HERA C.

SANTILLANA
Stress is a condition or feeling experienced
when a person perceives that demands
exceed the personal and social resources
the individual is able to mobilize.

“Stress is not necessarily something bad

– it all depends on how you take it. The
stress of exhilarating, creative successful
work is beneficial, while that of failure,
humiliation or infection is detrimental.”

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• Involves all areas in a person
• It provides a way of understanding the
person as a unified being who responds
in totality (mind&body) to a variety
changes that takes place in daily life
• Mixed effects that affects the whole
person
• Wear and tear on the body and mind
(dysfunction)

AREAS EFFECTS
Physical – threatens physiologic homeostasis
Emotional – (-) & non constructive feelings about self
Intellectual – alter perception & problem solving skill
Social – can alter a person’s relationships with others
Spiritual – changes person’s general outlook on life

HERA C. SANTILLANA
TO YOUR BODY, STRESS IS SYNONYMOUS WITH
CHANGE. Anything that causes a change in your
life causes stress. It doesn't matter if it is a "good"
change, or a "bad" change, they are both stress.

Even IMAGINED CHANGE is stress. (Imagining

changes is what we call "worrying".)

STIMULUS – a life event or set of circumstances

causing a disrupted response, which would cause
the individual’s vulnerability to illness

Which of these is stress?

• You receive a promotion at work.
• Your car has a flat tire.
• You go to a fun party that lasts till 2:00 a.m.
• Your dog gets sick.
• Your new bedroom set is being delivered.
• Your best friend and his wife come to stay at
your house for a week.
• You get a bad case of hay fever.
• All of the above.

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SOURCES OF STRESS
• Developmental crisis:
occurs when a person passes
through normal stages of growth
and development
Example: an adolescent strives for
independence

• Situational stress:
occurs in unpredictable patterns
at any time in life
Example: illness or accidents

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RESPONSE OF STRESS
Types of instinctive stress response:
1. “Fight-or-Flight” or acute stress response
- short-term, immediate response
- a basic survival instinct
- Walter Cannon in 1932
- An emergency reaction in which the
body prepares for combat or escape
from potentially dangerous situations,
animals, or people.

HERA C. SANTILLANA
2. “
General Adaptation Syndrome
”
- long-term
effect of
exposure to
stress.
- Hans Selye
- occurs with
the release of
certain
adaptive
hormones &
subsequent
changes in the

structure and
chemical
composition
of the body
- LAS = One
organ or part
of the body
that reacts
alone

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PHASES OF STRESS

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 PHYSIOLOGICAL
EFFECTS OF STRESS
Brain OVERSTRESS
Fatigue, aches and pains, crying spells,
depression, anxiety attacks, sleep
disturbance.
Gastrointestinal Tract
Ulcer, cramps and diarrhea, colitis, irritable
bowel.
Glandular System
Thyroid gland malfunction.
Cardiovascular
High blood pressure, heart attack, abnormal
heart beat, stroke.
Skin
Itchy skin rashes.
Immune System
Decreased resistance to infections and
neoplasm.

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THE STRESS MODEL

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 PSYCHOLOGICAL
RESPONSE
• Anxiety
• Mild
• Moderate
• Severe
• Panic
• Coping mechanisms
• Defense mechanisms

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STRESS PERFORMANCE
CONNECTION

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Coping Mechanisms Used at
Higher Levels of Anxiety:
•Task-oriented reactions
•Attack behavior
•Withdrawal behavior
•Compromise behavior

Defense Mechanisms:
•Compensation
•Denial
•Displacement
•Introjection
•Projection
•Rationalization
•Reaction formation
•Regression
•Repression
•Sublimation
•Undoing

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HERA C. SANTILLANA
FAMILY RESPONSES TO THE
STRESS OF ILLNESS:

• Changes in family structure and roles;

isolation from the loved person
• Loss of control over normal routines
• Anger and feelings of helplessness and
guilt
• Lack of information about care
• Concern for future economic stability

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TEACHING HEALTHY
ACTIVITIES OF DAILY LIVING:
• Exercise
• Rest and sleep
• Nutrition
• Use of support systems
• Use of stress management techniques

EXAMPLES OF STRESS
MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES:
• Relaxation
• Deep breathing
• Progressive muscle relaxation
• Meditation
• Anticipatory guidance
• Guided imagery
• Biofeedback

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HERA C. SANTILLANA