What is stress?
Stress is a reaction to a stimulus that disturbs our physical/mental equilibrium. therefore, it's an omnipresent part of life. When being stressed it trigger the “fight-or-flight” response, causing hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol to surge through the body. in other words, your brain producess a stress reaction when you are in a position that is mentally/pysically demanding.
Stress is a reaction to a stimulus that disturbs our physical/mental equilibrium. therefore, it's an omnipresent part of life. When being stressed it trigger the “fight-or-flight” response, causing hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol to surge through the body. in other words, your brain producess a stress reaction when you are in a position that is mentally/pysically demanding.
Stress is normal! everyone has been through it once in their lives. Stress can also be good for you-it keeps you alert, for you to think quickly in times of danger or preassure. E.g exam stress can be good for you, the stress triggers you to revise (focus) instead of being lazy and not doing any revision. But, there are at times stress can be dangerous to our health, prolonged and unwanted stress may slowly lead to physical health and mental problems.
Our brain is on the constant look out for anything to upset its equilibrium (balance). If there are serious stressors around, it triggers off an alarm reaction that prepares your body for the fight or flight reaction (judement). This then triggers the sympathetic nervous system prepare your body for vigorous muscular activity, which may include;
A sudden stress e.g running a 4 miles from out of the blue can cause various unpleasent effects, such as headaches, irritability, butterflies in the stomach or dried mouths.
long term stress can cause more serious health problems. A long term stressor will have a sympathomedullary responce, it will start with the hypothalamus which is a small structure at the base of the brain which releases CRF (corticotrophin release factor) which stimulates the anterior pituitary gland then ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) which sparks the adrenal cortex then the adrenal cortex releases corticosteriods which convert fat and protein into energy. That allows them to make the decion to make the fight or flight responce
- blood sugar reaction increases
- breathing rates increases
- heart rate increases
- blood flow increases
A sudden stress e.g running a 4 miles from out of the blue can cause various unpleasent effects, such as headaches, irritability, butterflies in the stomach or dried mouths.
long term stress can cause more serious health problems. A long term stressor will have a sympathomedullary responce, it will start with the hypothalamus which is a small structure at the base of the brain which releases CRF (corticotrophin release factor) which stimulates the anterior pituitary gland then ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) which sparks the adrenal cortex then the adrenal cortex releases corticosteriods which convert fat and protein into energy. That allows them to make the decion to make the fight or flight responce
Bereavement- all types of bereavement tend to be perceived by the survivor as stressful, but sudden or violent deaths are particulary distressing.
Divorce- divorce can create high levels of stress for divorcing couples, making them more susceptible to depression. research also suggest that divorce negatively affects the immune system.
Divorce- divorce can create high levels of stress for divorcing couples, making them more susceptible to depression. research also suggest that divorce negatively affects the immune system.
Theodore Robles 2006
Robles was intrested in finding out how couples positive and negative behaviours contributed to changes in their ACTH and cortisol levels. He held an expirement where they gave 90 newluwed couples a conflict task and observed their behaviour using a marital interaction coding system. Guess what? high levels of positive behaviour from husbands led to significant decreases in ACTH and cortisol in their wives. This tells us that constructive discussions promotes healthier responses to interpersonal conflict, lowering the negative impact of stressful situations, such as dealing with money problems.
Robles was intrested in finding out how couples positive and negative behaviours contributed to changes in their ACTH and cortisol levels. He held an expirement where they gave 90 newluwed couples a conflict task and observed their behaviour using a marital interaction coding system. Guess what? high levels of positive behaviour from husbands led to significant decreases in ACTH and cortisol in their wives. This tells us that constructive discussions promotes healthier responses to interpersonal conflict, lowering the negative impact of stressful situations, such as dealing with money problems.