Stress and Health

By: Sonia Real, Elizabeth corona and Tima Mustafa

Stressors Specific events or chronic pressures that place demands on a person or threaten the persons well being. (Peer Pressures, Presentations, getting married, death of close family or friend etc.) Stress The physical and psychological response to internal or e ternal stressors. Chronic Stressor - ! source of stress that occurs continuously or repeatedly. Health Psychology The subfield of psychology concerned with ways psychological factors influence the causes and treatment of physical illness and the maintenance of health. Environmental psychology Study of environmental effects on behavior and health. Perceived Control "vents are more stressful when you have no control and no way to deal with it.

General Adaptation Syndrome ! # stage physiological response that appears regardless of the stressor that is encountered. (!larm reaction, resistance and e haustion) Fight or flight !n emergency and physiological reaction to an emergency that increases readiness for action.

Immune system ! comple response system that protects the body from bacteria, viruses, and other foreign substances. ymphocytes $hite blood cells that produce antibodies that fight infection. !ype A "ehavior The tendency toward easily aroused hostility, impatience, a sense of time urgency, and competitive achievement strivings.

P!S# ! disorder characteri%ed by chronic physiological arousal, recurrent unwanted thoughts or images of the trauma, and avoidance of things that call the traumatic event to mind. "urnout ! state of physical, emotional, and mental e haustion created by long&term involvement in an emotionally demanding situation and accompanied by lowered performance and motivation. Stress and Heart #isease Stress&activated arousal raises blood pressure and 'eeps it up. Psychological $eactions
Primary Appraisal

The interpretation of a stimulus as stressful or not stressful. (etermining if you can handle the stressor or not, having

Secondary Appraisal

control over the event.

Stress )anagement* (ealing $ith +t

Mind Management: Stressful events are magnified in the mind. Re!ressive #o!ing: $voiding situation that are reminder of the stress and maintain !ositive vie% !oint. Rational #o!ing: facing the stressor & %or"ing to overcome it.

E : fear of !ublic s!ea"ing

Three ste!s of Rational #o!ing: ''''$cce!tance( to realize that the stress is real and cannot be %ished a%ay. ''''E !osure( thin"ing about the stressor & even see"ing it out. '''')nderstanding( %or"ing to find the meaning of the stressor.

Reframing: finding a ne% creative %ay to thin" about stressor that reduces it threat.

The *sychology of +llness: ,isorders

Psychosomatic Illness% an interaction &et'een mind ( &ody that can produce illness) E*posure 'ays in 'hich mind +psyche, can influence &ody+soma, ( vice versa)

Somatoform* The patient displays physical symptoms not fully e plained by a general medical condition.

Hypochondriasis% a person is preoccupied 'ith minor symptoms ( develops an e*aggerated &elief that the symptoms signify a life threatening illness)

Sick Role

+s a socially recogni%ed set of rights and obligations lin'ed with illness. " empt from normal activities The sic' person is not responsible for their condition The sic' person should try to get well See' treatment )ain goal is to recover

Rights
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Obligations
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Malingering
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People who fa'e sic'ness for some 'ind of gain. ,r to get out of doing something Some do it to attract attention and sympathy Examples - -inancial compensation, avoiding school, wor' or military service .ow well the doctor listens and validates what the patient is saying. The doctor needs to understand the patients physical as well as psychological state. )a'e sure the patient follows prescription orders.

Patient practitioner interaction

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