Explore the biological, psychological, and social aspects of the human stress response. Explore the biological, psychological, and social aspects of the human stress response

Explore the biological, psychological, and social aspects of the human stress response.

• Explore the biological, psychological, and social aspects of the human stress response.

• Describe the difference between adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies.

• Understand coping strategies that increase resilience to promote productive living and healthy aging.

Diminished Immunity

• Diminished Immunity

• Headache

• Fatigue

• Weight gain

• Dyslipidemia

• Hypertension

• Heart Disease

• Psoriasis/Eczema

• Digestive problems

Stress: A state of disharmony or a threat to homeostasis

• Stress: A state of disharmony or a threat to homeostasis

• Physiological changes increase alertness, focus, and energy
• Perceived demands may exceed the perceived resources

• Coping: The ability to maintain control, think rationally, and problem solve

• Resilience: Resistant quality that permits a person to recovery quickly and thrive in spite of adversity

Eustress

• Eustress

• Manageable Stress can lead to growth and enhanced competence

• Distress

• Uncontrollable, prolonged, or overwhelming stress is destructive.

• Acute Stress

• Immediate response to a threat or challenge

• Chronic Stress

• Ongoing exposure to stress, may seem unrelenting

External causes

• External causes

• Family, work, economics, work, school, major life changes, unforeseen events, etc.

• Internal causes

• Worry, uncertainty, fear, attitudes, unrealistic expectations, etc.

For patients

• For patients

Alarm—when one feels threatened

• Alarm—when one feels threatened

• Activation of the fight or flight reaction

• Resistance—mobilization of resources to solve the problem

• Continued stress causes adaptation

• Exhaustion

• Adaptation fails and level of function decreases

Catecholamines

• Catecholamines

Adaptation occurs

• Adaptation occurs

• Activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis continues

• The stressor may be resolved

• The body returns to homeostasis

• May progress to exhaustion

• Stress continues as resources are depleted

Occurs when the demands of the stress exceeds the persons ability to adapt.

• Occurs when the demands of the stress exceeds the persons ability to adapt.

• Functioning declines

• May result in health problems

• Physical symptoms
• Mental symptoms

Cognitive

• Cognitive

• Decreased concentration, comprehension, & memory

• Behavioral

• Irritability, withdrawal, violence

• Emotional

• Fear, anxiety, depression, fatigue

• Physiological

• Increased BP, HR, Respirations, etc
• Somatic symptoms
• Decreased immune response

Genetics

• Genetics

Coping

• Coping

Adaptive Coping

• Adaptive Coping

• Contribute to resolution of the stress response

• Maladaptive Coping

• Strategies that cause further problems

• Active Coping

• Actively seeking resolution to the stress

Realistic expectations

• Realistic expectations

• Set realistic goals

• Planning

• Anticipate problems, have a backup plan

• Reframing

• Change the way you look at things

• Relaxation

• Learn relaxation techniques, take time-out for leisure

• Discuss the problem

• Utilize existing social supports to problem solve

Training

• Training

• Prepares for stressful events

• Nutrition

• Eat healthy, avoid skipping meals

• Exercise

• Include regular exercise

• Sleep

• Get adequate sleep—avoid fatigue

Blurring of boundaries

• Blurring of boundaries

• Avoidance/withdrawal

• Negative attitude

• Anger outbursts

• Alcohol/Drugs

• Hopelessness

• Negative self-talk

• Resentment

• Violence

Positive Role Models

• Positive Role Models

• Optimism

• Humor

• Moral Compass

• Altruism

• Religion & Spirituality

• Social Support

Transmit:

• Transmit:

• Attitudes

• Values

• Skills

• Patterns of thoughts and behaviors

Positive Beliefs

• Positive Beliefs

• Associated with well being
• Cognitive reframing
• Positive thinking
• Refute the negative thinking
• Believe in a meaningful cause

• It is important to acknowledge relevant negative factors

Highly effective

• Highly effective

• Mature coping mechanism

• “Another of the souls’ weapons for the fight for self-preservation, it is well known that humor, more then anything else in the human makeup, can provide an aloofness and the ability to rise above any situation, even for a few seconds.”

• Viktor Frankl

Conduct a moral inventory

• Conduct a moral inventory

• “Look not for any greater harm then this, destroying the trustworthy, self-respecting, well-behaved man within you.” Epicetus

• Maintain your integrity

• “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
• Viktor Frankl

Unselfish regarding the welfare of others

• Unselfish regarding the welfare of others

• Believe in a meaningful cause

• Mutual cooperation

• Activates of the brain’s reward center

Associated with psychological and physical well being

• Associated with psychological and physical well being

• Guards against despair

• Provides social support

• Provides positive role models

• Provides a positive mission

Social support has a profound effect on life expectancy

• Social support has a profound effect on life expectancy

• Patients have better outcomes with strong social support

• Isolation and poor social support are associated with a poor stress response

• Few hardy individuals “go it alone”

Recognize skills and talents

• Recognize skills and talents

• Inventory strengths

• Use your strengths and talents

• Decide what works

• Actively cope

• Apply concepts to enable active coping.

Stress is part of everyday life

• Stress is part of everyday life

• It can promote growth and competency
• If unrelenting or overwhelming it can cause adverse effects

• Adaptive coping enhances resilience

• Maladaptive coping causes additional problems

• Enhanced coping increases resilience while diminishing the adverse affects of stress, thus promoting health

Set realistic expectations

• Set realistic expectations

• Exercise regularly

• Eat healthy

• Get adequate sleep

• Maintain a work-leisure balance

• Positive Reframing & optimism

• Enhance social support

Building resilience: http://www.slideshare.net/3dogMcNeill/building-resilience

• Building resilience: http://www.slideshare.net/3dogMcNeill/building-resilience

• Diet, exercise, stress and the immune system: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/chronic_fatigue_syndrome/hic_diet_exercise_stress_and_the_immune_system.aspx

• Exercise: Rev up your routine to reduce stress: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise-and-stress/SR00036

• Positive thinking: Reduce stress, enjoy life more: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/positive-thinking/SR00009

• Stress management for patient and physician: http://www.mentalhealth.com/mag1/p51-str.html

• Stress management: Understand your sources of stress: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-management/SR00031

• Stress reduction techniques: A must for a healthy lifestyle: http://www.managestresstips.com/category/stress-reduction/

List your current sources of stress.

• List your current sources of stress.

• Conduct an inventory of coping strategies that you use or have used in the past.

• Include maladaptive strategies

• List your signature strengths and factors that may enhance your resilience.

• While considering the above, develop a personalized stress management plan to enhance your coping and resilience.

Ahern, N., Ark, P., Byers, J. (2001). Resilience and coping strategies in adolescents. Paediatric Nursing. 28(10).

• Ahern, N., Ark, P., Byers, J. (2001). Resilience and coping strategies in adolescents. Paediatric Nursing. 28(10).

• Beckmann-Murray, R., Proctor-Zentner, J., & Yakimo, R. (2009). Health promotion strategies through the life span. New Jersey: Prentice Hall

• Bhui, K., King, M., Dein, S., & O’Conor, (2008). Ethnicity and religious coping with mental distress. Journal of Mental Health. 12(2).

• Copstead, L. C. & Banasik, J. L. (2010). Pathophysiology: Biological and behavioral perspectives (2nd ED.) USA: W. B. Saunders Company

• Fielding, R (Undated) Retrieved September 25, 2007 from:http://www.pitt.edu/~super1/lecture/beh0091/img007.GIF&imgrefurl

• Hildon, Z., Smith, F., Netuveli, G. & Blane, D. (2008). Understanding adversity and resilience at older ages. Sociology of Health & Illness. 30(5).

• Posen, D. B. (1995). Stress management for patient and physician. Retrieved September 21, 2007 from: Http://Serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro00/web3/edmundson.html

• Pranulis, M. S. (1975). Coping with acute myocardial infarction. Psychological Aspects of Myocardial infraction. Mosby: St. Louis

• Southwick, S. M. (2007). Cleveland Clinic’s posttraumatic stress disorder symposium. California: Audio-digest

• Steinhardt, M. & Dolbier, C. (2008). Evaluation of a resilience intervention to enhance coping strategies and proctitive factors and decrease symptomatology. Journal of American College Health. 56(4).

• Images retrieved from Microsoft: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/images/?CTT=97

Allan Sanders, MN, ARNP

• Allan Sanders, MN, ARNP

• [e-mail]