Stress.pptVIP

What’s in this for me? Stress happens! Stress can and does diminish the quality of our lives. You can learn to cope more effectively with stress. Individualized approaches are the only ones that work. This presentation may produce some insights that you can use. What is stress? A physical, chemical or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation Bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existing equilibrium What are some of the common unpleasant stresses in our lives? Illness Unemployment Conflict Increasing demands Crime Death Information overload What are some of the common pleasant stresses in our lives? Retirement Vacation New baby Moving New job New phase of life Children leaving home Family visits How are stress and health related? More than 200 points on the Social Readjustment Assessment Scale in one year was associated with an increased incidence of Myocardial infarction Psychiatric illness Peptic ulcer disease Infection What are the relative scores of some common life events? What disorders are negatively affected by stress? Psychiatric disorders Cardiovascular disorders GI disorders Neurological disorders Musculoskeletal disorders What are some psychological responses to stress? Irritability Preoccupation Difficulty with concentration Anxiety Depression Sleep changes Avoidance Psychological defense mechanisms What are some physiological responses to stress? Increased heart rate Increased respiration Increased perspiration Diarrhea Tremor Flushing What factors often distract us from the realization that we are stressed? Time pressure Demand for productivity Emphasis on quantity Materialism Competition Selfish interests No sense of purpose or meaning Longer task lists Resentment What are some unhealthy strategies? Eating Drinking Using chemicals Indulging in pathologic relationships Ruminating Being a couch potato Working harder Taking it out on others Withdrawing Ignoring issue