resistance
- exhaustion
What happens in the Alarm response?
body becomes aware of the danger and goes through 2 phases- shock and countershock
What happens in the shock stage of Alarm reaction?
- body less effective than usual, acts injured
- blood pressure, body temp DROP
- may faint or feel dizzy
What happens in the countershock stage of Alarm reaction?
how is energy gained? what are the symptoms?
- body rebounds through SNS activation
- muscles tense, heart rate increases etc
- instant energy provided by stress hormones released into bloodstream
- HPA Axis activated via FFF
Which stress hormones are released in the Alarm response?
cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline
Too much Cortisol may lead to (4)
gastric ulcers, high blood sugar levels, stroke, suppression of immune system
What does your body attempt to do in the Resistance stage?
resist and manage stress
What happens in the Resistance stage?
PNS activated, alarm reaction reduces to homeostasis HOWEVER physiological arousal /stress hormones remain at high levels.
What happens if there is too much stress hormones for a prolonged time int he Resistance stage?
- immune system weakened due to suppression
2. immune system unable to fight stress, hence vulnerable to flus, colds, disease
What happens in stage of Exhaustion?
give examples of both physiological and psychological effects
body no longer able to resist stress because no more energy left
eg. fatigue, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, anger
In the Fight flight response, what physiological changes occur?
- increased heart rate, blood pressure, respiration etc
2. increased glucose secreted in liver
In the Fight flight response, how is the body prepared for action?
- increased heart rate, blood pressure and respiration
- glucose secreted by liver
- non essential functions suppressed like the immune system (digestion stops) TO CONSUME ENERGY
What is the Freeze Response?
an involuntary ‘tonic immobilty’
In the Freeze response, which Nervous Systems are activiated and why?
SNS and PNS.
Both are highly active to keep body ready for action, but momentarily still to conserve energy (for escape) and avoid detection
What is the HPA axis?
Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal cortex
What is the main difference between the HPA and FFF?
HPA is a longer lasting reaction
What happens to the HPA Axis when a threat is detected?
1
2
3
- hypothalamus activated, stimulating pituitary gland
- pituitary gland releases ACTH, which travels through bloodstream and stimlates adrenal glands
- adrenal glands secrete Cortisol, which triggers release of glucose
What are the 2 functions of the stress hormone Cortisol?
- to release glucose from liver to provide energy
2. to reduce inflammation of immune system
What happens to body if cortisol/stress hormones stay in the body for prolonged time??
immune system suppressed, more vulnerable to diseases, infections, flus, colds etc
What happens to the adreanl gland in the stage of exhaustion?
adrenal glands become depleted and unable to produce stress hormones.
nothing to prevent severe and chronic inflammation.
Give a physiological effects of Exhaustion Stage
fatigue
Name the 2 appraisals made in the Lazarus and Folkmas Trnasactional Modeal of stress
primary appraisal, secondary appraisal
What is involved in the Primary appraisal?
evaluating the situation
What is involved in the Secondary appraisal/?
judgement of ability to cope
What are the three options to Primary appraisal?
irrelevent, benign-positive, stressfull
In the primary appraisal, if the situation is evaluated as stressful, what are the next 3 options to evaluate?
harm/loss, threat, challenge
What are the strategies in Secondary Appraisal? provide one example of each
emotion focused - venting, crying
problem focused - seek help
What is reappraisal?
reappraising the threat when no resources
Give two strengths of the Lazarus and Folkman Model.
- focuses on psychological side of stress
2. views stress as an interation with our environment
Give two limitations of the Lzarus and Folkman model.
- overlooks physiological side of stress
2. we may not always be consious of all factors causing stress
What is Context-specific effectiveness?
choosing a statergy that is appropriate for the specifitc situation. Taking account personal skills, knowledge, interests etc
What is coping flexibiliyt?
the ability to discontinue or modify an ineffective strategy and choose an alternative one
List the three specific coping strategies
exercise, approach strategies, avoidance strategies
How does exercise combat stressors?
- uses up stress hormones in bloodstream, thus aids homeostasis quicker
- releases endorphin’s to block pain and ease muscle tension
- distraction
- psychosocial suport
Which stress strategy is better when the situation is controllable?
approach strategy
which stress strategy is better when the situation is uncontrollable?
avoidance strategy
