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.
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