Stress Whats that

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Stress? Whats that???

• My name is Andy
• I am
• Enjoying the moment
• With my favorite grandpa
• Breathing
• Smiling

2
Stress Response

• Adrenaline Release
• Severe Stressor

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Adrenaline Release Causes...

• Blood sugar to rise
• Blood pressure to increase
• Heart rate to accelerate
• Arteries to constrict
• Digestion to slow
• Mind and muscles to work very efficiently (for a
  limited time)

4
If the stressor is severe or persists for more
than just a couple of minutes...

• Cortisol is released by adrenal glands
• Moderate amounts of cortisol is not harmful
  however, long-term stress creates an ongoing
  release of cortisol which can be toxic to brain
  cells, lower immunity, decline in energy and
  overall well being.

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Signs and Symptoms of Stress

• Cardiovascular
• Respiratory
• Musculoskeletal
• Digestive
• Sleep Disorders
• Skin
• Emotional/Mental

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Cardiovascular

• Pounding and racing of the heart
• High blood pressure
• Irregular heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Cold, sweaty hands

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Respiratory

• Shortness of breath
• Rapid breathing
• Asthma attacks

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Musculoskeletal

• Twitching or shakiness
• Neck or back pain
• Headache (tension, migraine)
• Stiffness of muscles

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Digestive

• Dryness of mouth and throat
• Difficulty swallowing
• Grinding of teeth
• Indigestion
• Nausea or queasiness
• Vomiting
• Loss of appetite or excessive appetite
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Abdominal pain
• Cravings for food
• Frequent urination

10
Sleep Disorders

• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Nightmares

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Skin

• Acne
• Dry skin
• Rashes
• Excessive perspiration

12
Emotional/Mental

• Nervousness
• Unexplained fearfulness
• Anxiety
• Emotional instability
• Impulsive behavior
• Depression
• Irritability
• Forgetfulness
• Severe mood swings

• Tearfulness
• Difficulty in completing tasks
• Changes in eating habits
• Increased dependence on drugs
• Inability to concentrate
• Lack of creativity
• Loss of memory
• Low self-esteem

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Nearly every physical problem is accompanied by
a disturbance of breathing. But which comes
first? Hans Weller, M.D.
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The Stress Highway

• Life Situations
• Perception
• Emotional Response
• Physiological Response
• Consequences

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The Stress Highway

• Personality
• Environmental
• Major life events
• Changes
• Hassles
• Relationships

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Sources of Stress in College Students

• Interpersonal
• Intrapersonal
• Academic
• Environmental

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Interpersonal

• Roommate conflict
• Fight with boyfriend/girlfriend
• Trouble with parents

18
Intrapersonal

• Change in sleeping habits
• Financial difficulties

19
Academic

• Change of Major
• Missed too many classes
• Anticipation of graduation

20
Environmental

• Vacations/breaks
• Computer problems
• Car trouble

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Definitions of Stress
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• Stress is your life energy to feel, think and
  act -- seeking to express itself.
• -Zerin

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• Stress is the sum total of wear and tear on the
  person
• -Selye

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• Stress helps people to respond to the positive
  and negative demands of their lives. Provides a
  challenge that fosters growth and learning.
• -Washington Business Group of Health

25

• Stress is derived from the Latin word
  stringere which means to bind tightly.

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• Number of normal responses for
  self-preservation.
• -Curtis

27

• Most standard medical textbooks attribute
  anywhere from 50 to 80 percent of all disease to
  psychosomatic or stress related origins.
• -Pelletier

28

• Stress behavior depends on how the source of
  arousal is cognitively appraised, the modes of
  response learned for coping with stress, and
  their relative effectiveness.
• -Bandura

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• Stress is produced by change, the disruption of
  homeostatic equilibrium.
• -Holmes

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• The difference between what we have and what we
  want
• -Applegate

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• Stress is linked to every common disease.
• -Cox

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Your stress koan

• Is your stress (stressor) a curse or a gift?