Psychological Strategies These stages are similar to the stages a person goes through when they

are dying. In the 1960s, Elizabeth Kubler Ross argued that a dying person
goes through denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. A
There are a number of psychological or cognitive-behavioral approaches
person who is going through bereavement goes through the same process,
to stress reduction. What they all have in common is a focus on helping
but doesn't go through a bargaining stage, say the Yale researchers.
you change your perceptions and attitudes toward stressful events. It is
important to accept the idea that stress will be ever-present in your life
before you can unburden yourself from it. Like it or not, for every They interviewed 233 people living in New Haven, Connecticut, who'd
stressful situation that resolves or affects you less over time, a new one suffered a loss of a loved one from a natural death such as cancer or
will eventually crop up. Once you can embrace the inevitability of stress in heart disease (not sudden unexpected traumatic death such as a car
your life, you can proceed with dealing with the particular stressors in accident or suicide). The researchers interviewed each person three
your life. Remember, too, that you may need help at some steps along the times over a two-year period, usually at the person's home.
way. Sometimes talking with friends or family members can help you see
things from a new perspective. If you have a mentor, you might also want
The initial reaction after the death was disbelief. This was followed by a
to talk with him or her about some issues. For problems that just seem to
feeling of yearning for the deceased, which peaked at about four months.
stick around or that repeat over and over no matter want you do, you
Anger was next; this peaked at five months; and then depression, which
might consider talking with a licensed professional such as a psychologist,
peaked at six months after the death. Acceptance was the final reaction
psychiatrist, or social worker.
and this gradually increased over the two-year period.

Hans Hugo Bruno Selye (Selye János, 1907 - 1982) was a Canadian
endocrinologist of Austro-Hungarian origin.
His mother was Austrian; his father was Hungarian. He did much
important theoretical work on the non-specific response of the organism
to stress. While he did not recognize all of the many aspects of
glucocorticoids, Selye was aware of their role in this response. Some
commentators considered him the first to demonstrate the existence of
a separate stress disease, the stress syndrome, or general adaptation
syndrome (GAS).
The Elizabeth Kubler Ross stages have been criticised in the past by some
bereavement counsellors as being too rigid. The researchers agree that
not everyone goes through all five stages and in within this time frame.
But the five-stage framework is helpful as a guide for bereavement
counsellors, palliative care health workers, friends and family to
understand what a bereaving person is going through, they say.
If someone knows well in advance that a person is going to die and has
time to prepare, then there is less disbelief and more acceptance, say the
researchers.

His initial inspiration for GAS came from an endocrinological experiment

in which he injected mice with extracts of various organs. He at first
believed to have discovered a new hormone but was proved wrong when
every irritating substance he injected produced the same symptoms
(swelling of the thymus, atrophy of the adrenal cortex, gastric and
duodenal ulcers). This, paired with his observation that people with
different diseases exhibit similar symptoms, led to his description of the
effects of "noxious agents" as he at first called it. He later coined the
term "stress", which has been accepted into the lexicon of various other
languages.
To grossly oversimplify to the point of circular argument, Selye
discovered and documented that stress differs from other physical
responses in that stress is stressful whether the one receives good or
bad news, whether the impulse is positive or negative. He called negative
stress distress and positive stress eustress. The system whereby the
body copes with stress, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis]], was
also first described by Selye.
Prolonged grief
For some people the depression doesn't lift – especially if the person has
had a very close and dependent relationship with the deceased. Ten to
fifteen per cent of the people in the study were in this category – they
still felt a loss and yearning for a loved one more than six months later
and didn't accept the reality of the death.
People suffering from prolonged grief (sometimes called complicated
grief) may have trouble working and may be at risk for other problems,
such as high blood pressure, suicidal thoughts and excessive drinking and
smoking.
Prolonged grief is more likely to be experienced by people with poor social
support, who isolate themselves and hide and suppress their feelings. It's
less likely in those who open up, express their emotions, talk about the
deceased, and share memories with others.

People who suffer the loss of a loved one go through five stages of Coping with Exam Stress
bereavement, similar to those popularised by Elizabeth Kubler Ross in the
1960s.
Read more: http://student-health-
issues.suite101.com/article.cfm/coping_with_exam_stress#ixzz0McOnq2
It's something everybody dreads, but it happens to most of us; the death n2
of a loved one. The initial shock and disbelief is followed by painful
emotions that can last months; even years and in some people never goes
Every year, students worldwide spend months worrying about upcoming
away. Eventually though, for most people, painful emotions subside and
exams, deadlines and finals. Here's how to avoid becoming one of the
the wounds heal after about six months.
many students who let their worries and stress get the better of them.

And while every person grieves in their own way, there's a similarity in
Plan Ahead for Studying
their reactions – they go through set stages, say researchers from Yale
University in the US.
It sounds simple, but one of the most common mistakes made by students
is to leave everything until the last minute. If you've worked hard
They say that a person typically experiences emotions in the following
throughout the year, then you will be as prepared as possible – but even
order: disbelief, yearning, anger, depression, and acceptance. Generally,
then, if you only start studying the day before the exam then your brain
the process takes six months; though it can take longer for some people.
will only be able to process so much at once. Start revising early, and then
by the time you've got two days to go until the exam, you'll feel like you expensive. It can simply involve listening to your favorite relaxing music
know most of your material already, instead of starting your panic at that before a stressful event.
point.

Visualization of positive outcomes has also proved to reduce feelings of

Get Some Sleep anxiety and fear. When you focus on a desired outcome, you increase the
chances of it happening (The Secret involves visualization).

Many students survive on energy drinks, coffee and late nights during
exam periods. The truth is, however, that your brain is much more likely
to remember something you read or write while it is alert and awake;
caffeine products are good for meeting deadlines, but when it comes to
exams and revision, you'll need to be well-rested if you're going to
remember it all.
Distinguish between reality and fantasy. Real threats are very
different from perceived ones, or fantasy. For instance, feeling anxious
about a meeting or exam you aren’t prepared for is a real fear that can be
dealt with; feeling anxious about a hoard of birds attacking is a perceived
fear that likely won’t happen. Learning to reassure yourself of the reality
of a situation can help you cope with anxiety and stress.

Coping with Stress and Anxiety Anxiety medication. Medicating for anxiety and fear may be effective,
but learning to cope with stress and anxiety naturally may be better in
Easy Techniques to Reduce Feelings of Anxiety, Stress and Fear the long run. Talk to your doctor about anxiety remedies such as
© Clonazepam or Buspar, which are anxiety-reducing medications.

Stress relief and anxiety management includes listening to music,

visualization, and distinguishing between reality and fantasy.

In daily life, stress and anxiety surrounds you: simply getting to work or
school, dealing with peers and colleagues, balancing the budget, and
communicating with friends and family can increase feelings of anxiety
and even fear. Some feelings of anxiety are normal and healthy; extreme
anxiety can be physically and emotionally overwhelming.

When you learn to cope with stress and anxiety in a healthy, effective
way you’ll not only breath easier, you’ll have better relationships and be
more productive at work. Coping with stress and anxiety can ease specific
stressful situations, such as surgery.

Anxiety Information

The National Institute of Mental Health cites that 40 million people in

America suffer from anxiety disorders. Feelings of anxiety are not only
common and treatable – they’re inevitable.

Feelings of anxiety range from mild uneasiness to extreme terror. “Fear

is the most powerful emotion,” says Michael Fanselow, a University of
California (Los Angeles) psychologist. It’s necessary for survival, and it’ll
keep you alive and healthy unless it escalates to abnormal proportions.
Appropriate fear and anxiety can help you perform well, keep you alert,
and even help you deal with pain.

Physical Effects of Anxiety and Stress

You know how anxiety and stress changes your body. Unhealthy levels of
anxiety can cause intestinal problems, stomach pains, headaches, rashes,
or flare ups of other chronic illnesses such as ulcerative colitis or
migraines. Insomnia and fatigue can also result – as well as psychological
struggles such as extreme debilitating anxiety, panic attacks, and
depression.

echniques to Reduce Feelings of Stress and Anxiety

Music. Be creative when you’re suffering with feelings of anxiety and

stress. For instance, try music therapy: research shows that listening to
relaxing music significantly reduces feelings of anxiety and fear before
and during surgery. “Music therapy” doesn’t have to be complicated or