Stress and Adaptation.ppt

Stress and adaptation

1. STRESS
&
ADAPTATION

2. Stress: is a condition in which the human
system responds to changes in its normal
balanced state.
Stressor: is any thing that is perceived as
challenging, threatening or demanding.
Adaptation: is the change that takes place
as a result of the response to a stressor.
Homeostasis: various physiologic
mechanisms within the body respond to
internal changes to maintain a relative
constancy in the internal environment.

3. Sources of stressors
Internal e.g. illness, abnormal change, or
fear
External e.g. noise, cold environment,
death, move

4. Physiologic Homeostasis
Local Adaptation System (LAS) —involves
only one specific body part
–Reflex pain response
–Inflammatory response
General Adaptation Syndrome —
biochemical model of stress (Hans Selye)
–Alarm reaction
–Resistance
–Exhaustion

5. Alarm Reaction
Person perceives stressor, defense
mechanisms activated
Fight-or-flight response
Hormone levels rise, body prepares to react
Shock and counter-shock phases (1 min -
24 hrs)

6. Resistance
Body attempts to adapt to stressor.
Vital signs, hormone levels, and energy
production return to normal.
Body regains homeostasis or adaptive
mechanisms fail.

7. Exhaustion
Results when adaptive mechanisms are
exhausted
Body either rests and mobilizes it’s defenses
to return to normal or dies

8. Physiological responses to stress
Increases heart rate
Increases respiration
Increased blood pressure
Dilated pupils
Muscle tension
Headache

9. Emotional Responses to Stress
Depression
Anger
Anxiety (most common)
–Mild
–Moderate
–Severe
–Panic

10. Coping Mechanisms
Crying, laughing, sleeping, cursing
Physical activity, exercise
Smoking, drinking
Lack of eye contact, withdrawal
Limiting relationships to those with similar
values and interests

11. Factors Affecting Stress and
Adaptation
Sources of stress
Types of stressors experienced
Personal factors

12. Categories of Stress
Developmental stress
–Occurs when person progresses through stages
of growth and development
–E.g.
Situational stress
–Does not occur in predictable patterns
–E.g.

13. Types of Stressors
Physiological
–Chemical agents, physical agents, infectious
agents, nutritional imbalances, hypoxia, genetic
or immune disorders
Psychosocial
–Includes real and perceived threats

14. Stress Management Techniques
Relaxation
Meditation
Anticipatory guidance
Guided imagery
Biofeedback
Crisis intervention

15. Crisis Intervention
Crisis: is a disturbance caused by a
precipitating event such as a perceived loss,
a threat of loss, or a challenge, that is
perceived as a threat to self.
Crisis Intervention
–Identify the problem
–List alternatives
–Choose from alternatives
–Implement the plan
–Evaluate the outcome