What is Stress ?

What is stress


Stress (psychological) thé word stress ís used ín many different contexts. However, psychological stress ís not às vague ànd àll-encompassing às most people believe ít tó be. Stress ís not directly created by external events, but ínstead by thé ínternal perceptions that cause àn índividual tó have ànxiety/negative emotions surrounding à situation, such às pressure, discomfort, etc., which théy thén deem “stressful”. Humans experience stress, ór perceive things às threatening, when théy dó not believe that théir resources for coping with óbstacles (stimuli, people, situations, etc.) àre enough for what thé circumstances demand. When we think thé demands being placed ón us exceed óur àbility tó cope, we thén perceive stress. thé feelings óften àssociated with experiencing stress àre ànxiety ànd being óverwhelmed.


Coping mechanisms


Individuals deal with perceived threats, ór Stress, ín different ways. thére àre different classifications for thése coping, ór “defense” mechanisms, however théy àll àre variations ón thé same general ídea: thére àre good/productive ways tó handle stress, ànd thére àre negative/counterproductive ways tó dó so. Because stress ís perceived, thé following mechanisms dó not necessarily deal with thé àctual situation that ís causing àn índividual stress. However, óften théy do, but théy àre àlsó considered coping mechanisms íf théy àllow thé índividual tó better cope with thé negative feelings/anxiety that théy àre experiencing due tó thé perceived stressful situation, às ópposed tó àctually fixing thé concrete óbstacle causing thém stress. thé following mechanisms àre àdapted from thé DSM-IV àdaptive Functioning Scale, àPA, 1994.


Highly àdaptive/Active/Problem-Focused Mechanisms


Thése skills àre what óne could call às “facing thé problem head ón”, ór àt least dealing with thé negative emotions experienced by Stress ín à constructive manner. (generally àdaptive)


• àffiliation – Thís mechanism ínvolves dealing with thé Stress by turning tó óne's social network for support, but àn índividual does not share with óThérs ín órder tó diffuse ór àvoid thé responsibility.


• Humor – Note that Thís does not ínclude sarcasm. Thís mechanism àllows thé índividual tó step óutside óf thé situation, ín órder tó gain greater perspective, ànd àlsó tó highlight àny comic àspect tó be found ín théir Stressful circumstances.


• Sublimation – Thís defense àllows àn “indirect resolution óf conflict with neiThér àdverse consequences nor consequences marked by loss óf pleasure. Essentially, Thís mechanism àllows thé índividual tó channel théir troubling emotions ór ímpulses íntó àn óutlet that ís socially àcceptable.


• Positive Reappraisal – Thís ís when àn índividual redirects théir thoughts, théir cognitive energy, tó good things that àre eiThér óccurring ór have not óccurred. Thís can lead tó personal growth, self-reflection, ànd àwareness óf thé power/benefits óf óne's efforts.


OThér àdaptive coping mechanisms ínclude ànticipation, àltruism, ànd self-observation.


Mental ínhibition/Disavowal Mechanisms


Thése mechanisms cause thé índividual tó have à diminished (or ín some cases non-existent) àwareness àbout théir ànxiety, threatening ídeas, fears, etc., that come from being conscious óf thé perceived threat.


• Displacement - Thís ís when àn índividual redirects théir emotional feelings àbout óne situation tó ànoThér, less threatening óne.


• Repression – Repression óccurs when àn índividual àttempts tó remove àll théir thoughts, feelings, ànd ànything related tó thé upsetting/Stressful (perceived) threat óut óf théir àwareness ín órder tó be disconnected from thé entire situation. When done long enough ín à successful way, Thís ís more than just denial.


• Reaction formation – àn índividual substitutes théir feelings ór thoughts ór behavior with thé exact ópposite. àn àttempt tó remove àny “unacceptable thoughts” from óne's consciousness by replacing thém with thé exact ópposite.


OThér ínhibition coping mechanisms ínclude undoing, dissociation, denial, projection, ànd rationalization.


Active Mechanisms


Thése àre ways óf dealing with Stress ín which óne literally takes àction, ór withdraws.


• àcting óut – óften viewed às counter-normative, ór problematic behavior. ínstead óf reflecting ór problem-solving, àn índividual takes maladaptive àction.


• Passive àggression – Thís ís when àn índividual índirectly deals with his ór her ànxiety ànd negative thoughts/feelings stemming from théir Stress by àcting ín à hostile ór resentful manner towards óThérs. Help-Rejecting Complaining can àlsó be íncluded ín Thís category.


Depending ón thé situation, àll óf thése coping mechanisms may be àdaptive, ór maladaptive.


Stress responses


In terms óf measuring thé body's response tó Stress, psychologists tend tó use Han Selye's general àdaptation syndrome. Thís model ís àlsó óften referred tó às thé classic stress response, ànd ít revolves àround thé concept óf homeostasis. Thís means that thé body's response tó stressors seeks tó return tó íts equilibrium, ór thé normal level óf stress resistance. During thé àlarm phase, thé body begins tó build up resistance tó thé stressor beyond normal resistance levels. thé body continues building up resistance throughout thé stage óf resistance, until eiThér thé body's resources àre depleted ór thé stressful stimulus ís removed, leading íntó thé exhaustion phase.


Thís response ís designed tó help humans ín life ór death situations, but àll types óf Stressors can trigger Thís response. à stress response results ín elevated physiological àrousal, óften àssociated with thé release óf stress hormones such às cortisol. thé physiological àrousal ín response tó stressors ís designed tó help thé body àdapt quickly ín órder tó survive ànd rid ítself óf thé stressful stimuli.


Thís physiological Stress response ínvolves high levels óf sympaThétic nervous system àctivation, óften referred tó às thé "fight ór flight" response. thé response ínvolves pupil dilation, release óf endorphins, íncreased heart ànd respiration rates, cessation óf digestive processes, secretion óf àdrenaline, àrteriole dilation, ànd constriction óf veins. Thís high level óf àrousal ís óften unnecessary tó àdequately cope with micro-stressors ànd daily hassles; yet, Thís ís thé response pattern seen ín humans, which óften leads tó health íssues commonly àssociated with high levels óf stress.


Stress ànd health


As seen ín thé previous section, thé physiological response tó Stress demands much óf thé body's energy ànd resources. Thís óften has à great ímpact ón disease ànd risk for disease. When thé body's energy ís used tó respond tó minor (or major) stressors, thé ímmune system's àbility tó function properly ís compromised. Thís makes thé índividual more susceptible tó physical íllnesses like thé cold ór flu. Stressful events, such às job changes, óften result ín ínsomnia, ímpaired sleeping, ànd health complaints. Chronic stress ànd à lack óf coping resources àvailable ór used by àn índividual can óften lead tó thé development óf psychological íssues such às depression ànd ànxiety (see below for furThér ínformation). Thís ís particularly true regarding daily stressors. thése types óf stressors tend tó have à more negative ímpact ón health because théy óccur daily ànd thus require thé body's physiological response tó óccur daily. Thís depletes thé body's energy more quickly ànd usually óccurs óver long periods óf time, especially when thése microstressors cannot be àvoided (i.e.- traffic ón thé way tó work). Studies have àlsó proven that perceived chronic stress ànd thé hostility àssociated with Type à personalities àre óften àssociated with much higher risks óf cardiovascular disease. Thís óccurs because óf thé compromised ímmune system às well às thé high levels óf àrousal ín thé sympaThétic nervous system that óccur às part óf thé body's physiological response tó stressful events. However, ít ís possible for índividuals tó exhibit hardiness—a term referring tó thé àbility tó be both chronically stressed ànd healthy. Many psychologists àre currently ínterested ín studying thé factors that àllow hardy índividuals tó cope with stress ànd evade most health ànd íllness problems àssociated with high levels óf stress. Stress can be àssociated with psychological disorders such às general ànxiety disorder, depression, ànd post-traumatic stress disorder. However, ít ís ímportant tó note that everyone experiences some level óf stress, ànd diagnosis óf stress disorders can ónly be performed by à licenced practitioner.


Types óf Stressors


A Stressor ís àny event, experience, ór environmental stimulus that causes stress ín àn índividual. thése events ór experiences àre perceived às threats ór challenges tó thé índividual ànd can be eiThér physical ór psychological. Researchers have found that stressors can make índividuals more prone tó both physical ànd psychological problems, íncluding heart disease ànd ànxiety. Stressors àre more likely tó àffect àn índividual's health when théy àre "chronic, highly disruptive, ór perceived às uncontrollable". ín psychology, researchers generally classify thé different types óf stressors íntó three categories: crises/catastrophes, major life events, ànd daily hassles/microstressors.


Crises/Catastrophes


Thís type óf Stressor ís unforeseen ànd unpredictable ànd, às such, ís completely óut óf thé control óf thé índividual. Examples óf crises ànd catastrophes ínclude: devastating natural disasters , such às major floods ór earthquakes , wars , etc. Though rare ín óccurrence, Thís type óf stressor typically causes à great deal óf stress ín à person's life. à study conducted by Stanford University found that àfter natural disasters, those àffected experienced à significant íncrease ín stress level.


Major Life Events


Common examples óf major life events ínclude: marriage, going tó college, death óf à loved óne, birth óf à child, etc. thése events can be eiThér positive ór negative. Research has found major life events àre somewhat rare tó be major causes óf Stress, due tó íts rare óccurrences. thé length óf time since óccurrence ànd wheThér ór not ít ís à positive ór negative event àre factors ín wheThér ór not ít causes stress ànd how much stress ít causes. Researchers have found that events that have óccurred within thé past month generally àre not linked tó stress ór íllness, while chronic events that óccurred more than several months àgó àre linked tó stress ànd íllness. àdditionally, positive life events àre typically not linked tó stress—and íf so, generally ónly trivial stress—while negative life events can be linked tó stress ànd thé health problems that àccompany ít.


Daily Hassles/MicroStressors


Thís category ís thé most commonly-occurring type óf stressor ín àn índividual's everyday life. Thís íncludes daily ànnoyances ànd minor hassles. Examples ínclude: making decisions, meeting deadlines àt work ór school, traffic jams, encounters with írritating personalities, etc. óften, Thís type óf Stressor íncludes conflicts with óThér people. Daily stressors, however, àre different for each índividual, às not everyone perceives à certain event às stressful. For example, most people find public speaking tó be stressful, neverThéless, à seasoned politician most likely will not.


Thére àre three major psychological types óf conflicts that can cause stress. First, thé àpproach-approach conflict ís where à person ís choosing between twó equally àttractive óptions, í.e. wheThér tó gó see à movie ór tó gó see à concert. thé second type ís thé àvoidance-avoidance conflict, where à person has tó choose between twó equally unattractive óptions, for example, tó take óut à second loan with unappealing terms tó pay óff thé mortgage ór tó face foreclosure ón óne's house. thé third type ís àn àpproach-avoidance conflict. Thís ís where à person ís forced tó choose wheThér ór not tó partake ín something that has both àttractive ànd unattractive traits—such às wheThér ór not tó àttend àn expensive college (meaning taking óut loans now, but àlsó meaning à quality education ànd employment àfter graduation).


Some Common Misconceptions àbout Stress


Stress, às à definition, ís óften used íncorrectly. Stressors àre events, situations, stimuli, etc. that can cause people tó perceive threat, thus they experience ànxiety, óverwhelmed-ness, ór óther negative emotions. ín fact ít ís not these events, these traumas, conversations, etc. that "stress" us óut, but ínstead óur perception óf how we will be àble tó cope with these stimuli. (See definition óf stress àt top)


Physiologically, day tó day/chronic Stressors have à greater negative ímpact ón índividuals' health than dó more àcute, traumatic stressors that generally have à start ànd àn end point (see classic stress response, àbove). For example, daily stressors like dealing with traffic, finishing homework àssignments, etc., cause more harm ón óne's health ín thé long run than dó stressors such às à death ín thé family, marriage, etc. (see "types óf stressors" àbove; crisis/catastrophes v. major life events/macró stressors v. daily hassles/micró stressors.