Stress and Stress-Prone Personalities

Prepared and Presented ByGlen Christie, MS, EdS,

ThD, LPC, CASACFaith Bible College

Crisis Counseling II

FOUR TYPES OF STRESS

1. General Stress:

Everyone has this kind of stress

It resolves itself within a

day or two No intervention is necessarily required

FOUR TYPES OF STRESS

2. Cumulative Stress: Stress builds up in

your body It becomes more

difficult to alleviate your symptoms

You may have more serious physical symptoms

You may have more serious mental anguish

FOUR TYPES OF STRESS

3. Acute Traumatic Stress:

Critical Incident Stress

Produces considerable

psychological distress

A normal reaction to abnormal events

FOUR TYPES OF STRESS

4. Post Traumatic Stress:

Severe stress produced

by severe psychological trauma

Created by unresolved

critical incident stress

Produces lasting changes

General Adaptation SyndromeStage I - Alarm

Reaction

be ready for physical activity

However, it decreases the effectiveness of the

immune system which makes you more susceptible to illness

General Adaptation SyndromeStage II – Stage of

adaptation

If stress continues, the body adapts to the stressors it is being exposed to If the stressor is starvation, the person experiences a reduced desire for physical activity

to conserve energy, and the absorption of nutrients from any food intake is maximized

General Adaptation SyndromeStage III – Stage of

Exhaustion

Stress persists for a long time collapse quickly

People who experience long-term stress may

have heart attacks, severe infections, or chronic pain or illness

Causes of stressSurvival Stress When the body is in a tense situation or in a possibly harmful situation the body reacts with burst of energy called adrenaline. This reaction causes the body to react quicker to the problem and hopefully have a better chance of good outcome.

Causes of stress• Internal Stress

• Internal is the stress felt when individuals make them selves stressed. Most times internal stress is over things that the individual may not be in control of or situations that are out of their hands. In some cases people have been known to be addicted to the tense, stressed feelings, only causing to more complications in their lifestyle. They even look for stressful situations and feel stress about things that aren't stressful.

Causes of stress

Organizational

Environments, school, work, and home

Finances Family life Excessive noise Overcrowding Fatigue and over-work

ENVIRONMENTAL / EXTERNAL STRESSESThere are two kinds of external stresses organizational and significant life event.

Significant life events

Death of a loved one School Graduation Marriage Babies Buying a home Medical emergencies Job changes

Symptoms of StressPhysical Symptoms

Physical symptoms occur in the body either causing harm or pain to an individual. They can vary between: Headaches Lowered immunity Muscle spasms Fatigue Skin irritations Breathlessness

Symptoms of StressPhysical Symptoms

Short Term Symptoms Dry mouth Cool skin Cold hands and feet Increased sweating Rapid breathing Faster heart rate Tense muscles Feelings of nausea Butterflies in your stomach Diarrhea A desire to urinate

Long Term symptoms Insomnia Change in Appetite Sexual disorders Aches and pains Frequent colds Feelings of intense and long-term tiredness Prone to illness

Symptoms of StressMental Symptoms

Mental symptoms occur in the mind of an individual either causing irregular behaviours. Paranoia Unclear thinking Unsound Judgement Nightmares Indecisiveness Negativity Rash decisions

Symptoms of StressBehavior Stress Symptoms

These symptoms have a negative affect

By reducing your effectiveness

Making you accident proneCausing you to be forgetfulCausing you to be very

negativeYou may neglect your

appearanceYou may make poor

judgmentsCausing you to make more

mistakes Increasing your

absenteeism

Symptoms of StressBehavior Stress Symptoms

YawningTalking too fastTalking too loudFiddlingTwitchingNail bitingGrinding teethDrumming

fingersPacing

Over reacting

EmotionalDefensive Irritable IrrationalDefensiveHostileCriticalAggressive

Withdrawal Suspiciousness Excessive Humor

or Silence Increased

Smoking, Alcohol or Food

Change in Activity Level

Angry Outbursts Crying Spells

Symptoms of StressEmotional Signs of Stress

Difficulty Making Decisions Confusion Difficulty Naming Familiar

Items Poor Concentration Blaming Others Memory Problems Replaying Events Over &

Over

Symptoms of StressCognitive Signs & Symptom

Difficulty Making Decisions Confusion Difficulty Naming Familiar

Items Poor Concentration Blaming Others Memory Problems Replaying Events Over &

Over

Personality

Personality is thought to comprise several: traits characteristics behaviors expressions moods feelings as

perceived by others

The complexity of one’s personality is thought to be shaped by: genetic factors family dynamics social influences personal

experiences

Personality and Stress How we deal with stress is due in large

part to our personalities, yet regardless of personality, we each exhibit many inner resources to use in the face of stress.

New behaviors can be learned and adopted to aid in this coping process.

We do not have to be passive victims to stress.

Freud

Stress comes from the tension between your id (impulses) and the superego (society). This is controlled by the ego (identity).You try to use defense mechanisms to protect your ego.

Jung

Your personality arises through individuation. Stress may result from conflicts between your conscious and unconscious.

Kubler-Ross

The stages of handling unmet expectations are similar to the stages of dying: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance.

Frankl

Stress can arise from the failure to make meaning out of life and suffering.

Maslow Look to my hierarchy of Needs. Stress occurs when Lower level needs are notMet, which keeps the person From reaching higher levels.Self-actualization

Self-EsteemBelonging and Love

SafetyPhysiological needs

Stress-Prone Personalities

These personalities do not cope with stress well:

Type A personalityCodependent personality

Helpless-hopeless personality

Type A Behavior

Time urgency Polyphasia (multitasking) Ultra-competitiveness Rapid speech patterns Manipulative control Hyper-aggressiveness and free-floating

hostility

Type A Behavior

Health RisksTightening of facial muscles

Gesturing with a clenched fistGrimacing

Using explosive speechInterrupting the interviewer

Hurrying the pace

Suggest Type A personality not a causative factor in high blood

pressure

Type A BehaviorAnger and Hostility

AngerDirected at anything

Reaction to a specific situationRoad rage is a common form

HostilityAn enduring anger directed at

people

Identify anger and hostility as factors most closely related to

cardiovascular disease

Codependent PersonalityArdent approval seekers

PerfectionistsSuper-overachievers

Crisis managersDevoted loyalists

Self-sacrificing martyrsManipulators

“Victims”Feelings of inadequacy

Reactionaries

Helpless-Hopeless Personality Poor self-motivation

Cognitive distortion where perception of failure repeatedly eclipses prospects of success

Emotional dysfunction

External locus of control of reinforcing behavior