Stress

• Stress - A psychological process where an individual is in a state of mental, emotional and physiological tension due to something that is perceived as a challenge or threat to our their ability to cope
• Biological Responses to Stress include increased heart rate, muscle tension, increased blood pressure etc.
• Psychological Responses to stress include subjective feelings and thoughts such as fear, anxiety or anticipation
• Stressor - stimuli that cause stress. There are Internal Stressors and External Stressors, some can even be positive
• Internal Stresses - Stimuli from within the body; personal perception or a biological response
• External Stressor - Stimuli outside of body; interaction with the environment
• Acute Stress - Stress that lasts for a relatively short time, occurs quickly after the perception of a threat
• Negative Effects of Acute Stress are high blood pressure, and lack of motivation. Positive Effects are increased Attention
• Acute Stress causes the activation of the Sympathetic Nervous System; fight, flight or freeze response, which releases adrenaline or noradrenaline
• Fight - dealing with stressors directly
• Flight - evading or escaping stressor
• Freeze - Immobilisation of body to minimise sound or movement to avoid detection
• Chronic Stress - When a stressor is not dealt with, is sever, or ongoing
• Chronic Stress can lead to health and mental health problems
• Cortisol - a hormone released with a stressor is not adequately addresses relatively immediately
• Positive of Cortisol - boosts energy, heightens alertness, repair tissue, pain reliever, diverts energy from non-essential bodily functions