STRESS

What is STRESS?

Stress is a state of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium. Stress is an unavoidable effect of living and is an especially complex phenomenon in modern technological society. It has been linked to coronary heart disease, psychosomatic disorders, and various other mental and physical problems.

Main Sources of Stress

ConflictFrustrationChangePressure

CHANGE

life changes are noticeable alterations in one's living circumstances that require adjustment.

Holmes & Rahe (1967) - developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) to measure life changes. They found that, after interviewing thousands of people, while BIG changes like death of a loved one are very stressful, small life changes have tremendous effects.

EVENT SCALE OF IMPACT

Death of Spouse 100

Divorce 73

Marital Separation 65

Jail Term 63

Death of Close Family Member

63

Personal Injury/ Illness 53

Marriage 50

Fired at Work 47

Retirement 45

Change in Health of Family Member

44

Pregnancy 40

Sex Difficulties 39

EVENT SCALE OF IMPACT

Gain of New Family Member

39

Change in Financial State

38

Death of Close Friend 37

Change to different line of Work

36

Large Mortgage 31

Change in responsibilities at

work

29

Son/ Daughter leaving home

29

Trouble with in-laws 29

Outstanding Personal Achievement

28

Begin or End School 26

EVENT SCALE OF IMPACT

Change in living condition

25

Revision of Personal Habits

24

Trouble with Boss 23

Change in Residence 20

Change in Sleeping Habits

16

Vacation 13

Minor Violations of the Law

11

PRESSURE

Expectations or demands that one must behave in a certain way. For example, I am under pressure to perform in very specific ways when I am in front of a class as the "teacher".

Surprisingly, pressure has only recently been examined in terms of psychological and physical effects due to stress.

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Anxiety

Depression

Panic Attacks

Feeling of Guilt

Angry Outburst

Increased Cynicism

Isolation/ Few Close Friends

Feeling Overwhelmed

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Unable to feel Happy

Feeling of Hopelessness

Mood Swings

Irritability

Resentment

Feeling of Powerlessness

Low Self-Esteem

Low Self- Worth

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Lack of Interest in Activities

Cognitive Effect of Stress

Effects of Stress in memory

PSYCHOSOMATIC ILLNESSES

It is now known that bottled up emotions can lead to bodily symptoms or bodily and mental symptoms that arise from mental conflict or inner stress.

Emotions such as anger, rage, grief, anxiety from unfulfilled deadlines, or fear of failure can manifest themselves in the form of a psychosomatic illness. For example, suppression of anger has been linked to breast cancer.

PSYCHOSOMATIC ILLNESSES

That is the mind/body involvement. Our minds influence our bodies and our bodies influence our minds.

It gets even more complex, because many psychological effects of stress became conditioned, deeply ingrained in our nervous systems.

SEVERITY OF STRESS FACTORS

Characteristics of the StressorPerson’s Perception of the Stressor

CHARACTERISTICS OF STRESSOR

Each event or situation has certain characteristics that determine the severity that the stressor may or may not have on us.

Severity was based on Holmes-Rahe Scale.

CHARACTERISTICS OF STRESSOR

Significance

How critical and important the event is to the individual (deaths, failing an exam, break-up with boy/girlfriend), and how much change will have to be dealt with. The greater the significance and change, the higher the impact of the stressor.

CHARACTERISTICS OF STRESSOR

Time length

If a stressor is continued over a long period of time, it will result in higher stress levels. For example, tiredness: insufficient sleep over an extended period of time will result in higher stress than that caused by just one night of bad sleep.

CHARACTERISTICS OF STRESSOR

Cumulative Effect

This is when stressors are built up over a period of time without appropriate mechanisms to reduce or release the build-up. For example, a long series of little irritations and annoyances could result in a massive blowout between two people.

CHARACTERISTICS OF STRESSOR

Multiplicity

A number of stressors at one time will result in higher stress levels. For example, a fight with one’s parents, final exams around the corner and loss of a loved one will be experienced as much more stressful than if each of these events happened separately.

CHARACTERISTICS OF STRESSOR

Approaching deadline

If a demand has been made a few weeks or months in advance of the deadline, the degree of stress will increase as the due date approaches.

PERCEPTION OF STRESSOR

Self-concept

This is based on various theories of personality. One is called the Theory of Interpersonal Needs. It states that each person has the following emotional needs:

THEORY OF INTERPESONAL NEED

The need to discover our unique identity as well as to be included because of this unique identity.

The need to have the power to control or influence what we do and what happens to us.

The need for connecting with others and feeling liked and lovable.

Thank You For Listening :]]

Happy Birthday Julie Ann De Guzman!