STRESS

HANS SELYE
Stress is the spice of life.who
would enjoy a life of no runs, no
hits and no errors?
-Hans Selye, M.D.
Definition
Types of stressors
Types of stress
Body response to stress
Stress and illness
Occupational stress
Post traumatic stress disorders
Scales to measure stress
Stress management
Summary


Stress is the process by
which we perceive and
respond to certain
events that we see as
threatening or
challenging.
Any event or circumstance that causes stress is called
stressor.
Stressor as such does not cause stress but our
perception of that event, the meaning we attach to it and
the way we react to it leads to symptoms or diseases of
stress.

STRESSOR

Types of stressors
Biological stressors
Any illness or disease
Disabilities
Injuries


Environmental stressors
Poverty
Overcrowding
Natural disasters
Inability to solve a problem
Coming up with creative projects

Cognitive stressors

Life change stressors
Death of loved ones
Divorce
Trouble among family and friends
Types of stress
Acute Stress
Acute stress is the reaction to an immediate threat,
commonly known as the fight or flight response. The threat
can be any situation that is experienced, even
subconsciously or falsely, as a danger.
Common acute stressors include:
noise
crowding
hunger







Chronic stress
Frequently, however, modern life poses on-going stressful
situations that are not short-lived and the urge to act (to fight or to
flee) must be suppressed. Stress, then, becomes chronic.
Common chronic stressors include:
on-going highly pressured work,
long-term relationship problems,
loneliness, and
persistent financial worries.



Eustress
It is the good kind of stress
Something pleasing will result at the
end of the stressful situation
Examples:
Planning a wedding
Planning a party
Completing your last semester before
graduation


Distress
It is a displeasing kind of stress
It is the bad kind of stress
It causes the most harm to the body
Examples:
Death of a loved one
Natural disasters like earthquakes, floods
Financial problems

General Adaptation
Syndrome
What is the General Adaptation
Syndrome?
The General Adaptation Syndrome (or GAS)
describes the body's short and long-term
emotional and physical effects of stress.
GAS: A Brief History
Introduced by Hans Selye in 1936. Hans Selye is
considered as the founding father of stress
research.
He conducted a research involving rats in which he
injected various extracts from the glands of the
body.
The rats exhibited the same symptoms.
He believed at first that he discovered a new
hormone.
GAS: A Brief History
However, after further tests using other substances
and methods such as injecting formaldehyde,
cutting the rats spinal cord, exposure to cold and
forced exercise, the results were still the same.
The predictable sequence he observed on the rats
is now what we call the General Adaptation
Syndrome.
Three Stage
Reaction
Alarm phase
Stage of resistance
Exhaustion stage.

The alarm phase of the general
adaptation syndrome
In the alarm phase you enter a heightened
psychological and physiological arousal, known as the
fight or flight response.
Stress hormones are released into the bloodstream.
Adrenaline increases muscle tension, heart rate, and
causes a number of other physical effects of stress.
You are now immediately equipped with enough
energy to handle it.
You are more focused and alert!
The resistance phase of the general
adaptation syndrome
The mind and the body attempt to adapt to the
cause of stress.
Also known as the adaptation phase.
Homeostasis begins restoring balance and a period
of recovery for repair and renewal takes place.
Body remains alert (at a lower level) but continues
the normal functions.
Stress hormone levels may return to normal but
you may have reduced defenses and adaptive
energy left.
The exhaustion phase of the general
adaptation syndrome
Exhaustion sets in.
Stress has generally occurred for some time and at
this point, resistance can drop off and the activity
returns to the point before the emergency.
Characterized by issues such as burnout and
exhaustion.
Bodys immune system that fights off disease and
infection is weakened.
The exhaustion phase of the general
adaptation syndrome
Chronic stress can damage nerve cells in tissues
and organs. Particularly vulnerable is the
hippocampus section of the brain. Thinking and
memory are likely to become impaired, with
tendency toward anxiety and depression.
Responses to stress
Seyles general adaptation syndrome

There are 3 stages:
1. Alarm stage :- occurs when person recognizes threat
and mobilizes resources.
2. Resistance :- occurs when the stress is prolonged
3. Exhaustion :- occurs when bodys resources are
depleted.
Individual level
Family level
Community level

Stress management
Learn decision making techniques
Developing time management skills
Undertaking regular
physical exercise
Progressive muscular relaxation
Yoga and meditation
Individual level

Family acts as the first support system for an
individual.
Children model their parents behaviours, including
those related to managing stress.
Having regular conversations can help
a family work together to better
understanding and address any stress.
Family level


Focus has been more on work related stress.
Sakhi/saheli programme under Rajiv Gandhi
scheme for empowerment of adolescent girls.
Stress management programme in colleges.
Community level
1. WHO AFMCs Textbook of Public health and
community medicine .
2. T Bhaskar Rao s Textbook of Community
Medicine
3. Dr. B Sridhar Rao Principles of Community
Medicine.
4. WHO India work related stress.
6. Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for empowerment of
Adolescent (Sabla) Handbook.




References