Cause and

effects of
Stress
 What is stress?
Stress is a reaction of the body and mind to unkind or
challenging life incidents such as tense feelings, worry, and
discomfort. The imbalance between the demand from the
environment and the person's ability to cope can trigger
feelings of anxiety. Some responses like being imitated,
frightened, or anxious can cause headache or stomach ache.
There Are 2 types of Stress:

The Negative Stress.

The Positive Stress.
 The Negative Stress
Distress or Negative stress causes poor performance.
Sometimes distress can go from an expected level to
one that interferes with treatment, makes it hard for
you to function and affects all parts of your life.
 The Positive Stress
The second type of stress, the unpopular one, is
called eustress. It is the positive cognitive response
to stress that is healthy, or gives one a feeling of
fulfillment or other positive feelings. Selye created
the term as a subgroup of stress to differentiate the
wide variety of stressors and manifestations of
stress.
 Cause of Stress
stress can cause a negative consequences on the
body. It leaves the body feeling weak, tired and impairs
the immune system. These cause anxiety that affects
an individual's health, behavior, and fife. Stress affects
our health and can be classified as acute, cumulative,
or chronic. Acute stress, the most common form, from
recent, past, and foreseen difficulties
 Common signs when you
are Stress

Anxiety or nervousness, Anger or

irritability, Fatigue,
Difficulty sleeping, Headache, Muscle,
pain and tension, Weight gain, Light
headedness, faintness, dizziness, and
Frequent crying spells or suicidal
thoughts
 General Adaptation
Syndrome (GAS)
General adaptation syndrome (GAS) describes the
physiological changes your body goes through as it
responds to stress.

The 3 Stages of General Adaptation Syndrome:

Alarm reaction
Resistance
Exhaustion
 Alarm Reaction Stage
The alarm reaction stage of general adaptation
syndrome is the body’s initial response to stress.
The sympathetic nervous system is activated by
the sudden release of hormones. You may better
know this stage as the fight-or-flight response.

Physical signs of being in the alarm reaction stage

include:

Dilated pupils, Increased heart rate, Rapid breathing,

Trembling, Pale or flushed skin, and Heightened
senses
 Resistance Stage
The resistance stage of general adaptation syndrome is
when your body tries to repair itself after the initial shock
of stress. If the stressful situation is no longer present and
you can overcome the stress, your heart and blood
pressure will start to return to prestress levels during this
stage.
You might have symptoms such as:

Bowel issues, Headaches, Sleeplessness, Sadness,

Frustration, Irritability, Poor concentration
 Exhaustion Stage
Prolonged or chronic stress leads to the last stage of
general adaptation syndrome—exhaustion. Enduring
stressors without relief drains your physical,
emotional, and mental resources to the point where
your body is no longer able to cope with stress.

Signs that you are in the exhaustion stage

include:

Fatigue, Burnout, and Decreased stress tolerance.

 Examples that can trigger GAS
include:
Daily stress (such as pressure at school, work, or
at home relating to your family)
A sudden change in your life (such as losing a job,
divorce, or illness)
Traumatic experiences (such as abuse, a major
accident, and war)
 Example of General Adaptation
Syndrome
Here is an example of an event that might trigger general adaptation
syndrome and possible ways you might experience each stage:

Alarm reaction: You have trembling hands and butterflies in your

stomach prior to the start of an important exam.
Resistance: You've finished your exam but you're having trouble
switching gears and focusing on other things.
Exhaustion: Your exam is in the past but you still feel anxious and
depressed. You're having trouble sleeping and you wonder how
you're going to get through the rest of the semester.
 Managing Stress
Stress mitigation techniques can help you cope with GAS.6
Examples you might want to explore include:

Manage social media time.

Maintain physical exercise and good nutrition.
Connect with others.
Connect with others.