STRESS

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STRESS
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Stress

• an estimated 75-90 of visits to primary care
  physicians are for stress- related issues and
  problems
• job stress is a major source of stress
• in adults
• children, teenagers, students, and the elderly
  are also feeling more stress

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Stress

• what causes you stress?
• identify your major stressors
• what happens when you are under stress?
• what is all this stress doing to you?

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Types of Stressors

• psychological issues
• environmental concerns
• poor nutrition
• role conflict/ambiguity, multiple roles
• sociological, political, ethnic, cultural issues
• physical illness/disability
• biomechanical (repetitive strain)
• developmental issues

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FIGHT OR FLIGHT

• contemporary stress more pervasive,
• insidious, and persistent
• this reaction stems primarily from psychological
  rather than physical stress
• and causes ingrained and immediate reactions
  that were originally designed to help us in
  emergency situations

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The Stress Reaction

• heart rate and blood pressure increase
• there is also increased blood flow to the brain
  for decision-making activity
• blood sugar level increases for more energy
  (glycogen released)
• blood is shunted from G/I tract to large muscles
  for strength to fight or take flight
• clotting occurs quickly to prevent blood loss

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The Stress Reaction

• adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormones
  are released into the bloodstream
• the mouth becomes dry
• the immune symptom is dampened
• the skin is cool due to sweating
• the scalp tightens

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The Stress Reaction

• this reaction is fine when confronted with a
  sabre-tooth tiger, but in the modern world is not
  adaptive
• today, most of our stress is psychological
• and not physical in origin (for example,
  getting stuck in traffic or taking an exam)

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JOB STRESS

• -occupational pressures are responsible for30
  of workers suffering from back pain-28
  complaining of "stress"-20 feeling very
  fatigued-17 experiencing muscular pains-13
  with headaches

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Workplace Stress

• damages relationships
• reduces job satisfaction
• reduces productivity

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Work Stressors

• lack of participation in decisions affecting you
• unrelenting/unreasonable demands
• poor communication conflict resolution
• lack of job security
• long hours lots of time away from home
• office politics and conflicts
• wages dont equal level of responsibility

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Physiologic Effects

• inability to adapt to stress is associated with
  depression anxiety
• stress may disrupt serotonin (well being) levels
• acute stress associated with higher risk of
• heart arrhythmias heart attacks
• fat released into bloodstream
• increases cholesterol levels
• chronic stress in women may reduce
• insulin levels
• muscle and joint pain

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Conditions Increasing Susceptibility to Stress

• poor early nurturing
• personality traits
• genetic factors
• immune system diseases can impair
• response to stress
• the longer and more intense the stress,
• the more harmful

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Those At Higher Risk

• in the young and the elderly, stress may go
  unnoticed or be ignored
• women more than men
• working mothers encounter more stress due to
  greater and more diverse work load
• divorced or widowed people
• the unemployed
• urban dwellers more than suburbanites

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ELDERLY

• often exposed to major stressors
• medical problems
• loss of spouse and friends
• change in living conditions
• financial worries
• loss of control

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CAREGIVERS

• of physically or mentally disabled families face
  chronic stress
• spouses of disabled partner have more
  stress-related problems

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ANGRY PERSONALITIES

• less emotionally stable or those with
• high anxiety may catastrophize
• there is an association between anger,
  irritability, hostility and narrowing of the
  arteries
• also being self-conscious in public and
  suppressing anger
• combined with low social support, the situation
  is worse

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Strategies to Help Deal with Stress

• a healthy lifestyle, good nutrition/exercise
• cognitive-behavioral therapy
• identifying stress and learning to relax
• attitude grant me the serenity to accept the
  things I cannot change, courage to change the
  things I can, and the wisdom to know the
  difference.

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SELF-EFFICACY

• efficacy is the capacity
• to accomplish tasks
• self-efficacy is the perceived ability to handle
  problems overcome hardship
• stress is minimal when you can look upon problems
  as opportunities to overcome adversity gain
  experience

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Perception Assessment

• keep it in perspective
• ask yourself, what is the worst
• that can happen?
• can we look for an unexpected benefit?
• assess the situation, consider past experience
• problem-solve (take action)
• make a decision regarding action
• vs acceptance of the situation

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Risk for Burnout

• having lofty ideals
• getting impatient/annoyed frequently
• only your ideas areright
• blaming yourself (shoulds)
• tendency to blame others
• feeling you have to do everything yourself
• equally upset about minor hassles
• feeling you have more to do and less less time

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Burnout Stages

• Stress Arousal Stage
• Stress Resistance Stage
• Severe Exhaustion Stage

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Stress Arousal Stage

• persistent irritability and anxiety
• bruxism and/or insomnia
• occasional forgetfulness and /or
• inability to concentrate

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Stress Resistance Stage

• absenteeism or tardiness at work
• tired fatigued for no reason
• procrastination indecision
• social withdrawal cynicism
• resentful, indifferent, defiant
• increased use of coffee, alcohol,
• tobacco, etc.

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Severe Exhaustion Stage

• chronic sadness or depression
• chronic mental physical fatigue
• chronic stress related illnesses
• (headache, stomach ache,
• bowel problems)
• isolation, withdrawal, and
• self-destructive thoughts