Living a Healthy Life

Chronic Stressors

Chronic Stressors

Poverty, bullying, relationships, discrimination

Environmental Psychology

The study of environmental effects on behavior and health

Perceived control over stress

when we perceive that we have control over our stress, it affects us less

CUSS Scale

High stress, medium stress, lower stress

Fight or Flight Response

an emotional and physiological reaction to an emergency that increases readiness for action

Which brain area controls the fight-or-flight response?

The Hypothalamus

General Adaption Syndrome

when faced with a large stressor, at first you are able to withstand it, but after prolonged exposure, your defenses weaken

First Stage (General Adaption Syndrome)

The body rapidly mobilizes its resources to respond to the threat. Equal to Fight or Flight

Second Stage (General Adaption Syndrome)

Body adapts to its high state of arousal as it copes with the stressor. To make sure it has enough fuel to the muscles, it shuts down unnecessary processes like digestion, growth, and sex drive

Third Stage (General Adaption Syndrome)

The body's resistance collapses. Many of the resistance-phase defenses create gradual damage as they operate which can result susceptibility to infection, tumor growth, aging irreversible organ damage or death.

Psychoneuroimmunology

Immune system responses to stress

Primary appraisal (stress interpretation)

interpretation of a stimulus as stressful (or not)

Secondary appraisal (stress interpretation)

determining whether it’s something you can handle (or not)

Threat

a stressor you cannot overcome

Challenge

a stressor you can overcome

Burnout

a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion resulting from long-term involvement in an emotionally demanding situation accompanied by lower performance and motivation

Repressive coping

avoidance

Rational coping

facing stressors and working to overcome them

Reframing

thinking about a stressor in a way that reduces the threat

Acceptance (Coping)

coming to realize that the stressor exists and cannot be wished away

Exposure (Coping)

attending to the stressor, thinking about it, and even seeking it out

Understanding (Coping)

working to find the meaning of the stressor in your life

Examples of controlling your body:

Meditation, relaxation, biofeedback, exercise

Examples of controlling your situation:

social support, religion/spirituality, humor, avoiding procrastination

Positive Psychology

a focus on enhancing human strengths

Humanistic Psychology

an approach to understanding human nature that emphasizes the positive potential of human beings

Abraham Maslow

each person, simply by being, is inherently worthy; the ultimate goal of living is to attain personal growth and understanding (Hierarchy of Needs)

Carl Rogers

advocated for: -Person-centered Approach -Client-centered therapy

Client-centered Therapy (Rogers)

focuses on the role of the client, not the therapist, clients do “the work or healing”, the therapist supports with empathy and good will

Character Strengths (Seligman)

wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, transcendence

Five Elements of Well-Being (Seligman)

positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, achievement