2. Mind or the brainMind or the brain
• What is the difference between the two?
3. • Mind: is the element, part, substance, or process
that;
o Reasons
o Thinks
o Feels
o Wills
o Perceives
o Judges, etc.
• Brain- is the part of the central nervous system
enclosed in the cranium of humans and other
vertebrates, consisting of a soft, convoluted mass of
grey and coordinate the mental and physical
actions.
5. Defining stressDefining stress
• Stress refers to the body’s natural response,
psychologically and physiologically to events both
ve+ and ve- that upset our personal balance in
some way.
• Positive and negative events are called stressors.
• Stressors impact our coping skills and ability to
adapt leading to body’s biological stress response.
6. Two types of stressTwo types of stress
• Eustress- any form of stress that is beneficial
o E.g. “usually associated with a feeling of fulfilment and achievement
rather than anxiety”
• Distress- a feeling of extreme worry, sadness or pain
o E.g. “experiencing loss or being rejected”
7. Defining burnoutDefining burnout
• Burnout is a psychological term that refers to long-
term exhaustion and diminished interest in work.
• It results from chronic occupational stress, e.g., work
overload.
8. Causes of stressCauses of stress
• Problems with primary support group
o Death of a family member
o Health problems
o Disruption of the family due to separation or divorce
o Sexual, physical, and emotional abuse
o Parental overprotection
o Being neglected
• Problems related to the social environment
o Inadequate social support
o Discrimination
o Inability to adjust to life-cycle transition
• Retirement
9. • Educational problems
o Academic problems
o Discord with teachers or classmates
o Inadequate facilities in schools
• Occupational problems
o Unemployment
o Threat of job loss
o Stressful work schedule
o Difficult work conditions
o Job dissatisfaction
o Discord with the boss/co-workers
10. • Housing problems
o Homelessness
o Unsafe neighbourhood and discord with the neighbours
• Economic problems
o Extreme poverty
o Inadequate finances
o Insufficient welfare support
o Debts
• Problems to health care services
o No transport to health care facilities and inadequate health care services
11. • Problems related to interaction with the legal
system
o Arrest
o Incarceration
o Litigation
o Victim of crime
• Other psychosocial and environmental problems
o Exposure to disasters
o War
o Conflicts
12. Effects of distressEffects of distress
• Physically
o Backaches/pains
o Breathlessness
o Change in menstrual cycle
o Palpitations or chest-pain
o Constipation
o Diarrhoea
o Headaches
o Indigestion
o Muscle twitches
o Nausea
o Recurrence of previous illnesses
o Skin problems
o Sleep problems
o Fatigue
o Weight loss or weight gain
13. • Behaviourally
o Increased habits on alcohol use as well as smoking
o Inability to relax
o Inability to express feelings
o Loss of appetite or overeating
o Loss of libido
o Overreacting to issues
o Poor time management
o Poor judgement
o Withdrawal from family and friends
14. • Emotionally
o Anger
o Anxiety
o Decrease in confidence/ self-esteem
o Feelings of helplessness, guilt, shame, and out of control
o Lack of enthusiasm
o Mood swings
o Tension
o Poor concentration
15. • Psychologically
o Recurrent negative thoughts and expressions
• I can’t cope
• I don’t know what to do
• I don’t seem to be to get on top of things
• I'm a failure
• Nobody understands
• What's the point
• Why is everyone getting at me?
16. • Neurologically
o Brain
• Stress damages brain cells and impair memory
o When stressed an alarm in the brain is set off, which responds by
preparing the body for defensive action (fight and flight response)
o The nervous system is aroused and hormones are released to cause;
alertness, quickened blood circulation, deep breathing and tension in the
muscles.
o Stress hormones- Cortisol and Adrenaline
Increased blood pressure,
Diabetes, Deposition of plaques
in the blood vessels, immune
suppression, Bone re-absorption,
Muscle wasting.
Rapid heart beat, hypertension,
anxiety, weight loss, excessive
sweating and palpitations.
17. How to manage stressHow to manage stress
Discard all poor/unhealthy coping styles
18. Avoid these:Avoid these:
• Foods with high fat content, e.g. Junk food (Pizza,
etc.)
• High glycemic index (High sugar)
• Foods with no/minimal fibre
• Too much salt
• Too many preservatives
• Foods with less vitamins and minerals
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Nicotine
19. Stick to a balanced,Stick to a balanced,
healthy diethealthy diet
22. Make time for relaxationMake time for relaxation
• Meditation
• Breathing exercises
• Massage
• Improve your spirituality
• Creativity
o Interests and hobbies
• Leisure activities
o Family
o Friends
o Holidays
25. Manage your emotionsManage your emotions
• EQ (Emotional intelligence) is key
• Be assertive
• Avoid bottling up feelings
• Meet others half way to resolve issues
• Balanced thinking
o Positive thinking
• Learn to let go if you cannot control the situation
• Learn from situations
• Avoid impulsivity
26. Thank you for your timeThank you for your time
Comments and questions are welcomeComments and questions are welcome
