Stress, health and coping Stress defined Stress is a state produced by a change in the environment that is perceived as challenging,

, threatening or damaging to the persons dynamic balance or equilibrium. Eustress Eustress is a process of exploring potential gains Its consisting of two parts. Eu means well or good When attached to the word stress, it literally means good stress The term Eustress applies to pleasant and desirable stress. Distress Distress is a kind of suffering. It applies to an unpleasant, objectionable stress, such as acquiring an illness or losing ones job.

Stress is further characterized as follows: 1. It is a product of unpleasant environment emanating from negative experience. 2. It is a persons response to chaotic/ disturbing set of environment. 3. It is a gap between the requirements of a situation and the ability to meet such. Nature of stressor Stressor is any stimulus from internal or external environment which challenges the adaptation capabilities of an individual and places a strain upon the person resulting to a stressful reaction or illness.

Sources of stress 1. Cataclysmic Events - are strong stressor that occur suddenly in our environment that effect many people simultaneously 2. Personal Stressors - are major reactions to major life events such as various life change like marriage, death of a parent or spouse. b. Family stressors are those that are caused by stained or unhappy relationship/struggles between parents or relatives; c. School stressor such as dissatisfaction with school or caused by academic pressure can pose as a chronic problem. d. Peer stressors are caused by problems in peer acceptance, such as involvement with cigarettes, alcohol and drugs that form temporary relief of stess. e. Physical stressor are in form of health problems such as common colds, headaches and other minor illness that may produce daily hassles leading to physical symmtoms. 4. Internal stressors. They are those that revolve around a persons perceptual view on reality and constantly given attention to. 5 types of conflicts a.1 Approach-Approach conflict - we have two or more good choices but cant have them both. b.1 Avoidance-Avoidance conflicts - we have two or more alternatives but none of them seems desirable. c.1 Approach-Avoidance conflicts - we both want and dont want something. d.1 Avoidance-Approach conflicts - some ordinarily avoidable goals are so enticing that once you get close you cant stop it. e.1 Double or Multiple Approach-Avoidance conflict - we are faced with many choices, each with complex positive and negative aspects.

Theoretical Viewpoints Basic ideas were develop to explain profoundly on the back-ground and underlying views about stress. Storm and Stress Theory -this has been emphasized by Granville Stanley Hall. The adolescent period is marked by rapid change that causes biological stress. Bio-psychosocial Theory - as emphasized by Bernard & Krupant, environmental events cause stress that originate from poor living condition that result to irrational thinking, personality disorder, and hormonal imbalance. Cognitive Appraisal Theory -is an assessment of a situation to decide whether it is stressful and whether the individual has the resources to cope with it. Hardiness Theory - pro-founded by Suzanne Oullete - it is a personality characteristic associated with ones resistance to stress-related events Control-exhibits sense of mastery or self-confidence needed to appraise and interpret the stressful events in their lives appropriately. Challenge-is an active involvement in the maintenance or improvement of ones health, anticipates change as a security booster, rather than threat. Commitment - is being flexible and persistent in coping with stressors. Resilience - is a characteristic found among people who can withstand, overcome and thrive during the most profound difficulties and adversities in life. The psychological stress Our physical response to stress are the result of the activity of the automatic nervous system which is controlled by hypothalamus. The hypothalamus which acts as the highest center for the regulation of sympathetic response sends signal to the automatic nervous system and to the pituitary gland which are both responsible in stimulating the rate of contractility.

The general adaptation syndrome The effect of stress are best illustrated by a model develop by Hans Selye (1976), a well known stress researcher and is considered the father of Modern Stress Theory, called General Adaptation Syndrome. 1. Alarm Reaction Stage. This occur when there is the existence of a threat to fight and flight. Individual discerns a threat and reacts to defy such threatening situations. 2. Resistance Stage. The psychological changes tend to stabilize as coping efforts get under way. As individual stabilize, he use variety of means to sope with the dilemma at hand. 3. Exhaustion Stage. This is the stage when the persons ability adapt the stressor declines to the point when negative consequences stress appear. Response stress 1. Emotional Response. Stress elicits unpleasant emotional: annoyance, hospitality and anger; frustration are likely to generate anger; apprehension, anxiety and fear can be elicited by the pressure to perform and psychological tension such as detection, sadness, and grief are cause by daily social interactions with other people. 2. Psychological Reactions. Our ability to handle the stressors depends greatly on the functioning of our brain and the body pathways connected to it. The Psychological responses are the result of the sympathetic activities involving the body storage and decrease inflammation responses. 3. Cognitive Response. When we perceive those demanding situations beyond what we can normally handle, this is causing us to become stressed. 4. Behavioral Response. There are various human capacities that are not expended due to physical depletion. Increased Absenteeism, disrupted sleep pattern and reduce work performance are only some of the adverse effects of stress.

Coping style and strategies Coping is a conscious, adapted efforts that people use when they manage stressful events or situations and the emotions associated with the stressors. 1. Emotion-focused coping. This is an attempt to manage ones emotions in the face of stress by venting them out and seeking to alter ones perception of the problem. Having a brighter disposition in life and accepting sympathy and comfort from friends are healthful and comfort from friends are healthful ways to cope with stress. 2. Problem-focused coping. This is trying to modify the source of stress into something that will change a behavior. Developing a course of action such as organizing a study group in order to improved ones poor performance in class is a problem-focused approach. 3. Avoidance coping. This is the least effective form of coping. The person tends to disengage or reduce his efforts to deal actively with the stressor which is tantamount to helplessness. Giving up, withdrawal or escape from a problem may even worsen it, rather than working for its resolution. A person may indulge in excessive consumatory, unwise pattern of eating, drinking, smoking, drugs, spending money, 4. Constructive coping. This includes the first two forms of coping. There are healthful ways to deal with stressful events such as confronting the problem directly based on responsibility realistic appraisals of ones stress and coping resources; recognize as well as inhibit potentially descriptive emotional reactions to stress 5. Defensive coping. Defense mechanism are unconscious reaction that maintain a persons sense of control and self-worth by distorting or detryi0ng the actual nature of the situation. Types of defense mechanics are aggressive reaction or direct attack or displaced attack to the problem, compromise reaction or thinking what can be done about it, and withdrawal reaction or tuning away from the problem.

Other techniques to manage stress 1. Cognitive Reappraisal. This coping strategy tries to explain that by reappraising the stressor as being less threatening, stress should be reduced. 2. Humor as a stress reducer. Finding a humorous aspect in a stressful situation redefines the situation in a less threatening way. Laughter is the best medicine that can discharge pent-up emotion. Laugh at yourself once in a while. 3. Handling pent-up emotions. Express your emotion in a mature and socially acceptable manner. This is a form of emotion-focused coping wherein venting out or talking about stressor can be valuable in coming to terms with ones emotion and achieve peace within oneself. 4. Relaxation Activities. Relaxation is a valuable stress management techniques that can sooth emotional turmoil and suppress problematic physiological arousal. 5. Health-Promotion Activities. The strategies to minimize psychological vulnerability are: A. Routine exercise. This keeps the body in relatively good shape; release muscle tension, clears the mind and improves the mood, self-image and work efficiency. B. Nutrition and diet. Drink enough fluoride water and fortified homogenized milk with Vitamin D; engage in weight reduction program; and, avoid vides such as alcoholic drinking and cigarettes smoking. C. Rest. Take enough rest and breath fresh air. D. Social support system. Maintain social network and personal support from close friends and family members. E. Time Management. Make a schedule of your activities to be performed in a very short period of time without sacrificing the quality of engaging on it. 6. Health Restoration Activities. These are some activities that will regulate the bodys response to stress. These are a) biofeedback and autogenic training which teaches the body and the mind to response quickly and effectively to a persons verbal commands to relax and return to a balanced, normal state. b) Music Therapy is the most recent technique employed to become stress-free. Soft and classic sound, depending on the listeners preference may give some soothing effect to relax ones mind. c) Assertiveness Training teaches people to express and verbalize their own personal thoughts and feelings by means of some structured activities.

Mental Health Mental Health refers to a sound state of mind; a condition of whole personality characterized by ones ability to face reality in both defeat and victory and to function effectively in a dynamic society. The term Mental Hygiene literally means care of the mind where the specific object of the study is man. Wellness is an integrated process of functioning which is direct toward maximizing the individuals potential if which he is capable within his environment. It also enables the individual to become aware of his choice to achieve a sense of well-being. Health of unhealthy life A research study has describe healthy people as happy people according to some prescribe characteristics. People who have achieve their happy predisposition in life are likely to have high self-esteem and can get along well with other people Meanwhile, a person is described as unhealthy when he is in highly personal state of feeling disenabling response between the persons need and the resources available to meet the needs. Stress and health. Various literatures have provided information on the advertise effects of stress on ones health Evidence suggest that stress can increase the chances of becoming ill. Cancer is one particular type of illness that has been considered the leading cause of deaths for both men and women. Heart attack is a general term for disorder affecting the heart muscle that may lead to heart failure. When coronary arteries become thickened, thus causing blockage in the blood supply to the heart, this may cause angina pectoris or heart attack.

Risk factors to stress-related illness 1. Genetics and psychological factors. These involve the physical functioning of the body. Such physical conditions are being overweight or some genetic predispositions that may result to specific illness. 2. Age. This increase or decreases the persons susceptibility to certain illness. Risk of heart disease increases with age; risk of birth defects and complications of pregnancy increase in women who bear children after age 35. 3. Environment. The physical environment where a person lives or works can increase the likelihood that certain disease will occur. 4. Lifestyle. These are personal habits and practices with potential negative effects.