MENTAL HEALTH: Stress and Stressors

Ms. Mai

Lawndale High School

What Is Stress?

Stress is your body’s response to physical or mental demands or pressures

The demands that cause stress are called stressors

Some physical stressors might include hunger, thirst, cold, fatigue from work

Some mental stressors might include arguments with others or death of someone

Body’s Reaction to Stress

Your body produces a physical response to stressors in your life

These can include increased heart rate, higher blood pressure, or the release of hormones

Many things can cause you stress (teachers, parents, grades, jobs), but it is how you deal with stress that makes the difference

Positive and Negative Stress

Stress can have a positive or negative influence on your life

Positive uses of stress are called eustress

You can learn to use stress to your advantage depending upon how you deal with it

Negative uses of stress are called distress

Examples?

Response to Stress People respond to stress differently

Emotional Signs Physical Signs

Irritability Pounding Heart

Aggressive Behavior Trembling Feeling

Easily Startled Grinding of Teeth

Nervous Laughter Excessive Perspiration

Trouble Sleeping Aching Neck and Back

Over or Under eating Frequent Colds

Accident Prone Cold Hands or Feet

3 Stages of Stress

In studies of stress, your body typically adapts to a stressor through a set pattern of physical reaction

There are usually 3 stages of stress

1. Alarm Stage

2. Resistance Stage

3. Exhaustion Stage

1. Alarm Stage

Quick physical warning

When you feel fear, you release adrenaline (aka epinephrine) that causes a rush of energy in times of excitement

Your heart rate and breathing speed up, and blood rushes all over your body

2. Resistance Stage

Your body then chooses to fight the stress, or flee from it

During this stage, your body works to resist a threatening stressor

You also begin to cope (deal with a problem) by using humor or denial

3. Exhaustion Stage

Your body’s defenses against stress are used up because you have been stressed too long

You are unable to fight or resist the stress, and have a greater chance of becoming ill

Common Stressors

Mental and physical stress can accumulate and destroy your health

There are 4 main types of stressors

1. Life Changes

2. Traumatic Events

3. Conflicts

4. Daily Hassles

1. Life Changes

There are different levels of stress and they can have different effects on your life

The measure of the amount of stress on your life is called a life change unit

There can be positive or negative stress, and physical or mental stress

Ranking of Stressors (LCD = Life Change Unit)

Life Event LCU

Getting Married 101Being Pregnant (f) 92

Death of Parent 87Parent’s Divorce 77Being Pregnant (m) 77

Alcohol/Drugs 76Parents Remarry 63

Death of Friend 62

New School 56

Life Event LCU

Failing a Class 56

No EC Activity 55

Breaking Up 51

Start to Date 51

Suspended 50Argue w/ Parents 47

College Accept. 43Begin High School 42

Grandparent Die 36

2. Traumatic Events

Earthquakes, floods, fires, or serious accidents can all cause stress

Survivors of traumatic events often go through post-traumatic stress disorder

Some symptoms include loss of interest in former friends, extreme anxiety, and reliving memories of the event

This disorder may develop immediately, or months/years after the experience

3. Conflicts

Internal conflicts cause stress because they require a person to make a choice between two or more options

Each time you face a decision, you could be faced with stress

The amount of stress is related to the importance you put on the decision

4. Daily Hassles

Your everyday interactions with the world around you may be more stressful than major life events

For example, arguments with family, transportation problems, losing your homework, being late to class, etc.

Although these may not be as important as major life events, the accumulation of daily hassles can still have a serious impact

Special Populations and Stress Your group characteristics (age, where

you live, family income, ethnic background) sometimes plays a role in which stressors are more important

Urban Areas – violence and crime Rural Areas – money and weather Low Income Family - $$$ Young Age – dating Old Age – dying Race – lots of them

Hardy Personality

Some people are able to withstand extreme distress and still remain healthy

People who view change as challenging and an opportunity to grow have “hardy personalities”

They are not overwhelmed with inevitable change changes in their lives and are committed to their activities

In Conclusion….

Having control over your life can help you handle stress

You can deal with overwhelming stress more effectively by...

1. Being open to change2. Being committed to activities3. Having control of your actions

In Your Wellness Journal…

STRESSORS

List twenty physical or emotional things that currently stress you out. Rank them

in order. Describe the top 3 stressors and why they are important to you.