Psych Unit 5: Mental and Physical Health

stress

a physiological and psychological response to challenge and demand

hypertension

high blood pressure, often resulting from chronic stress

immune suppression

a decreased effectiveness of the immune system, often linked to chronic stress and anxiety

stressors

events or situations that trigger stress responses in individuals, such as changes, challenges, or demands

eustress

a positive form of stress that can motivate and enhance performance, often perceived as beneficial that leads to feelings of fulfillment and achievement

adverse childhood experiences

experiences during childhood that have negative effects on a child’s development, such as abuse, neglect, and household dysfunction

distress

a negative form of stress that can lead to anxiety, decreased performance, and various health problems, often experienced during challenging or overwhelming situations

general adaptation syndrome

a three-stage response to stress described by Hans Selye, consisting of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion stages that the body goes through when responding to stressors

tend-and-befriend theory

a behavioral response to stress where individuals seek social support and nurture others, especially in females, as a coping mechanism

alarm reaction phase

the first stage of the general adaptation syndrome, where the body detects a stressor and initiates a immediate response including the activation of the fight-or-flight response

resistance phase

the second stage of the general adaptation syndrome, where the body adapts to the stressor and maintains a heightened state of alertness, striving to cope with the ongoing stress

fight-flight-freeze response

a physiological reaction to perceived threats, preparing an individual to either confront or escape danger, often accompanied by increased heart rate and adrenaline release

exhaustion phase