week 8: health stress and coping Flashcards
what is stress
A negative emotional experience accompanied by predictable physical, psychological, and behavioural responses directed at alleviation or accommodation
what is a stressor
Stimuli that contributes towards stress
types of stress
distress
eustress
types of distress
acute stress
chronic stress
General Response to Stress
flight or fight (SNS)
nurturing/comfort
3 stages of stress
- Alarm reaction stage
- Resistance
- Exhaustion
what happens in the Alarm reaction stage of stress
Distress signal is sent to the hypothalamus
Hypothalamus triggers release of adrenaline and cortisol
Increases HR, blood pressure and blood sugar levels
Fight/flight (SNS)
What happens in the resistance stage of stress
- Body tries to counteract physiological changes
- Parasympathetic branch of the ANS returns the body by reducing cortisol production
- HR/BP return to normal
what happens if the stressor remains
body will stay in alert, stress hormone production continues, stress hormone resources gradually depleted
what happens in the exhaustion stage of stress
Body depleted , no longer equipped to fight stress, leads to depression/anxiety
Development of stress-related health conditions
common pathological consequences of prolonged stress
fatigue, muscle wasting, steroid diabetes hypertension ulcers bone decalcification loss libido suppressed ovulation impaired disease resistance apathy accelerated neural degeneration during age
The Sympathetic Division of the ANS
most involved in activities associated with the expenditure of energy from reserves stored in the body
Physiology of Stress
Sympathetic activation
Hypothalamic – Pituitary – Adrenal (HPA) axis
Hypothalamic – Pituitary – Adrenal (HPA) axis
Acute stress appraisal can be performed by the amygdala and bypass the cortex
Amygdala – implicated in perception of fear and learned fear response
Sympathetic activation
Cerebral cortex: Psychological appraisal
Signal to hypothalamus
Hypothalamus initiates SNS arousal via the HPA axis
HPA Axis
Hypothalamus
-Controls body temp, hunger, thirst, fatigue, sleep, sex drive
-Part of the limbic system, size of an almond, sends signals to adrenal cortex
Pituitary
-Pea sized structure below hypothalamus, produces adrenocorticotropic hormone that switches on adrenal gland
Adrenal Gland
-On top of the kidneys, pumps cortisol/adrenaline into the bloodstream, produces faster heart rate, pushes blood to muscles, heart, BP goes up, breath more rapidly, small airways in lungs open up, extra oxygen to the brain, sight and other senses get sharper.
-Adrenaline triggers release of blood sugars and fats, supplying energy to all parts of the body.
Cortisol
Produced by the adrenal glands in response to the pituitary and hypothalamus
Fuels fight or flight
how does cortisol Fuel fight or flight
Manages how body uses carbs, fats Keeps inflammation down Regulates BP Increases glucose Boosts energy
an individuals perception of the event (appraisals)
primary appraisal: the individual determines the threat
secondary appraisal: the individual determines the coping resources needed/available
types of secondary appraisal responses
problem-focused
emotion-focused
problem-focused approach to secondary appraisal
changing the stressor
eg. creates a plan to aid in the coping of stress
emotion-focused approach to secondary appraisal
regulating feelings/emotional response to the stressor instead of addressing the stressor
eg. meditation or therapy
