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stress research |
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The History of Stress The term stress first appeared in the index of Psychological Abstracts in 1944. ... Some writers disagree that the term is of recent origin, having found definitions of stress in the Oxford English Dictionary which are very close to our present understanding of the term dating back to the 16th and 17th century. ... What Is Stress? Stress is the body’s emergency response to real or imagined danger. A stress reaction prepares the body for a burst of action to fight or flight a threat. ... Stress that lasts a long time can exhaust the body and cause a frazzled mental state of feeling worried and overwhelmed. Any event, thought, or situation that causes stress is called a stressor. Stress aids survival, especially in cases when extraordinary effort can overcome real physical dangers. Stress was particularly useful for prehistoric people when life was filled with such stressors as defending shelter and hunting large animals. ... While our fight or flight stress response is the same today as it was in the Stone Age, everything else has changed. ... Stress is not always useful as a response to mental and emotional stressors. Stress has its positive side. A mild level of stress can provide a sense of excitement and help people perform at their peak. This type of stress is a response to stimulation that you find challenging or satisfying. ... Hans Selye; it refers to stress that is good or produces a positive outcome (Matteson, 1982,p. ... But severe stress can fill people with worry and prevent effective behavior. Stress that lasts a long time can weaken health and interfere with happiness. Causes of Stress Modern life exposes people to many stressors. ... People do not have to experience events directly to feel stress. Examples of physical causes of stress are misuse of medication, smoking, poor diet, lack of sleep, lack of exercise and etc. ... Divorce and separation bring stress into the lives of many people. ... Recent research on stress has determined that some jobs are much more stressful than others for the individuals who hold them (Brief, p. ... Effects of Stress While some stress consequences such as increased motivation and enhanced drive are positive, many are counterproductive, disruptive, and potentially dangerous. These are the examples of consequences of stress: excessive daydreaming, anxiety, hostility, change in appetite, accident proneness, apathy, indigestion, loss of concentration, loss of sexual interest, low self-esteem, diarrhea, constipation, forgetfulness, fatigue, irritability, loss of creativity, impulsive behavior, headaches, allergy flare-ups, stuttering, yelling, felling of rejection, increase smoking, increased use of alcohol and drugs, dizziness, moodiness, hyperventilation, menstrual discomfort, frustration, mental blocks, nail biting, skin complaints, withdrawal from friends and family and etc. Canadian scientist Hans Selye pioneered studies of stress in the 1930’s. ... If stress continues at high levels, the body enters the final stage of general adaptation syndrome that is, exhaustion. ... Many doctors estimate that stress is involved in more than half of all illnesses. ... Hormones released during a stress reaction affect organs throughout the body. Heredity, learning, and injuries all play a role in determining where or when a stress related illness may occur in a particular individual. Stress hormones that act on the heart, blood vessels, and lungs may contribute to heart disease, high blood pressure, and asthma. ... Diseases of the stomach and intestines are often linked to stress because blood leaves these organs and moves to muscles used in running and fighting. ... Also, stress can interfere with the body’s immune system. During prolonged or repeated stress, people may find themselves more likely to get colds, flu, and many other diseases. Studies suggest that the inability to adapt to stress is associates with the onset of depression or anxiety. ... Some evidence suggests that repeated release of stress hormone produces hyperactivity in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and disrupts normal levels of seretonin, the nerve chemical that is critical for feelings of well-being. Certainly, on a more obvious level, stress diminishes the quality of life by reducing feelings of pleasure and accomplishment, and relationships are often threatened. Mental stress is as major a trigger for angina as physical stress. Incidents of acute stress have been associated with a higher risk for serious cardiac events, such as heart rhythm abnormalities and heart attacks, and even death from such events in people with heart disease. |
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