UNIT 4.1. Stress and Stress Response

Stress

• internal alarm system, the body’s response to a real or perceived threat

• The body’s and mind’s reaction to everyday demands and threats; a part of daily life

• Can be useful or harmful, energizing or exhausting

stressor and a stress response

Stress is a combination of a _______________________________

EUSTRESS

• Positive stress

• Can help you achieve your goals

• Research suggest that acceptable levels of stress may even help you to focus and concentrate better

DISTRESS

• Negative stress

• Can result when there is too much pressure or trauma and you are unable to cope with it

Environmental stressors

Categories of Stressors:

• poverty, pollution, crowding, noise, or natural disasters

Cognitive / thinking stressors

Categories of Stressors:

• how a person perceives a situation (e.g., exams, problems)

Personal behavior stressors

Categories of Stressors:

• negative reactions in the body and mind caused by using drugs or not exercising

Life situation stressors

Categories of Stressors:

• having a relative or pet die, parents who separate or divorce

Hans Selye

proponent of General Adaptation Syndrome

General Adaptation Syndrome

• THE BODY’S RESPONSE TO STRESS

• When you perceive a situation or event to be a threat, your body begins a stress response

• How your body and mind react is your STRESS RESPONSE

Nervous system and Endocrine system

In general adaptation syndrome, the ______________________________ become active during the body’s response to stressors which is involuntary and automatic.

Alarm

STAGES OF STRESS RESPONSE:

• Sympathetic nervous system is activated by adrenal glands

• Forehead, neck, shoulder, arm, and leg muscles contract

• Pupils enlarge

• Sugar is released into the bloodstream for energy

Resistance

STAGES OF STRESS RESPONSE:

• Accelerated heart rate increases blood flow to muscles; blood pressure increases

• Forehead, neck, shoulder, arm, and leg muscles contract

• Breathing is frequent and shallow

• Blood pressure remains high

• Hormones from adrenal glands are released into bloodstream

Exhaustion

STAGES OF STRESS RESPONSE:

• Liver runs out of sugar

• Prolonged muscle tension causes fautigue

Meyer Friedman & Ray Rosenman

Stress and Personality Type A proponent

Meyer Friedman & Ray Rosenman

Stress and Personality Type B proponent

Lydia Temoshok & Henry Dreher

Stress and Personality Type C proponent

Johan Denollet

Stress and Personality Type D proponent

Type A

• self-driven

• competitive

• high achieving personality type most likely to develop heart disease or other significant health problems

Type B

• charismatic

• easy-going or laid back

• noncompetitive personality type less likely to suffer from heart disease

Type C

• very pleasant

• introverts

• stress-prone

• try to keep the peace but find it difficult to express emotions, especially negative ones

Type D

• love routine

• follow orders

• tendency to experience increased negative emotions across time and situations

• tend not to share these emotions with others, because of fear of rejection or disapproval

Psychoneuroimmunology

• study of the interaction between psychological processes and the nervous and immune systems of the human body

• based on the prediction that an individual’s psychological state can influence their immune system via the nervous system

• provides a scientific basis for the ‘mind over matter’, ‘think yourself well’ and ‘positive thinking, positive health’ approaches to life

stress

isang emosyonal at pisikal na reaksiyon sa pagbabago

SOCIAL STRESS

• Exposure to stressful life events or social environments

• Negative physical and psychological outcomes

• Physical illness and lower mental health

Hiya

The Compliant Filipino

• Filipinos are very aware of the opinions of others and what people think of them.

PAKIKISAMA

The Compliant Filipino

• The pressure to conform causes stress (Zhang, Deng, Yu, Zhao, and Liu, 2016)

UTANG NA LOOB (Debt of gratitude)

The Compliant Filipino

• Can cause stress as it refutes unconditional positive regard

Kalayaan

Filipino Social Values

• Absence of “Freedom and mobility” causes stress

Katarungan

Filipino Social Values

• Lack of justice causes stress

Karangalan

Filipino Social Values

• Filipinos are sensitive to attacks on their own self-esteem and dignity

Bahala Na

Confronting Stress, Filipino-style

• "God will take care of things.“

• Improvisatory skills of Filipinos

Lakas ng Loob

Confronting Stress, Filipino-style

• Courage in the face of difficulties and uncertainties

Pakikibaka

Confronting Stress, Filipino-style

• Recognizing one’s convictions

• Resistance or concurrent clashes