Comprehensive Notes on Stress: Sources, Reactions, and Health Impact

common sources of stress

• stress body's automatic physical response to outside forces

• can be caused by positive and negative events

• stress can be positive eustress or negative distress

• physical signs headaches dry mouth heartburn constipation depression and insomnia

types of stress

• eustress positive stress

  • triggered by positive events

  • examples work proposal award public speaking

  • short-term duration

  • motivates and inspires

• distress negative stress

  • triggered by negative events

  • short-term house burning down

  • long-term terminal disease

  • brought on by disruptions in normal routine eg illness

stressors causes of distress

• situations or pressures that cause distress

• types environmental biological thinking behavioral life-changing

environmental stressors

• factors in natural or human environment that cause stress

  • noise eg construction parties

  • pollution

  • poverty

  • terrorism

  • natural disasters

  • example experiencing 9/11 and being stressed by similar sounds later

biological stressors

• factors that make it difficult for the body to function

  • illness

  • injury

  • short-term or long-term disability

  • reactions vary based on attitude

thinking stressors

• mental or intellectual challenges

  • taking a test

  • doing homework

  • work presentations

behavioral stressors

• how actions affect stress levels

  • actions aligned with values goals and ethics cause no problem

  • actions against values cause conflict and stress

  • unhealthy behavior increases stress

    • examples binging staying up late overworking tobacco use poor diet poor time management

  • interrelated with mental and physical health

life changing stressors

• major life changes that increase stress levels

  • positive new house moving to a new city marriage birth of a child

  • negative death of a loved one unfortunate events bad grades unemployment

personality types

• type a

  • ambitious competitive impatient demanding hostile

  • more prone to experiencing stress

• type b

  • easygoing uncompetitive patient undemanding not hostile

  • may experience stress in some contexts

how people react to stress

the stress response

• initial body reaction to stress keeps us alert

• gives bursts of energy

• allows us to be challenged

• protects us from harm

• motivates us

• sharpens concentration

general adaptation syndrome

• explains stages in our response to stress

  • alarm stage

  • resistance stage

  • exhaustion phase avoid this

stages of stress

• alarm stage

  • hypothalamus adrenal gland and pituitary gland release hormones

  • breathing becomes rapid and shallow

  • liver releases glucose into the bloodstream

  • heart rate increases

  • pupils dilate

• resistance stage

  • body adapts to the initial alarm

  • fight mode enhanced ability to take on challenges

  • flight mode enhanced physical endurance

  • body uses reserves of stored energy hormones minerals and glucose

• exhaustion phase

  • prolonged stress leads to exhaustion

  • ability to manage stress is low

  • consequences impact behavior

    • physical exhaustion

    • psychological exhaustion

    • pathological exhaustion

signs of stress

• manifested physically emotionally cognitively or behaviorally

physical signs

• aches dizziness intestinal problems nausea rapid heartbeat chest pain frequent cold and flu compromised immune system

emotional signs

• mood swings feeling overwhelmed irritability loneliness agitation depression

cognitive signs

• loss of memory loss of concentration poor judgment constant worry anxiety pessimism

behavioral signs

• changes in diet

• sleep pattern changes restlessness or oversleeping

• isolation nervousness use of alcohol tobacco or drugs change in routine procrastination

relationship between stress and disease

prolonged stress response

• short-term stress response can act as a pro-performance reaction

• continuous stress without relief leads to long-term or chronic stress

• high levels of hormones continue to surge through the body affecting bodily functions

effects of long-term stress

• detrimental effects on

  • circulatory system

  • reproductive system

  • gastrointestinal tract

  • immune system

  • mental health

impact on bodily functions

• circulatory system

  • increased blood pressure

  • raised blood sugar

  • possible disorders headaches heart disease stroke diabetes

• reproductive system

  • suppressed reproductive system

  • reduced production of sex hormones testosterone estrogen progesterone

  • possible disorders infertility amenorrhea sexual dysfunction

• gastrointestinal system

  • slows emptying of