1st yr alarm reaction

7/31/2019 1st Yr Alarm Reaction

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Alarm Reaction


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What is Stress? Stress is a nonspecific response to real or

imagined challenges or threats

A stressor is an environmental stimulus

that affects an organism, producing

physical and psychological effects such as

tension and anxiety


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What is stress?????What is stress?????A pattern of negative physiologicalA pattern of negative physiological

states & psychological responsesstates & psychological responses

occurring in situations where peopleoccurring in situations where peopleperceive threats to their well beingperceive threats to their well being

which they may be unable to meet.which they may be unable to meet.

R.Lazurus & S. Folkman (1984)R.Lazurus & S. Folkman (1984)


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The Bodys Response to Stress General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS):

Hans Selye described the 3 stages of the

general adaptation syndrome:

Alarm reaction -Alarm reaction - the body detects andthe body detects andprepares to mount a response to an externalprepares to mount a response to an external

stimuli or stressstimuli or stress

Adaptation -Adaptation - the body protectively respondsthe body protectively respondsto the perceived stressto the perceived stress

Exhaustion -Exhaustion - Failure of the body to fullyFailure of the body to fullyadapt to the stressadapt to the stress


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Bodily Systems Activated By

Stressors

Autonomic nervous system Endocrine system


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Autonomic Nervous System Stressor Adrenal glands secrete adrenaline

Sympathetic vs. Parasympathetic

Sympathetic Physiological response Heart rate increases

Muscles tense

Blood pressure rises

Pupils dilate

Breathing increases

Perspiration


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Endocrine System Stressor Hypothalamus CRF released

Pituitary gland ACTH

Bloodstream Adrenal glands Produce

adrenaline and glucocorticoids

Physiological response

63-173, winter 2007


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Systems Affected By Stress Immune system

Cardiovascular system Gastrointestinal system

Muscles

Skin Sexual reproduction


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Stress response system

Stress hormones epinephrine (adrenaline)

norepinephrine

Fight or flight preparation of body

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

bodys adaptive response to stress very general

responds no matter what stressor used

While positive emotions such as love a


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Stress and Adaptation Approximately 60-80% of all visits to

health care professionals are for stress-

related disorders

Stress may cause: Disability

Absenteeism

Decreased productivity

Costs billions of dollars to employers annually


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The GAS

(General Adaptation Syndrome)

Hans Selye (Canadian physician)

flight or fight response Alarm

Adaptation Exhaustion


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The GAS

(General Adaptation Syndrome)(contd)

Some physiological changes include: dilatation of pupils

increased respirations/heart

rate/perspiration/blood pressure/muscle

tension/gastric motility/blood glucose levels

peripheral vasoconstriction release of adrenalin

raising of body hair and cold/clammy hands


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Behaviour and Stress

Hebb has argued that effective behaviour

depends on a persons state of arousal

A moderate level of stress may be desirable

Overarousal tends to produce disorganized,

ineffective behaviour


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Stress and Health

Researchers have been interested in the link

between stress and heart disease


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Heart Disease and Stress

Lifestyle factors are important in the

development of heart disease

One of the first attempts to link behaviour

and heart disease is the study of Type A

behaviour


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Heart Disease and Stress (contd)

Type A behaviour is a pattern of

competitive, impatient, hostile behaviour

Type B behaviour is exhibited by peoplewho are calmer, less hurried, and less

hostile

Research on the components of Type Ahave shown that hostility and angerdo

relate to the development of heart disease


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Stress and Infectious Disease

Stress is related to the development of

disease through its effects on the immune

system The study of this connection is called

psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), the

interdisciplinary study of behavioural,neurological, and immune factors, and their

relation to the development of disease


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Stress and Health-Related Behaviours

Stress can influence health through

behaviours that increase the risk for

disease and death Stress affects how people behave and may

stimulate behaviours that can damage or

enhance health


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Minimize the Frequency of Stress-

Inducing Situations

Change the environment

Avoid excessive change

Time control

Time management


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Coping Strategies Increase resistance to stress

Physically

Psychologically

Setting realistic goals

Building coping resources

Counter-conditioning to avoid physiologic

arousal


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Factors Influencing our Ability to Cope

with Stress Situational

Changing jobs/Chronic illness, etc

Maturational

Teens and self identity/Older adults and loss

of muscle strength, etc

Socio-cultural Living in violence/Cultural influence, etc


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Attachment theory (Bowlby, Imre Hermann) Physiological, psychological and developmental

importance of the early childhood affective

mother-child bond and the negative consequences

of the disruption of this relationship.

According to follow up studies, insecure

attachment predicts later emotional instability and

health deterioration. Maltreatment at an early agecan have enduring negative effects on a childs

brain development and function, and on his or her

vulnerability to stress.


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Learned helplessness as result of

chronic stress A condition of loss of control created by

subjecting animals or humans to an unavoidable,

emotionally negative life situation (such asunavoidable shocks, relative deprivation, role

conflict, etc). Being unable to avoid or escape

(flight or fight) an aversive situation for a long

period of time produces a feeling of helplessnessthat generalises to subsequent situations.


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Brain consequences of learned

helplessness: The hippocampus is primarily affected by

the long-lasting elevations of circulating

corticosteroids resulting from

uncontrollable stress. Severe stress for a

prolonged period causes damage in

hippocampal pyramidal neurons, especiallyin the CA 3 and CA4 region and reductions

in the length and arborization of their

dendrites.


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Main biological pathways of chronic

stress: Dysregulation of the hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenocortical (HPA) axis and the sympathetic-

adrenal-medullary system (SAM) resulting in

elevations in serum catecholamin and cortisollevels.

Sympathoadrenal hyperactivity contributes to the

development of CVD through effects of

catecholamines upon the heart, blood vessels and

platelets.

Sympathoadrenal activation modifies the function

of circulating platelets.


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Stress

Have a nice day, filled with only good

stress!

1st yr alarm reaction

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