The document discusses stress, including definitions of stress, the neurophysiology and physiology of stress, sources and types of stressors, and strategies for coping with stress. It provides details on Hans Selye's definition of stress as the non-specific response of the body and Richard Lazarus' definition involving demands exceeding resources. The key components of stress are outlined as well as the involvement of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympathetic nervous system in the stress response. Sources of stress discussed include life events, daily hassles, trauma, and conflicts. Strategies presented for coping with stress include managing perceptions, shifting perspectives, relaxation techniques, building resiliency, and developing social support systems.

1. Stress and Health – Adapted for Introduction to Psychology 2010

2. What is Stress? (p.381)
 Hans Selye: “The non-specific
response of the body to any
demand for change”
 Richard S Lazarus: “Stress is a
condition or feeling experienced
when a person perceives that
“demands exceed the personal and
social resources the individual is
able to mobilize.”

3. Key components of a GOOD
definition of stress… (11.1)
 Eustress vs. Distress – Mobilizing vs. Consuming
 Biopsychosocial Model - has three components.
This definition of stress distinguishes between an
external element, another that is internal, as well
as a third that represents the interaction between
these two factors.
 Also include physiological components -
hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenal axis, stimulation of
the sympathetic nervous system and adrenalin
secretion in the "fight or flight" response

4. Let’s Review: The
Neurophysiology
of Stress (11.3)
What brain systems are
involved in contributing to
the stress response?
Hint: CNS, PNS, ES, LS

5. The Physiology of Distress…
11.7

6. The impact of
stress on the
immune
system and the
risk
for
disease (11.8)

7. Stressors Show Up in
Many Ways…
Pressure, lack of control,
11.4
frustration, & conflict

8. Stressors…

9. What are the Sources of Stress
(Conflict)? 11.6
Stressors Stem from Choices…
 Approach-Approach: the great
dilemma (Having to choose
between two desirable
alternatives)
 Approach-Avoidance: When
you are both drawn to and
repelled by a choice
 Avoidance-Avoidance: Having
to choose between two
undesirable alternatives

10. Post-Traumatic Stress
 Catastrophic
Events: such as
 PTSD:
911, sexual Flashbacks
assault, violent Nightmares
robbery/home Auditory and
invasion,
tsunamis, etc. Visual
 Chronic Intense hallucinations
Stress: e.g. Heightened
POW, Military, anxiety,
high stress job, depression,
hostage, bullying survivor guilt

11. Bullying can contribute to
PTSD
 Take a look at this...
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=1iaYCNKLkVw

12. Brain Scans of Children who are
bullied…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itQLq4wqiCY

13. Stress, Depression, & Suicide
(11.5)
 Suicidal behaviour and depression have a strong
positive correlation
 Suicide is the number 2 cause of death in youth
aged 10-24 in Ontario
 More than 90 percent of suicide victims have a
diagnosable psychiatric illness,10 and suicide is the
most common cause of death for people with
schizophrenia (CMHA.ca)
 Major depression and bipolar disorder account for
15 to 25 percent of all deaths by suicide
 Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in
Canada

14. Assessing the risk and
Intervene having thoughts of ending your life?”
 Ask – “are you
Asking about suicide will NOT make people suicidal.
 Assess –
 Is there a history of suicide in the family or among close friends?
 Have you attempted suicide before?
 Do you have a plan? Do you have a date or time set?
Intervene – seek supports, make a contract, call EMS, take it
seriously – do not attempt to resolve this on your own,
especially if you do not have training.
To receive the BEST suicide intervention training – ask for ASIST
Suicide Intervention Training

15. Coping with Stress (11.11)

16. Strategy – Manage Your Perceptions (Problem-
focused Coping)
Richard Carlson – Author, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” www.dontsweat.com
 “A thought attack is any
thought or emotion that
negatively interrupts your
focus. It grows out of
proportion and can become
a mental snowball.”
 Activity:
Describe a thought attack that
you often have
Make a mental snowball
MELT IT!

17. Strategy : Shift Your Perception
(Emotion-focused coping)
What do you see? Problem or Opportunity?

18. Re-Framing:
TRY THIS! What do you see?
IAMNOWHERE
What does this sentence
say?
“A woman without her man
is nothing”

19. Internal perception: Thinking…
 “I think therefore I am…”
 “I’ll believe it when I see
it…”
 “I’ll see it WHEN I believe
it!”
 Belief is the BASIS of
ACTION.

20. E+R=O
(An interpretation of the cognitive appraisal approach) 11.2
 Event + Response = Outcome
What you do
about it
Cognitive Appraisal
Self-Evaluation
(Glasser)
What is happening? What does How do I FEEL (Label the
it mean? Emotion)? How would I like
this to be resolved? What can
I do to get that outcome?
CHOOSE an appropriate
response.

21. Life Happens… the impact of
cumulative stressors
 Take the Holmes & Rahe Social
Readjustment Rating Scale Assessment
 Add up your scores
 What do your scores mean?
 Why should we NOT sweat the small
stuff? The Hassle Factor… and the
balance between hassles and uplifts.

22. The Goal is Not “Stress
Free” but “Optimal Stress”
 Achieving Optimal Stress Levels
 Review the Optimal Stress
Wheel
 What strategies can you
implement so you can achieve
optimal stress?
 Brainstorm with your peers!

23. What are You
Tolerating/Procrastinating?
 Think about it!
Write it down
 Talk about it!
If you could make this
negative energy positive,
how would you do it?

24. Just Breathe…
 Breathing Awareness
 Breathing for Relaxation
 Progressive Muscular
Relaxation

25. The Personal Factors That Impact
Stress
One Word: Resiliency
 Are you an optimist or pessimist?
 Do you have a social support network?
 Are you psychologically hardy?
Do you feel like you have control in your life?
Are you committed to your job/family/schooling?
Is there enough challenge in your life?
Do you welcome challenge or do you fear it?

26. Bounce! How to Build Resiliency
1. Examine your
attitude – check
your psychological
hardiness
2. Build a secure
network of support
3. Cultivate optimism

27. You thought they were stress
reducers, but they are stress
INDUCERS
 Smoking
 Alcohol
 Caffeine
 Recreational drugs
 Rx medications
 Addictive behaviours
 Oh but there’s more

28. We have less than 1 month left of
school – Make your stress reduction
plan
“If you fail to plan,
you plan to fail.”
 Decide what strategies
you will implement and
commit to do them daily
for the next 10 days.

29. Stress and Health: Other sections in
the text you should read:
 P. 396-397, Your Lifestyle
and Your Health
 P. 393, HIV, AIDS, and the
Transmission of AIDS
 P. 380-382, Hans Selye
and General Adaptation
Syndrome, and Richard
Lazarus’ Cognitive Theory
of Stress

30. If you’re interested…
Websites:
To get the book:
www.angersolution.com/laststraw.php
www.angersolution.blogspot.com
www.juliechristiansen.com