Meaning of Stress

“Its not stress that kills us, it is our reaction to it”

- Hans Selye

 

Meaning of Stress

          Stress is a type of mental pressure. Stress is a biological term which refers to the consequences of the failure of a human or animal to respond appropriately to emotional or physical threats to the organism, whether actual or imagined. It is “the autonomic response to environmental stimulus…it includes a state of alarm and adrenaline production, short-term resistance as a coping mechanism, and exhaustion.

          “It is the response to events that disrupt or threaten to disrupt physical or psychological functioning” (Lazarus & Folkman, 1984). Hans Selye said that stress is not necessarily something bad it all depends on how you take it. The stress of creative successful work is beneficial, while that of failure, humiliation or infection is detrimental. Stress is the spice of life.

          It is the autonomic response to environmental stimulus…it includes a state of alarm and adrenaline production, short-term resistance as a coping mechanism, and exhaustion. Common stress symptoms include irritability, muscular tension, inability to concentrate and a variety of physical reactions, such as headaches and elevated heart rate (gostress.com).

 

Definition of Stress

          Stress is the term used to describe the physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural responses to events that are evaluated or judged in terms of importance or significance as threatening or challenging (Ciccarelli & Meyer, 2016). According to APS “Stress is any uncomfortable "emotional experience accompanied by predictable biochemical, physiological and behavioural changes”.

Symptoms of Stress

1.       Fatigue & chest pain.

2.       Sleeping Problems

3.       Frequent cold and nausea,

4.       Fear and irritation,

5.       Fear and crying,

6.       Unusual pace,

7.       Too much or too little eating,

8.       Anxiety and depression,

9.       Drinking and smoking,

10.     Throwing, hitting objects, and

11.     Display of anger and frustration.

 

Effects of Stress

1.       Decreased performance,

2.       Problem in concentration,

3.       Memory problems,

4.       Problem in decision making,

5.       Loss of sense of humour.

6.       Insomnia, muscle pain,

7.       High blood pressure and heart disease,

8.       Weakened immune symptom,

9.       Obesity

Types of Stress

1.      Eustress – The optimal amount of stress that people need to promote health and well-being. It occurs due to positive events that still make demands on a person to adapt or change e.g., marriage, job selection, promotion, arrival

of a baby etc.

2.      Distress – The stress that occurs due to the effect of unpleasant and undesirable stressors such as an accident, poor result of annual examinations etc.

Sources of Stress

1.      Pressure – The psychological experience produced by urgent demands of expectations for a person’s behaviour that come from an outside source.

2.      Uncontrollability – The degree of control an individual has over an event or situation. The lesser the control higher the stress and vice-versa.

3.      Frustration – The psychological experience produced by the blocking of a desired goal or fulfilment of a previous goal.

4.      Aggression – An action that is intended to harm, hurt or destroy.

GAS (General Adaptation Syndrome)

References:

1.       Ciccarelli.  S. K & Meyer, G. E. (2016). Psychology. Chennai: Person.

2.       https://www.apa.org/helpcenter/understanding-chronic-stress.

3.       http://www.gostress.com/stress-definitions/.

4.       https://www.statista.com/chart/5317/lifes-most-stressful-events-in-one--chart/

 

 

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