Understanding Stress: Meaning and Definition

Behavioural Symptoms of Stress

• Increased smoking, aggressive behaviours, and substance abuse are behavioural manifestations of stress
• Carelessness, listlessness, compulsive behaviour, and impatience are also signs of stress

Disorders Caused or Exacerbated by Stress

Physical Disorders

• Hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, migraine, tension headaches, cancer, arthritis, respiratory disease, ulcers, colitis, and muscle tension problems are potential physical disorders caused by stress

Emotional Disorders

• Anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and adjustment disorders are emotional disorders that may be caused or worsened by stress

Behavioural Disorders

• Conduct disorders, eating disorders, alcoholism, and hypochondriasm are potential behavioural disorders linked to stress

Stress Coping

Emotion-Focused Coping

• Involves reducing negative emotional responses to stress, such as embarrassment, fear, anxiety, depression, excitement, and frustration
• Techniques include distraction, emotional disclosure, and meditation
• Useful for short-term stress management

Problem-Focused Coping

• Targets the causes of stress in practical ways, tackling the problem or stressful situation
• Techniques include problem-solving, time management, and obtaining instrumental social support
• Helpful for long-term stress management

Definition and Meaning of Stress

• Stress is a physiological response to an external stimulus that triggers the "fight or flight" reaction
• Occurs when perceived demands exceed one's ability to cope
• Can be beneficial in moderation, but excessive stress has health consequences, affecting the immune, cardiovascular, central nervous system, or emotional stability

Signs and Symptoms of Stress

Physical Symptoms

• Increased heart rate, pounding heart, elevated blood pressure, constipation, trembling, twitching, stuttering, nausea, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and chronic pain

Emotional Symptoms

• Irritability, angry outbursts, hostility, depression, restlessness, withdrawal, anxiousness, self-deprecation, obsessive rumination, and reduced self-esteem

Cognitive/Perceptual Symptoms

• Forgetfulness, preoccupation, diminished or exaggerated fantasy life, lack of concentration, diminished productivity, lack of attention to detail, and disorganization of thought

Explore the concept of stress as the body's response to external stimuli, triggering the 'fight or flight' reaction. Learn how stress can be both beneficial and detrimental to one's health and well-being, depending on the individual's coping abilities.