Week 3: Stress And Mental Health

Question 1

How does the body respond to stress?

Answer 1

• change in heart rate, blood pressure, headaches, sexual dysfunction, immunosuppression
• sympathetic-adrenomedullary system
• hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal system

Question 2

What ways do people deal with stress?

Answer 2

• problem-focused coping: aims to directly manage a stressor to reduce stress
• emotion-focused coping aims to cope with the emotions and feelings aroused by the stressor
• attention-entering techniques
• expressive/creative strategies
• healthy lifestyle values

Question 3

How is PTSD diagnosed?

Answer 3

• traumatic event had to be outside the normal range of human experience
• traumatic event must be experienced by the person directly
• intrusion (nightmares, intrusive images), avoidance, negative alterations in cognitions and mood
• arousal and reactivity