Stress
Introduction
Stress can be defined as a reaction to experiences that tend to make one become upset or an event that brings a threatening feeling to someone (Santrock, 2004). One can also define stress as anything that makes our well being feel challenged or endangered. Stress is a reality of nature involving external forces affecting our well being (Panzarino, 2009).
This essay discusses stress with focus on how people adapt to stress. The work also looks into the various sources and mediators of stress in addition to exploring the likely health effects of stress. A few ways of managing stress are also mentioned.
Adapting to stress
The stress response also known as “fight-or-flight” is an automatic and a swift process of the body reacting to sensed stress. It acts to protect a person from danger since alertness is raised and the biological processes become ready to respond to the stressor. By the body gaining energy and alertness to danger, one gets defense and to this extent, stress is positive to human beings (Lazarus, 1984). Not only does stress response prepare the body for defense but it also cause one to stay awake to life challenges thus influencing someone to attend to positive events in life. For instance, stress may push you to revise for an upcoming exam instead of going for shopping. In the same way, stress may make you meet job deadlines that otherwise would not have been met. Stress may reach a point where it is no longer beneficial and instead causes harm to a person’s health and productivity. At this point, the social life of an individual is also interfered with and relationships are compromised (Santrock, 2004). It is however pertinent to note that stress is neutral, positive or negative to our lives depending on how we view it.
Effects of stress
Although stress tolerance differs from individual to individual due to various factors, stress levels still reach a point where it becomes harmful. Chronic stress brings about several health problems. During stressful moments, the blood pressure increases as well as the heart rate. There is also rapid breathing and the muscles become tense. Insomnia is common due to increased alertness as the digestive system slows (Stress Related Illness, 2009). The immune system also becomes compromised and the individual becomes susceptible to illnesses. The effects of these body responses may include hypertension, heart attack, infertility depression and increased rate of aging. The following diseases are therefore associated with stress: autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular problems, sleep disorders, digestive disorders and obesity. Cancer development is also mentioned in relation to stress (Santrock, 2004).
A stressed person is also prone to anger, burnout, irritability, fatigue and restlessness among other psychological effects. The behavior of a stressed individual is affected such that these individuals may end up having eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa or indulge in alcohol and substance abuse. Moreover, the persons tend to become socially withdrawn.
Sources and instigators of stress
There are many factors that contribute to stress or exacerbate stress. These range from sociocultural factors to environmental factors. Personality factors and work related factors also form a basis for stress development. However, a stressor to one person may not cause stress to another. Some external causes of stress include major life events like getting married, financial difficulties, work issues and relationship problems. Among internal stressors include pessimism, perfectionism and having unrealistic expectations (Medical News Today, 2009). Being too busy can also lead to stress. Some traumatizing experiences such as a miscarriage or loosing a loved one may eventually lead to post-traumatic stress disorders (Santrock, 2004).
Identifying excessive stress
Since people differ in the stress level they can handle, it is crucial to have a personal knowledge of signs of exacerbated stress. It is pertinent to look for changes in behavior and psychological health to be able to identify any deviation (Helpguide, 2009). There is otherwise no single and definitive symptom of stress as one may get emotional, cognitive, physical or behavioral symptoms.
Managing stress
Taking control of stressful events, thoughts and environments becomes important in managing stress. Handling and tolerating stress however depends on a number of factors. A support network helps in dealing with stress just as a person’s sense of control. Knowledge about dealing with a stressful situation as well as preparedness also influences our stress management ability. Our health status and rest amounts also determine our ability to manage stress. Some people find exercise as a way of treating stress while others may prefer to seek professional help to deal with the same (Scott, 2009). Stress management will certainly depend on the type and source of stress. It is also important to treat health problems arising from stress as a way of cutting down stress levels.
Conclusion
Stress as a natural way of the body responding of threats by getting prepared is no doubt an important response in life. With stressors differing from person to person, one should be able to identify excessive stress in order to avoid the social, physical and psychological harm caused by such stress levels. In case one has identified excessive stress, they should be able to manage it depending on the source and nature of stress which if otherwise is not dealt with will cause more harm including developing of post-traumatic stress disorder
Stress can be defined as a reaction to experiences that tend to make one become upset or an event that brings a threatening feeling to someone (Santrock, 2004). One can also define stress as anything that makes our well being feel challenged or endangered. Stress is a reality of nature involving external forces affecting our well being (Panzarino, 2009).
This essay discusses stress with focus on how people adapt to stress. The work also looks into the various sources and mediators of stress in addition to exploring the likely health effects of stress. A few ways of managing stress are also mentioned.
Adapting to stress
The stress response also known as “fight-or-flight” is an automatic and a swift process of the body reacting to sensed stress. It acts to protect a person from danger since alertness is raised and the biological processes become ready to respond to the stressor. By the body gaining energy and alertness to danger, one gets defense and to this extent, stress is positive to human beings (Lazarus, 1984). Not only does stress response prepare the body for defense but it also cause one to stay awake to life challenges thus influencing someone to attend to positive events in life. For instance, stress may push you to revise for an upcoming exam instead of going for shopping. In the same way, stress may make you meet job deadlines that otherwise would not have been met. Stress may reach a point where it is no longer beneficial and instead causes harm to a person’s health and productivity. At this point, the social life of an individual is also interfered with and relationships are compromised (Santrock, 2004). It is however pertinent to note that stress is neutral, positive or negative to our lives depending on how we view it.
Effects of stress
Although stress tolerance differs from individual to individual due to various factors, stress levels still reach a point where it becomes harmful. Chronic stress brings about several health problems. During stressful moments, the blood pressure increases as well as the heart rate. There is also rapid breathing and the muscles become tense. Insomnia is common due to increased alertness as the digestive system slows (Stress Related Illness, 2009). The immune system also becomes compromised and the individual becomes susceptible to illnesses. The effects of these body responses may include hypertension, heart attack, infertility depression and increased rate of aging. The following diseases are therefore associated with stress: autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular problems, sleep disorders, digestive disorders and obesity. Cancer development is also mentioned in relation to stress (Santrock, 2004).
A stressed person is also prone to anger, burnout, irritability, fatigue and restlessness among other psychological effects. The behavior of a stressed individual is affected such that these individuals may end up having eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia nervosa or indulge in alcohol and substance abuse. Moreover, the persons tend to become socially withdrawn.
Sources and instigators of stress
There are many factors that contribute to stress or exacerbate stress. These range from sociocultural factors to environmental factors. Personality factors and work related factors also form a basis for stress development. However, a stressor to one person may not cause stress to another. Some external causes of stress include major life events like getting married, financial difficulties, work issues and relationship problems. Among internal stressors include pessimism, perfectionism and having unrealistic expectations (Medical News Today, 2009). Being too busy can also lead to stress. Some traumatizing experiences such as a miscarriage or loosing a loved one may eventually lead to post-traumatic stress disorders (Santrock, 2004).
Identifying excessive stress
Since people differ in the stress level they can handle, it is crucial to have a personal knowledge of signs of exacerbated stress. It is pertinent to look for changes in behavior and psychological health to be able to identify any deviation (Helpguide, 2009). There is otherwise no single and definitive symptom of stress as one may get emotional, cognitive, physical or behavioral symptoms.
Managing stress
Taking control of stressful events, thoughts and environments becomes important in managing stress. Handling and tolerating stress however depends on a number of factors. A support network helps in dealing with stress just as a person’s sense of control. Knowledge about dealing with a stressful situation as well as preparedness also influences our stress management ability. Our health status and rest amounts also determine our ability to manage stress. Some people find exercise as a way of treating stress while others may prefer to seek professional help to deal with the same (Scott, 2009). Stress management will certainly depend on the type and source of stress. It is also important to treat health problems arising from stress as a way of cutting down stress levels.
Conclusion
Stress as a natural way of the body responding of threats by getting prepared is no doubt an important response in life. With stressors differing from person to person, one should be able to identify excessive stress in order to avoid the social, physical and psychological harm caused by such stress levels. In case one has identified excessive stress, they should be able to manage it depending on the source and nature of stress which if otherwise is not dealt with will cause more harm including developing of post-traumatic stress disorder
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Stress
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