As a psychologist, I resolved to talk about stress today because it is part of our every day life.
The study of stress can be said to have began with the description of the body's response to the demands and threats of harm or damage made upon it, as the fight or flight response (Cannon1932).
DEFINITION OF STRESS
Stress is the process of appraising events as threatening, challenging or harmful and responding to such on a physiological, emotional and cognitive level.
Selye (1956) borrowed the word stress from physics to describe this physiological response of the body to environmental demands and threats. At the same time he specified the changes in the body's physiology to what later became called stressors (factors with the potential to cause stress). Selye concludes that regardless of the source of stress, the body reacted in the same manner. He therefore defines stress as the nonspecific response of the body to demand made upon it. This means that positive outcomes of life (or good things e.g. promotion, marriage and having a new baby) and negative life outcomes (or bad things such as the death of a loved one, accidents and failure) are experienced the same way physiologically.
TYPES OF STRESS
EUSTRESS: these are stress experienced in the face of positive outcomes e.g. the stress associated with steemit is an eustress because it comes with positive rewards.
DISTRESS: are the negative ones.
SOURCES OF STRESS
Catastrophes or cataclysmic events: A catastrophe is a devastating, traumatic event that may involve personal injury, loss of life and extensive destruction of property. Examples include hurricane and floods, multiple automobile accidents, plane crash, wars and so on. Victims of major catastrophes can experience some disorders such Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome (PTTS).
Personal stressors: These are major events in a person's life that can produce an immediate stress reaction. Major personal stressor is life change events. The stress triggered by such events typically tapers off after sufficient time has passed; nevertheless they can leave lingering, long-term effects.
Background stressors: These are minor irritations and frustrations we face as we proceed through an average day in the home, the work place and even on the road. They may be in consistent, one-time inconveniences or frustrations or they may be long term in nature, such as dissatisfaction with a relationship, school or job; a lack of privacy or fear of one nature or the other.
COPING WITH STRESS
Progressive relaxation: This focuses on the relaxation of specific muscle groups, as well as of the body as a whole. It is based on the rationale that when our muscles are relaxed, we will interpret the physiological experience as one of tranquility. In turn, it leads to a reduction in the perception of stress.
Biofeedback: This is a procedure in which a person learns to control internal physiological processes through the use of electronic monitoring devices that provide continuous feedback on a physiological process. It allows people direct control of their physiological reactions to stress. Thus it can act both as a curative and preventive measure.
Exercise: Though physical exertion initially increases physiological arousal, it reduces stress in several ways on the long run. Firstly, the physiological responses (heartbeat, respiration rate, and blood pressure) sensitive to stress tend to be lower in people who regularly exercise. Secondly, exercise give people a sense of control over their bodies. Thirdly, exercise release natural painkilling chemicals called endorphins which may result in feelings of happiness.
Diet: Sometimes a change in diet is helpful in coping with stress. For instance, people who drink large quantities of caffeine are susceptible to feeling jittery and anxious, simply decreasing the amount they consume may be sufficient to reduce the experience of stress.
CONCLUSION
Stress is an everyday experience be it positive or negative so we must have the capacity and capability to deal with it else it overwhelms us.
I hope this educates us and I hope it makes sense.
Kindly upvote, comment and resteem. Thanks for reading.
