What is a general definition of stress?
- Stress is the non-specific response of the body to any demand
- A particular relationship between the person and the environment that is appraised by the person as taxing or exceeding his or her resources and endangering his or her well-being
Describe brief naturalistic stressors?
- a real-life short term challenge
- uncertain but brief
- e.g. zoom technology glitch, assignment
Describe acute time-limited stressors
- a short term challenge
- known and short
- e.g. work task, health consult
describe stressful event sequences
- a focal event giving rise to a series of related challenges
- duration uncertain but will improve/ end at some point in the future
e.g. loss of a spouse or major natural disaster
describe chronic stressors
- pervade a person’s life, forcing them to restructure identity or social roles
- long duration - uncertain when or if the challenge will end
- e.g. traumatic disabling injury, being a refugee, caring for a family member with dementia
Describe distant stressors
- experiences in the distant past have ongoing potential to modify immune system function
- long duration
- e.g. sexual assault, witnessing violence
Describe the acute stress response
- Threat perceived = S/PNS releases a flood of stress hormones [ e.g adrenaline and cortisol].
- Hormones rouse the body for emergency action.
- Heart rate increased, RR increased , BP increased muscles tighten, and senses become sharper.
- These physical changes =increased your strength and stamina, increased reaction time, and enhance your focus—preparing you to either fight or flee from the danger at hand.
HPA axis
1) =When activated, corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH), and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are released from the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN).
2) This induces the release of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary gland into the systemic circulation
3) ACTH will activate cortisol synthesis in the cortex of the adrenal gland.
What negatively regulates the HPA- axis activity?
Cortisol
What is allostatic load?
Allostatic load refers to the cumulative burden of chronic stress and life events. It involves the interaction of different physiological systems at varying degrees of activity. When environmental challenges exceed the individual ability to cope, then allostatic overload ensues. Allostatic load is identified by the use of biomarkers and clinical criteria
What is a sign?
= what other people see /measure
What is a symptom?
= only the person experiencing it can describe/measure
What are some bodily signs of stress?
pounding heart, muscle tension, muscle pain, headaches, sweating, nausea, constipation
What are some emotional symptoms of stress?
overwhelmed, frustrated, short tempered, guilty, unhappy, helpless, angry, resentment, impatient
What are some cognitive symptoms of stress?
memory problems, inability to concentrate, poor judgement, seeing only the negative, anxious or racing thoughts, constant worrying
What are some behaviours that indicate stress?
eating more or less, sleeping more or less, isolating yourself, procrastination/ neglection, nervous habits, alcohol and drugs
Is the limbic system in a constant state of alert?
Yes
What are some examples of stress related illness?
- Hypertension
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Heart attack
What are the INTJ?
Introverted, intuitive, thinking and judging
What does introverted in INTJ mean?
thought orientated, reserved, relfective and observant
What does intuitive in INTJ mean?
imaginative, future orientated, conceptual and abstract
What does Thinking in INTJ mean?
logical, reasonable, level headed and values fairness
What does judging in INTJ mean?
organised, systematic, achievement orientated and planner
What are the physical signs and symptoms of burnout?
- Feeling tired and drained most of the time, lowered immunity, feeling sick a lot, frequent headaches, back pain, muscle aches, Change in appetite or sleep habits
