Stress Abnormal Psych

LaSalle-Peru, Abnormal Psych, Stress, Mickley

Stress

any situation that is threatening and requires adaption of some kind

Distress

anything that causes negative feelings

Eustress

something positive that causes anxiety

When is stress at its worse?

when it is anticipatory

Avoidance Gradient

the closer you get to a dreaded event, the higher the stress level

Example of Avoidance Gradient

the ACT

Example of Eustress

Vacations

Approach Gradient

the closer you get to an anticipated event, the more excited you get

Example of Approach Gradient

Christmas as a kid

Hassles

an ongoing state of discontent

Pressure

a need to hurry or improve

Frustration

prevented from achieving a goal

Conflict

faced with meeting 2 incompatible requirements

Approach/Approach Conflict

2 or more things you have to do but have to pick one

Approach/Avoidance Conflict

there is something you want to do but there is a downside

Avoidance/Avoidance Conflict

you have two options but don’t want to do either

Example of Approach/Approach Conflict

Picking over friends and a significant other

Example of Approach/Avoidance Conflict

Wanting to go to college but it costs a lot of money

Example of Avoidance/Avoidance Conflict

Doing homework or doing chores

Direct Coping

Confrontation - dealing with the stressor head-on, Compromising

Defensive Coping

Withdrawal, Aggression, Submission, and Defense Mechanisms

Regression

Unconsciously acting like a child

Sublimation

taking stress out on something that is not causing it in a socially acceptable way. Ex.) Exercising

Displacement

taking stress out on something that is not causing it in a NOT socially acceptable way. Ex.) Punching a wall

Repression

unconsciously push a memory or feeling into the unconscious mind. Ex.) Trauma (which comes back with a trigger)

Reaction Formation

unconsciously acting the opposite of how you really feel Ex.) acting overly friendly to someone you don’t like

Projection

an individual sees their own problems in other people by not themselves. Ex.) being hypocritical

Indentification

unconsciously acting like somebody you want to be. Ex.) powerful traits

Metacognition

understanding your own thoughts and feelings (journaling)

Order of Hans Seyle’s stages of stress

Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion

Alarm

sudden stressor (going home and house is burnt down)

Resistance

dealing with the stressor

Exhaustion

period of mental and physical illness