Chapter 6

“Stress”
Outline
Chapter 6 – Stress
 Ways in Which Stress Can Occur
 Stress Response
 Effect of stress
 Positive effect of stress
 Negative effect of stress
 Stressors
1. Physical stressors
2. Social stressors
3. Psychological stressors
 Stress signals
 How to cope with stress
1. Cognitive Responses
2. Informational Responses
3. Behavioral Responses
 Posttraumatic stress disorder
Form a Chain
Materials:
 Paper clips and Rubber bands
Mechanics:
1. Use a paper clip and rubber band to form a
chain. Just insert the rubber band to the
paper clip one at a time.
2. Repeat inserting the rubber band to the
paper clip within 1 minute.
3. Compare which chain is longer made by the
players. The player who has made the longer
one is the winner.
Stress
The term stress is commonly used to
describe a feeling or emotion. It is a
process by which the individual responds
to environmental and psychological events
that are perceived as threatening or
challenging.
Ways in Which Stress Can Occur
 Chronic repetition of certain emotions
(anger, despair)
 Changes in work
 Home situations
 Reaction to surgery
Stress can lead to:
 Loss of appetite
 Insomnia/ inability to sleep
 Tension headaches
Stress Response
A chain reaction of changes within the body.
 quicker breathing
 greater production of adrenalin
 faster heartbeat
 rise in blood supply to hands and feet
 increase in metabolism
 faster clotting of blood flow to the muscles
 sharpening of all senses
 tension in the bowels and stomach
functions.
Effects of Stress
 It can be complex, but they all involve a
certain group of certain body responses.
 When danger is perceived, the pituitary
gland releases a hormone called
“adrenocorticotropic hormone”. It
triggers adrenal glands to release
“epinephrine” or “adrenaline” and various
other hormones.
Positive effects of stress
Stress is valuable in sports and making
speeches. Stress response develops one’s:
 Mettle
 Increases alertness
 Improves sight
 Strengthens muscles
 Reduces reaction time
Stress response increase our ability
to:
 Stand and fight
 Turn and flee
 Mobilize all our resources to achieve
whatever we decide to do.
Negative effect of stress
Stress does not only affect a person’s
mental and emotional state but also his
physical health.

“… a common cause for almost all diseases

whether it be a heart attack, a mild case of
asthma, or just the feeling of being sick… is
chemical imbalance in the body caused by
stress.”
(Worchell & Sebilsky)
 Some negative effects of stress are stated under
each category.
Unsuitable Lower Energy and Poorer Health
behavior Performance level
Loser behavior Reduced Heart and
concentration circulatory diseases
Short temper Increased Ulcers
forgetfulness
Bad smoking, Poor judgment Infectious diseases
eating, and drinking
habits
More frequent Prone to feelings Skin diseases
mistakes of tiredness
Less flexibility
Stressors - The events that cause stress.
 Physical stressors
◦ Heat ◦ Violence
◦ Cold ◦ Own illness
◦ Noise ◦ Poor working
◦ Fire conditions and
equipment
◦ Traffic
 Social stressors
Four main causes of social stress
1. Social, economic and political situations
2. Family
3. Job and career
4. Interpersonal and environmental
stressors
1. Social, economic and political
situations
 Unemployment
 Cost of housing
 Crime
2. Family
 Sharing of workload
 Sex roles
 Different values
 Death or illness in the family
 Different lifestyle
 Money problems
3. Job and career
 Deadlines
 Muddled communications
 Travelling time
 Interruptions
 Competitions
 Power struggles
4. Interpersonal and environmental
stressors
 Different values
 Obligations
 Waiting time
 Poor service
 Smokers/ Non- smokers
 Driving habits
 Social expectations
 Psychological stressors
◦ Frustration – occurs when one’s strivings
are thwarted by obstacles that block
progress toward a desired goal.

◦ Conflicts – the simultaneous occurrence of

two or more important but incompatible
needs or motives.

◦ Pressures – forces a person to change the

direction of a goal – oriented behavior.
Stress signal
Acts as a red light or warning bell to tell us
that action is needed to prevent more
serious problems from developing.
Examples of stress signals
Physical
 Change in breathing rhythm
 Tense and aching muscles
 Headaches
 Sweating
 Cold hands and feet
 Changes in appetite
 Stomach problems, heart burn
Mental
 Lack of concentration
 More frequent mistakes
 Forgetfulness/ absent – mindedness
 Tendency to over – react
 Poorer judgment
Emotional
 Irritation/ short temper
 Nervousness
 Depression/ silence
 Emotional outbursts/ crying
Behavioral
 Insomnia
 Increased drinking/ smoking/ eating
 Absenteeism
 Clumsiness
How to Cope with Stress
Three major ways of coping with stress:
1. Cognitive
2. Informational
3. Behavioral
Cognitive Responses
Involves reappraisal which is looking at the
good as well as the bad. Maintaining a sense
of humor and perceiving the lighter side of
stressful situations reduce the negative
reactions to stress.
Informational Responses
Seeking out information and getting a
better understanding of the stressful
situation can be an important step in
coping with stress.
Behavioral Responses
Ways of coping with stress
1. Sleep well, eat well, avoid harm, and
exercise regularly.
2. Develop and maintain a relaxation
program.
3. Do things you enjoy. Develop hobbies.
4. Be part of a social network and know
that you can rely on others to help in
time of crisis.
5. Learn to set aside problems temporarily.
6. Have a clear picture of your life goals.
a. Check your priorities
b. Develop trust in god
7. Nurture your faith dimension.
a. Have regular meditation and prayer.
b. Seek God’s will and yield to it.
8. Take a break or a vacation.
 Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
 Filipinos who are hit by the worst disasters
or experience shock usually suffer from a
series of acute stresses.
 A trauma may cause changes in the
sympathetic nervous system. It makes victims
extremely anxious, emotionally detached or
angry; they begin to have uncontrollable
thoughts, undeserved self – blame, and
nightmares.
Prepared by:
Juddie Mynn J. Barba
BEED II