STRESS MANAGEMENT:

DEFINE STRESS: Stress is the “non-specific response of the body to any kind of demand made upon
it”. (Selye-1956).
DEFINE STRESSOR: Stressor is any person or situation that produces anxiety response to the body.
A stressor is a chemical or biological agent, environmental condition, external stimulus or an event
that causes stress to an individual.
CLASSIFICATION OF STRESS: Stress can be classified as ;
1. Short term (acute) stress:
2. Long term (chronic) stress:
SHORT TERM (ACUTE) STRESS: • Acute stress is the reaction to an immediate threat, commonly
known as fight or flight response. • The threat can be any situation that is experienced, even
subconsciously or falsely as a danger.
• Common acute stress includes – noise, crowding, isolation, hunger, danger, infection, etc.
LONG TERM (CHRONIC) STRESS: • In day to day life persons faces different stressful situations,
which are not short, lived. The stress becomes chronic when an individual tries to suppress it
Common chronic stressor includes;  Ongoing highly pressured work  long term relationship
problems  loneliness
CLASSIFICATION OF STRESSORS:
1. External stressors
2. Internal stressors:
1)EXTERNAL STRESSORS: - Physical environment - Social interaction with people - Life events which
you have no control over (death in the family)
2) INTERNAL STRESSORS: - Personal lifestyle choice - Personality traits - Individual thought process
(negative, over analyzing, etc.)
RELATIONSHIP OF STRESS AND STRESSORS WITH ILLNESS
Linkages between long-term stress and illness.
Stress can contribute to health breakdowns by causing people to behave in ways that increase the
risk of illness.
Antigens - foreign substances in the body (antibody generators)
Antibodies - biological weapons used to destroy antigens
Life stress can weaken immune functioning.
Stress hormones released into the bloodstream by the adrenal glands can suppress the activity of
specific immune system cells, increasing the likelihood of illness.
People's attempts to cope with stressors sometimes lead them to behave in ways that impair
immunity.
Natural immunity - occurs quickly, nonspecific
Specific immunity - more targeted process and takes longer to occur; analyzes the specific properties
of an invader and then forms antibodies to fight against it.
Acute-time limited stressors enhance fast-acting natural immunity process.
Chronic stressors are the most damaging to health because they have suppressive effects on both
types of immunity
Common Stressors
*Illness—personal or family member/friend
*Death of a loved one
*Starting a new job, unemployment or retirement
*Personal relationship problems with family/friends
*Work overload (taking on too much work/responsibility
*Financial concerns
*Daily hassles
Health & Stress Management
Two initial steps in coping with stress: Primary Appraisal & then Secondary Appraisal
Two choices after secondary appraisal:
Emotion-Focused (managing one’s emotional reactions to stress)
Problem-Focused (dealing directly with a stressor to decrease or eliminate it)

ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS (STRESSORS) Physical/Psychological PERCEPTION OF DEMANDS

(COGNITIONS) Amount of Physical/Psychological threat perceived STRESS RESPONSE (E.G., STRAIN)
Physical (Muscle Tension) and Emotional (Anxiety) BEHAVIOURAL CONSEQUENCES Performance /
Outcome