Mental and Physical Health

Health Psychology

• physical health

• Wellness

Stress

Body’s physical and psychological response to demands

Hypertension

High blood pressure increasing cardiovascular health risks

Immune suppression

Reduced immune system activity lowering body’s infection defense

Stressors

• Traumatic

• Daily hassles

Eustress

• positive stress

• Excitement

Distress

• negative stress

• Worry

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ADS)

Abuse

Neglect

Household challenges (divorce, money)

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

• Fight - flight - freeze response

• describes the three-stage response your body goes through when under stress: alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion

• Enduring stress has physical and mental effects on the body.

Alarm reaction phase

Initial stress response activating body’s fight or flight systems

Resistance phase

Body attempts to adapt and cope with stressors

Fight - flight- freeze response

Automatic survival response to perceived threat or danger

Exhaustion phase

Body’s resources depleted after prolonged stress exposure

Tend and befriend theory

• Tending to needs

• Connection with others

Problem focused coping

• solutions

• Plans

Emotion focused coping

• deep breathing

• Meditation

• Medication