Managing distress
being able to manage distress refers to learning how to cope with negative or difficult emotional states (feeling upset or angry)
Learning how to manage distress is a form of self-regulation
The tipping point
The “tipping point” is the point at which someone begins showing signs and symptoms of the strain/burden of perceived stress. Tipping point is different for each person: what your tipping point is is different than others
Where you decrease from optimal performance to maladaptive anxiety
Stress diathesis model
Diathesis: Diathesis refers to the concept of vulnerability. Specifically, predisposition or vulnerability to a medical condition
Can be biological through genetic inheritance
A psychosocial vulnerability is created by exposure to a stressor early in life
Vulnerabilities can be created by the interaction between hereditary and environmental factors
explains a disorder or behaviour through an interaction between genetic predisposition and a stressful exposure (can be chronic, acute or cumulative)
Because there is so much variability across presence of risk factors the “tipping point” at which someone begins showing signs and symptoms of the strain of perceived stress varies alot in ppl- like sensitivity to pain or temp
Allostasis
The process by which the body adapts to changes in the body
- esentially for mantaining balance in the face of challenges
Allostasis induced brain plasticity
Stressful experiences can affect and alter brain structure and function
Allostasis brain plasticity- the brain and regulation
the brain is central in the stress-diathesis model
The brain determines what are threatening/adverse and what are positive experiences/exposures
The brain is responsible for regulating an individual’s physical, emotional, behavioural, and cognitive response to stressors, events and experiences
- plastcity occurs based on how the brain interprets events
Steeling effect
Evidence of more resistance to later stress after succesfully coping with a stress or challenge
Stress, balance and plasticity
Stress mist be balanced, if its manageable it can lead to adaptive plasticity (strengthening neural circuits, building resilience, improving regulation)
If its chronic or overwhelming it can lead to maladaptive plasticity: takes a toll on the body and is associated with poor physical and mental health outcomes
Brain structure and stress disorders
when stressed the brain changes its structure in an adaptive or maladaptive way in response. The loss of resilience (physiologically, nuerologically and behvaiourally) is a key feature of disorders related to stress.
Genotype x environment interactions and stress: flourshing and stress reduction
- your genetic makeup interacts with your life experience to detemrine sensitivity to experience
Reduce risk: interacts with good and bad experiences to determine resiliency abd stress sensitivity. healthy ways of coping can reduce risk of overwhleming feelings and symptoms
Flourish: Young people are at a time in develoment where a healhty lifestyke and accelerate brain development can increase likelihood of positive wellbeing effects
Stress diathesis model: 3 parts
- Stress infleunces how you think and feel emotionally and physically
- the system checks anf the balances to adapt
- too much stress can cause sigf of wear and tear
Perceived stress, leads to phsyiological responses which leads to allostatic load
When major life events occur your body perceives the stress based on your experience and then your body reacts dpeending on that which can lead to allostasis or adaptation
Physiologic responses: stress diathesis
After the brain perceives stress it controls and coordinates, physiological, psychological and behvaoural response.
- Metabolism, heart rate, anxiety, emotions, behaiour
- signals the HPA axis
Perceived stress
The brain processes information from your internal (hydration, hormonal state) and external (work, friends, family) environment
- your brain reacts differently to the same stress depednding on genetics and life expereince
- this determines your perceived level of stress
Allostatic load : stress diathesis
The wear and tear on the body and brain resulting from chronic dysregulation or overactivity/strain related to allostasis
How to alleviate allostatic load
Healthy diet, refular exercise, social support/connectedness, good sleep
- helps develop resileince in event of adveristy
