Stress management model and explanation.pptx

Stress management

1. Stress management Unit 2

2. Baum et al. (1981) have defined stress as a “process in which environmental events or forces, called, stressors, threatens an organism’s existence and wellbeing”. Schafer (1998, pg. 6) defined stress as “arousal of mind and body in response to demands made on them ”.

3. Types of stress Acute stress is the most common form of stress among humans worldwide .  It deals with the pressures of the near future or the very recent past. While acute stress is often interpreted as being a negative experience, it can actually be beneficial and even necessary for one’s wellbeing because of its protective effects against potentially dangerous threats . Running or any other form of exercise would also be considered an acute stressor. Some exciting or exhilarating experiences such as riding a roller coaster is an acute stress but is usually very enjoyable . Acute stress is a short term stress and as a result, does not have enough time to do the damage that long term stress causes.

4. Chronic stress chronic stress  lasts for longer time spans. It has a wearing effect on people that can become a very serious health risk if it continues over a long period of time . Chronic stress can lead to memory loss , damage spatial recognition and produce a decreased drive of eating. Additional symptoms of chronic stress include aches and pains, insomnia or other sleep disturbances, changes in social behaviors, low energy, emotional withdrawal or other changes in emotional responses, and unfocused thinking. Chronic stress has also been associated with other medical conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis . The severity varies from person to person. 

5. Selye published in year 1975 a model dividing stress into  eustress  and  distress . S tress enhances function (physical or mental, such as through  strength training  or challenging work), it may be considered eustress . Persistent stress that is not resolved through coping or adaptation, deemed distress, may lead to  anxiety  or withdrawal (depression) behavior. The difference between experiences that result in  eustress  and those that result in  distress  is determined by the disparity between an experience (real or imagined) and personal expectations, and resources to cope with the stress. Alarming experiences, either real or imagined, can trigger a stress response.

6. According to the  Yerkes–Dodson law , stress is beneficial to human functioning, but only up to a point. People who experience too low levels of stress might feel understimulated and passive; people experiencing stress that are at excessively high levels would feel overwhelmed, anxious, and irritable. Thus, establishing an optimum level of stress is key.

7. Symptoms of Stress Stress can have an impact on various aspects of life that include behaviour , cognition , emotions as well as physical health. Though stress will have a different effect on different individuals and each individual will react to stress in a different way, there are certain symptoms that can be related with stress . Physical symptoms: The physical symptoms of stress include low levels of energy, stomach upset, headaches and migraines, pain and aches, chest pain , rapid heartbeats, lack of sleep, dryness in mouth, experiencing tension in muscles, frequent infections and so on . Emotional symptoms: The emotional symptoms include, displaying frustration , getting irritated or agitated easily, feelings of worthlessness, feeling lonely and even depressed . Psychological symptoms: The cognitive symptoms related to stress include worrying constantly, experiencing racing thoughts, lack of organisation in thinking , forgetting, not able to focus, lack of judgement or poor judgement and also pessimism . Behavioural symptoms: The behavioural symptoms of stress include deterioration in performance effectiveness, indulgence in substance use, prone to accidents, nervous mannerism, poor time management, displaying checking rituals, changes in appetite, procrastination, eating faster, even talking or walking faster, impaired speech and so on.

8. SOURCES OF STRESS Frustration , Conflict of motives and Pressure (Coleman, 1970). Frustration: Frustration can be described as occurring when a goal oriented behaviour of an individual is thwarted. As stated by Mangal (1984, pg. 46) “ a wide range of environmental obstacles, both physical and social and the internal factors in the form of personal limitations, biological conditions and psychological barriers may lead to frustration of our needs, motives and efforts ”. For example, Ravi expected his promotion, however, when he did not receive the same, he experienced frustration. Conflict of Motives: The next source is conflict of motives that can cause stress as an individual has to choose between alternatives and decision making in this regard can lead to stress. Conflict of motives can be of four different types, approach - approach conflict, avoidance - avoidance conflict, approach - avoidance conflict and double approach - avoidance conflict. 1) Approach-approach conflict 2 ) Avoidance- avoidance conflict 3 ) Approach- avoidance conflict 4 ) Multiple approach-avoidance conflict

9. Pressure: Pressure is yet another source of stress that can be external or internal . External pressures are result of demands from the environment, responsibilities and obligations that are mainly social in nature as well as demands and expectations of the significant persons in our lives. With regard to internal pressures, Mangal (1984, pg. 46) states that “ Internal pressures are caused by our own self for maintaining the picture of ourselves - as we think we could and should be”. An example of external pressure is when a child is pressurised by parents to do well in examination and an example of internal pressure is when a child himself/ herself feels that he/ she needs to study and do well in examination. Thus, any stress can be categorised into the above three sources, though a person may experience stress due to more than one or all the three sources as well. Besides the above sources, stress can also be as a result of personality factors that may make an individual prone to stress. Past experiences, basic temperamental factors, perception of control over the situation causing stress play an important role in determining the reaction of individual to stress ( Parmeswaran and Beena , 2004). In the context of personality, the type A and type B personalities can be discussed. Individuals with Type A personality display hurriedness, restlessness and are often involved in carrying out various activities at the same time. They are also competitive, anxious and are often achievement oriented. The individuals with type B personality , on the other hand, display behaviour that is relaxed. It can be said that individuals with type A personality are comparatively more prone to stress when compared with individuals with type B personality

10. Life events: Stress can be caused due to varied life events. These could be death of a loved one, divorce or separation, losing one’s job, marriage and so on . Daily hassles: Similar to life events, daily hassles can also create stress. Daily hassles like lack of time, work overload, daily role responsibilities and duties and so on can lead to stress. Interpersonal relationships: Stress can also be caused due to issues related to interpersonal relationships. Interpersonal relationships could be in the context of family, work or it could be with peer groups. Stress as a result of social conditions: Social conditions in which the individual exists can also lead to development of stress. These social conditions can be related to crowding, discrimination, technological developments and changes, pollution and so on.

11. The  fight-or-flight  or the  fight-flight-or-freeze response  (also called  hyperarousal  or the  acute stress response ) is a physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived  harmful event ,  attack , or threat to survival .  It was first described by  Walter Bradford Cannon (1914, 1932) The reaction begins in the  amygdala , which triggers a neural response in the  hypothalamus . The initial reaction is followed by activation of the  pituitary gland  and secretion of the hormone  ACTH .   The   adrenal gland  is activated almost simultaneously, via the sympathetic nervous system, and releases the hormone  epinephrine . The release of chemical messengers results in the production of the hormone  cortisol , which increases  blood pressure ,  blood sugar , and suppresses the  immune system . The initial response and subsequent reactions are triggered in an effort to create a boost of energy. This boost of energy is activated by epinephrine binding to  liver cells  and the subsequent production of  glucose .   Additionally , the circulation of cortisol functions to turn  fatty acids  into available energy, which prepares muscles throughout the body for response .   Catecholamine hormones, such as  adrenaline  ( epinephrine ) or  noradrenaline  ( norepinephrine ), facilitate immediate physical reactions associated with a preparation for violent  muscular   action.  

12. The general adaptation syndrome (GAS), developed by Hans Selye (1936) is a profile of how organisms respond to stress

13. Transactional model (Cognitive) In 1981,  Richard Lazarus  and Susan Folkman suggested that stress can be thought of as resulting from an "imbalance between demands and resources" or as occurring when "pressure exceeds one's perceived ability to cope". Stress management was developed and premised on the idea that stress is not a direct response to a stressor but rather one's resources and ability to cope mediate the stress response and are amenable to change, thus allowing stress to be controllable.