Chapter Nine

1

The mental, emotional and physiological response
of the body to any situation that is new,
threatening, frightening or exciting.
2
What Is Stress?

• The nonspecific response of the human organism to
  any demand made upon it (Selye, 1984)
• Stressors--factors causing stress, resulting in
• Eustress (positive) - happy, pleasant events
  health and performance improve even as stress
  increases
• Distress (negative) - unpleasant and harmful
  stress health and performance decline
• Optimal stress a blend of the two that creates a
  motivational and healthy outcome

3
Fight or Flight

• Physiological response of the body to stress that
  prepares the individual to take action by
  stimulating the vital defense systems.

4
General Adaptation Syndrome (Selye, 1984)

• Alarm stage fight or flight response
• Resistance stage maintain homeostasis
• Exhaustion stage illness, disease, or even
  death can occur

5
Harmful Effects of Stress

• Psychosomatic disease physical ailment that is
  mentally induced
• The following can be developed by stress

• Cancer
• Allergies
• Asthma
• Hay fever
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Backache

• Hypertension
• Stroke
• Cardiovascular disease
• Ulcers
• Migraine headaches
• Tension headaches

6
Type A Behavior

• Type A - competitive, ambitious, driven,
  impatient, workaholic, and always rushed
• The key problem with Type A persons is stress
• Their bodies react by producing extra amounts of
  stress hormones.
• Health risks are associated with this type of
  personality.

7
Type B Behavior

• The opposite of a Type A personality
• Described as relaxed, casual, unaggressive, and
  patient
• Tend to deal with stress more effectively

8
The Hot Reactor

• People that are at risk of heart attacks or
  strokes due to the combination of anger and
  stress
• Stress produces
• Catecholamines - hormones that damage and disrupt
  the electrical rhythm of the heart
• Abnormally high blood pressure
• Dangerous heart muscle lesions
• These people perceive every stressor as a life
  or death issue.

9
The Hardy Personality (Kobasa, 1982)

• Stress-resistant individuals
• Possess strong immune systems
• A Type A person who has the following traits
  Type C personality.
• Control
• Commitment
• Challenge
• Choices in lifestyle
• Connectedness

10
Stress ManagementStrategies

• Exercise
• Relaxation techniques
• Lifestyle change
• Reframing

11
EXERCISE

• Allows the body to play out fight-or-flight
  response, use tense muscles, and reduce
  adrenaline levels
• Increases the release of endorphins ?
• morphine like substances released from the
  pituitary gland during prolonged aerobic
  exercise. Thought to produce a relaxed state.

12
LIFESTYLE CHANGE

• Eat a nutritious diet.
• Learn how to manage time.
• Limit alcohol, drugs, and cigarettes.
• Get plenty of restful sleep.
• Develop satisfying relationships.
• Learn when to seek the help and support of
  others.
• Balance work and play.

13
REFRAMING

• Look at life in a positive light.
• Diffuse anger and negativism.
• Learn to be an optimist.
• Laughter is the perfect medicine.