What is Stress.docx

What is Stress? So what is stress – everyone calls it stress but really this includes the external influence (or stressors) that alters your homeostatic balance. There are three separate components to this: the stressors the stress response and pathophysiological sequelae that occurs First, stress i...

What is Stress? So what is stress – everyone calls it stress but really this includes the external influence (or stressors) that alters your homeostatic balance. There are three separate components to this: the stressors the stress response and pathophysiological sequelae that occurs First, stress is a response – not something that happens to use, as we are not a passive victim of stress. So, what are stressors – they can be positive (Selye called these Eustressors) or negative (also called Distressors) or neutral – these are stressors that have a neutral effect, and they don’t necessarily lead to the stress response until we change them into negative or positive stressors. For example – if you are very comfortable and enjoy talking with elderly patients – this won’t be perceived as a stressor rather you have interpreted this as a neutral effect on you. But if just before you meet an elderly patient, you find out that your clinical tutor will be giving you feedback about your therapeutic relationship – more than likely you will then change your perception of this conversation from neutral to a stressor – most likely a negative stressor. Stressors come from a variety of sources as modern life is full of these and they include the external environment, or personal perception – everyone can participate in this response. Ultimately, we know that the short-term responses are similar to the long-term responses.