Stress is the human response to excessive demands (Stressor) which disturb physiological, social and psychological systems.
Ø The
stress can be either Negative stress (Distress) or Positive stress
(Eustress) depending on the stressor.
Ø The
stressors could be either internal (Anxiety, fear and personality traits)
or external (Family stressors, Social stressors, Work stressors, Change
stressors, Chemical stressors, Disease stressors, Environmental stressors, etc.)
Ø There
are three sorts of stress such as Acute stress, Episodic stress and Chronic
stress.
Ø Acute
stress occurs
only at a very short period of time.
Ø Emotional
symptoms of Acute stress include anger, anxiety, irritability
and acute periods of depression.
Ø Physical
symptoms of Acute stress include headache, pain, stomach
upset, dizziness, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, hypertension and
bowel disorders.
Ø The
acute stress which is suffered too frequently is termed Episodic stress.
Ø The
symptoms of Episodic stress include Ceaseless worrying, Longer periods
of intermittent depression, anxiety disorders and emotional distress, Persistent
physical symptoms similar to those found in acute stress and Coronary heart
diseases, or other heart problems.
Ø Chronic
stress
is dangerous and unhealthy.
Ø Chronic
stress is caused by long-term exposure to stressors, such as unhappy marriage,
traumatic experiences, unwanted career or job, stress of poverty, chronic
illnesses, relationship conflicts, political problems, and dysfunctional
families.
Ø Chronic
stress can induce serious illnesses like stroke, heart attack, cancer, and
psychological problems such as clinical depression and post-traumatic disorder.
Ø The
Physical signs and symptoms of chronic stress include Dry mouth, Difficulty
in breathing, Pounding heart, Stomach ache, Headache, Diaphoresis, Frequent
urination and Tightening of muscles.
Ø The
Mental signs and symptoms of chronic stress include Sudden irritability,
Tension, Problems with concentration, Difficulty in sleeping, Narrowed
perception and Frequent feelings of fatigue.
Ø Physiological
response to
stress occurs as Immediate responses to stress, through the Stimulation
of Sympathetic adrenomedullary system and General Adaption Syndrome.
Ø The
release of Epinephrine and Norepinephrine occurs from adrenal medulla as an
immediate response to stress.
Ø Stimulation
sympathetic system leads to Acceleration of heart and lung action, Paling or
flushing, Vasoconstriction in many parts of the body, Liberation of nutrients
for muscular action, Inhibition of the lacrimation and salivation, Dilation of
pupil, Relaxation of bladder, Inhibition of erection, Auditory exclusion (Loss
of hearing), Tunnel vision (Loss of peripheral vision) and Shaking.
Ø The
Stages of GAS include Alarm Stage, Resistance Stage and Exhaustion
Stage.
Ø Psychological
response to
stress occurs as Direct Action and Indirect Action.
Ø Direct
action to stress may occur as Freezing (Anticipation of Threat), Aggression
(Fight), Escape (Flight), Learned helplessness or Hopelessness (Depression).
Ø Indirect
action to stress may occur as Displacement, Repression, Denial, Projection, Rationalisation,
Intellectual Isation or Reaction formation.
