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Flashcards

Stress - SAC #3

Simone Jensen English 36 cards

Cards in this deck (36)

  1. 1What is stress?A psychobiological process.
    Stress is a psychological and biological response to a stressor.
    (Psychological because involves mental processes - perception and interpretation of stressor.
    Biological because ANS is activated)
  2. 2What is a stressor?Anything that causes stress
    (any event/circumstance causing stress)
  3. 3Stress is....Subjective because it is YOUR interpretation (could be personality/past experience based)
    A stressor could be...
    Internal (within > pain, worry)
    External (outside > bullying)
  4. 4ON THE SAC/SAC ANSWERPhysiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors, perceived by individual as beyond their ability to cope. It is a subjective experience. (Don't have the resources to cope).
    If you think you can cope > "unsettling" experience
  5. 5What is acute stress and chronic stress?Acute: short-term (eg: deadlines)
    Chronic: long-term (eg: pressures or worries)
  6. 6If increased arousal for a long period of time...Severe negative health effects will occur
  7. 7What is Eustress?Some stress can have positive effects...
    - Eustress is a positive psychological response to a stressor. (Enthusiastic, excited, etc). Normally short term.
  8. 8What is distress?Distress is a negative psychological response to a stressor. (eg: nervousness, anxiety, etc). Can be short-term, but also persist. If long term and not addressed > serious mental and physical consequences.
  9. 9Can your body distinguish between eustress and distress?No, which means the physiological response is the same, so stress response is non-specific.
    The determination of whether you are experiencing eustress or distress is based on your interpretation.
  10. 10Sources of Stress - Daily Pressures- "Hassles" or "Arguments"
    - Cumulative (on their own they mightn't be much but they add up)
    - Strong predictor of physical and psychological wellbeing.
    - When hassles accumulate > physical problems (sick), mental problems, low self-esteem
  11. 11Sources of Stress - Life Events- Causes change (eg: death, new career)
    - Individual perception of event (consider it)
    - Social factors
    - Cultural factors
    - Environmental factors
    - Some life events can produce, exacerbate (worsen), or alleviate stress, depending on individuals
  12. 12Acculturative Stress- Moving countries may reduce stress
    - Adjusting to new cultures may produce stress
    - Need to become acculturated
    - Can be difficult > language issues, discrimination, etc)
  13. 13Major Stressors- Stressful for anyone who experienced it
    - Single event (terrorist attack, bushfire)
    - Or on-going (terminal illness)
  14. 14What things are considered normal in major stressors?- Shock and denial
    - Flashbacks
    - Relationship issues
    - Physical symptoms
    - Cognitive = memory
    - Behavioural = loss of interest
    - Emotional = anxiety
    - All apart of healing
    - Minority develop serious conditions
  15. 15What are catastrophes?- Unpredictable events (hurricanes, etc)
    - Little or no control
    - Obvious stress reactions
  16. 16Stress as a Biological Process (Fight/Flight/Freeze Response) (General Adaptation Syndrome)- When we perceive a stressor to be a threat, the Sympathetic NS automatically activates.
    > Physiological changes increase arousal
    > Become energised - prepared for action - deal with threat
    > Adrenaline, nor-adrenaline, & cortisol released into bloodstream
  17. 17What is the Fight/Flight/Freeze response?- Body instantly responds without awareness or conscious control. It is involuntary. Automatically activates the F/F/F response
    Fight: confronting and fighting threat
    Flight: escape
    Freeze: absolutely still
  18. 18What is a survival mechanism?- Adaptive response
    - Enables us to deal with a threat
    - Helps minimise harm
    - Physiological happens before brain processes whats happening
  19. 19What is the Fight/Flight component?- Sympathetic NS is activated
    - Mobilising response to a threat
    - Fight or Flight Response is a high state of arousal. The Sympathetic NS automatically prepares body for a burst of vigorous activity when confronted with a threatening situation
    - We either confront or flee the situation
    - Innate (born with it)
    - Critical for survival (more rapid response)
    - Adaptive (automatically prepared for F/F
    - We now experience this in many ways, not just danger (eg: sac, stress, exam)
  20. 20What happens after the threat passes?- Parasympathetic NS activates > homeostasis
  21. 21How does Fight/Flight Response happen?> Threat perceived
    > hypothalamus activated
    > activates Sympathetic NS (in milliseconds)
    > SNS stimulates adrenal medulla (top of the kidneys)
    > Adrenal glands secrete hormones
    > Adrenaline/nor-adrenaline released into blood
    > Produces these physiological responses
  22. 22Adrenaline and Noradrenaline...- Are also neurotransmitters
    - May be released by neurons
  23. 23What happens when the stressor is removed?- Stressor removed
    - F/F switched off
    - Parasympathetic NS becomes dominant
    - Arousal subsides
    - Levels of adrenaline/noradrenaline lower
    - Physiological change reverses
  24. 24What is the freeze response?- May go into a freeze state: unable to move or act
    (Tonic immobility: muscles don't function)
    - Last attempt to survive...
    > Heart slows
    > Blood pressure drops
    >Lose power to move/communicate, often before we become immobile
    - Orientating response of head & eyes = initial freeze is stop, look, listen (assess situation),
    focus on threat,
    stop F/F if no chance to escape
    - Adaptive = enhances survival
    - Freezing is not always adaptive (eg: exams, interviews)
    - ENERGY DIRECTED TOWARDS ORGANS NEEDED FOR SURVIVAL
  25. 25What is the physiology of the freeze response? (Not well understood)- We think the Sympathetic NC precedes freeze state and becomes part of it.
    > When freeze initiated, the sympathetic NS is suppressed
    > Parasympathetic NS dominates
    > Stops us trying to fight/flight
    > So... physiological state of HIGH arousal of BOTH systems
    - Characterised by energy conservation and mindset ready for action
    (Symp > accelerator, Para > Brake)
  26. 26What is the physiology of the freeze response? (Continued)- Some psychologically dissocate form terror/distressing events (meaning they don't feel it, switch off)
    - Block out what is too scary to take in. Actually don't feel what is happening
    - Endorphins released = some numbing effect
    - Sometimes no memory of event
  27. 27FOR EXAM: Know how responses help or hinder you in a situation. Example...Annie is stressed about her driving exam. Explain how stress can be helpful in this situation:
    When her eyes dilate, Annie will be able to see more cars, and her increased heart-rate will maker her alertness & reaction times quicker when taking a driving test.
  28. 28The Role of Cortisol- If the stressor not removed OR ongoing (i.e. chronic stressor)
    > Additional physiological responses required > Why? Can’t maintain intensity of fight–flight for prolonged period > because Effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline don’t last long
  29. 29If Role of Cortisol does continue...> Hypothalamus stimulates pituitary gland > releases hormone ACTH > stimulates adrenal glands on kidneys
    - Additional stress hormones released (corticosteroids) > one being cortisol (stress hormone) which prepares body for fight/flight, energises body (increases blood sugar & metabolism), mobilises bodies resources to deal w/ threat.
    - Anti-inflammatory
    - Restoration of cells after energy expenditure
  30. 30The Role of Cortisol (continued)BUT if it remains in bloodstream...
    - Suppresses (inhibits) the immune system (No. 1 problem) (impair cognitive performance, blood sugar imbalance, cause fatigue)
  31. 31The Role of Cortisol > IMPORTANTCORTISOL REMAINS IN THE BLOODSTREAM. IMMUNE SYSTEM IS SUPPRESSED. MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO DISEASE OR ILLNESS, WHICH MEANS MORE RISK OF VIRAL AND BACTERIAL INFECTIONS.
  32. 32The Role of Cortisol - continuedOnce cortisol reaches a certain level...
    - Hypothalamus > turns off
    - Cortisol is slower than adrenaline, but lasts much longer
  33. 33The Role of Cortisol - Feedback Loop- Turns on and off an appropriate response to stress
    - If damaged = prolonged elevation of sympathetic nervous system (so stress + high levels of cortisol)
  34. 34Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) (2nd response to stress)- Composed research with rats and included different stressors
    - Physiological arousal response was the same each time
    - NON-SPECFIC REACTIONS
    - Which means the Sympathetic NS responses developed GAS
  35. 35What is GAS?We all have a three phase pattern of physiological responses. Not everyone experiences all three..
    1. Alarm Reaction Stage
    2. Resistance Stage
    3. Exhaustion Stage
  36. 36GAS: Stage 1

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Flashcards on Stress - SAC #3, created by Simone Jensen on 05/03/2018.
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Simone Jensen
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