A stress response is the body’s

mechanism for protecting or caring for

the stressed individual. It is an
assortment of physiological reactions or
changes in the body upon perception of
demanding situations with which one
has to cope. Stress responses help
people to be alert and focused.
 In the 1920`s, Walter Cannon
introduced fight or flight response or
the acute stress response. This kind of
stress involves of physiological
reactions when one is under stress or
pressure. The function reactions
activate the body’s resources to deal
with the threatening situations
 Medical doctor Hans Selye, the
proponent of the general adaptation
syndrome(GAS). He believes that the
body naturally adapts to external
stressors in a predictable biological
pattern. The general adaptation
Syndrome (GAS) response involves
three stages: Alarm, Resistance, and
exhaustion
The theory concurs the body naturally
reacts to stress by activating its fight
or flight response system. Stress
hormones such as adrenaline,
noradrenaline, and cortisol are
released when one is stressed. These
hormones help the person to combat
the stress, stay in control, and
perform extra ordinary activities.
 This response stage which involves the
secretion of additional hormones is for long
term protection.

The body begins to weaken and lose its

capacity to fight or lessen the harmful effects
of the stressors because all the energies and
defensive reserves have been used up. This
stage may be considered as entry point to
stress overload or burnout that will leads to
more serious health problem.
 Dr. Herbert Benson, the founder of
Harvard’s Mind/Body medical
institute, coined the term `relation
response’. The body`s capacity to
release chemicals and brain signals
that slow down and increase blood
flow to the brain bringing back the
body and mind into a state of
equilibrium.
1. Problem-focused approach
Focusing on the source of the
stress trying to analyze the situation
and making extra effort or working
harder to solve the problem.
Confronting or communicating with
direct source of stress is also under
this strategy
2. Emotion-focused strategy
concentrating in ones feeling
brought by the stress instead of facing
the actual source of stress. A person
subscribes to this strategy when he or
she accepts the stress but mopes
around, keeps on complaining, or
blames herself himself other other for
the stressful event.
1.Engaging in physical activities
Exercising, deep
breathing, yoga or Taichi.
Physical activities improve our
resistance and immunity
against damages brought by
stressor
2. Doing activities that are
relaxing
Relation is a remedy to stress.
Give ourselves a break. Relaxation
brings us back to our senses.
Produces calmness, and contributes
to our wellness.
3. Acquiring social Support
our loved ones, relatives, and
friends provide us helpful emotional
support. The assistance and
encouragement they provide can
make stressful events easier to deal
with. Physically emotionally alone,
we are prone to be vulnerable
victims of stress
4. Getting ample rest and
sleep
it is advisable that they get
enough sleep whenever proper
opportunity permits. Enough rest
and sleep help people not only to
perform well in activities but also to
resist the damage caused by stress
5. Being realistic
Involves acknowledging and
accepting our weaknesses
and limitations. We should
not be ashamed to ask for
help
6. Thinking Positively
Our outlook and attitudes in
life have an impact on the way
we see things. Thinking with
optimism help us to make the
best out of stressful situations.
We have to embrace life and its
crises and learn to laugh at
ourselves once in a while.
7. Learning the art of Resilience
There are people who are
quick to recover from stressful
events, they have learned the
art of being able to bounce
back after experiencing crises
in life. The art of resiliency to
be just ‘cool’ and though,
despite high levels of stress