Stress & its Effects
By
Shahnaz Qayyum
Objectives
•At the end of this unit students will be
able to:
•Identify major sources of psychological
stress
•Identify factors influencing stress
intolerance
•Develop understanding about achieving
self-control through self -modification
What is stress?
STRESS
“Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension
caused by a difficult situation”.(WHO)
Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to
address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone
experiences stress to some degree. The way we respond to
stress, however, makes a big difference to our overall well-
being.
Principal Categories of Stress
1) Physical stressors and
2) Psychological stressors
Principal Categories of Stress
Physical stressors: Those stressors that impinge upon
the five senses and pertain to the domain of the tangible
and concrete. These are stress triggers that we can see,
hear, touch, smell or taste. For Example:
A car coming straight at us on the sidewalk is a real,
tangible and imminent physical threat, which must and
does trigger an immediate stress reaction. We respond
to this physical threat by stepping out of the way,
instinctively and without giving it much thought.
Included in the physical stressors is pain, which is the
body’s reaction to a harmful agent that attacks its
structure.
Psychological stressors
Psychological stressors are events or situations that challenge an
individual’s mental or emotional equilibrium. They are often
subjective, varying significantly from person to person depending
on their experiences, coping mechanisms, and personal resilience.
Examples of psychological stressors include:
• Academic pressures
• Caring for others
• Dealing with loss
• Family conflicts
• Life transitions
• Perfectionism or self-imposed pressures
• Personal health concerns
• Traumatic events
• Isolation
psychological Stressor
2) Psychological stressors: To understand psychological
stressors it is important to remember that they can fall into
two distinct categories:
a. Real Psychological Stressors
b. Perceived psychological Stressors
Real psychological stressors are produced by the perception
of an emotional danger or threat, in other words by a
concern over something that is based on reality and does or
may objectively occur. An example of this may be an
impending relationship breakup.
Perceived psychological stressors are produced by the same
mechanism, and are a concern over events or situations that
are often based on reality but may be exaggerated or may in
fact never occur. An example of the latter may be a worry or
concern over an unnamed threat
Types of psychological stress
1) Crises/catastrophes
2) Major life events
3) Daily hassles/micro stressors
4) Ambient stressors.
1) Crises/Catastrophes/Disaster
This type of stressor is unforeseen and
unpredictable and, as such, is completely out
of the control of the individual. Examples of
crises and catastrophes include: devastating
natural disasters, such as major floods or
earthquakes, wars, pandemics, etc.
2. Major life events
Common examples of major life events
include: marriage, going to college, death
of a loved one, birth of a child, divorce,
moving houses, etc. These events, either
positive or negative, can create a sense of
uncertainty and fear, which will
ultimately lead to stress.
3. Daily hassles/micro stressors
•This category includes daily annoyances and
minor hassles. Examples include: making
decisions, meeting deadlines at work or
school, traffic jams, encounters with
irritating personalities, etc. Often, this type
of stressor includes conflicts with other
people. Daily stressors, however, are different
for each individual, as not everyone perceives
a certain event as stressful. For example,
most people find public speaking to be
stressful, but someone who has experience
with it will not.
Types of conflicts that can cause stress.
• The approach-approach conflict, occurs when a person is
choosing between two equally attractive options, i.e.
whether to go see a movie or to go see a concert.
• The avoidance-avoidance conflict, occurs where a person
has to choose between two equally unattractive options. For
Examples of this include choosing between surgery or
radiation treatments for cancer, or choosing between a lower
salary at work or unemployment.
• The approach-avoidance conflict, occurs when a person is
forced to choose whether or not to partake in something
that has both attractive and unattractive traits – such as
whether or not to attend an expensive college (meaning
taking out loans now, but also meaning a quality education
and employment after graduation).
4. Ambient stressors
•As the name implies, these are global (as opposed
to individual) low-grade stressors that are a part
of the background environment. They are
defined as stressors that are "chronic, negatively
valued, non-urgent, physically perceptible, and
intractable to the efforts of individuals to change
them". Typical examples of environment
stressors are pollution, noise, crowding, and
traffic. Unlike the other three types of stressor,
ambient stressors can (but do not necessarily
have to) negatively impact stress without
conscious awareness.
Major Sources of stress
Major Sources of Stress
Major sources includes:
1) Environmental
2) Social
3) Physiological
4) Cognitive- Emotional
5) Occupational stressors
6) Life change stressors
1) Environmental:
•Includes physical stressors that impinge upon
the five senses, such as weather, traffic, noise,
pollution, and disturbing images.
2) Social/psychological
•Includes psychological stressors triggered
when demands are made on our time,
attention and skills, such as in job interviews,
public speaking, work presentations,
interpersonal conflict, competing priorities,
financial problems, and loss of relationships
and loved ones.
Social Stressors cont.
•Cyberbullying or online harassment
•Discrimination and stigma
•Life transitions leading to social role changes
•Parenting challenges
•Peer pressure
•Relationship issues
•Social expectations and roles
•Social isolation
•Workplace social dynamics
3. Physiological: Includes physical stressors that are
produced at various stages in our life, such as during
growth spurts in adolescence, menopause, lack of exercise,
poor nutrition insufficient sleep, illness, injuries, and
aging.
4. Cognitive-emotional: The principal source of this type
of stress is our own thoughts. Our brain interprets
changes in our environment and body and conducts an
automatic “threat assessment” to decide whether a danger
is present and thus mobilize the body’s defenses.
The good functioning, or poor functioning of our threat
assessment mechanism determines whether we become
alarmed appropriately or inappropriately, and whether to
remain stressed or relax.
Note: All these are the sources of psychological stress
Occupational Stressors
Occupational stressors are stress-inducing factors
associated with one’s job or career. They can arise from
various aspects of the work environment, job
responsibilities, interpersonal relationships at work, or
organizational culture. Examples may include:
•Career development concerns
•Pay rates
•Challenging work environment
•High workload or overwork
•Inadequate rewards, promotion opportunities, or
recognition
•Job insecurity
Occupational Stressors
•Lack of control or autonomy
•Poor interpersonal relationships at work
•Poor work-life balance
•Poor leadership
•Unclear job expectations
•Workplace bullying or harassment
•Workplace discrimination or inequality
Life change stressors
Life change stressors are significant events or
transitions in a person’s life that require
considerable adjustment, adaptation, or coping.
•These changes can be both positive and
negative, but regardless of their nature, they
often bring about stress due to the disruption
of familiar routines, roles, and environments.
Examples of life changes that can cause stress
include:
•Children leaving home
•Divorce or relationship breakup
Life change stressors
•Marriage or the start of a relationship
• Birth of a child
•Illness
•Loss of a job or unemployment
•Loss of a loved one
•Move to a new city or country
•Retirement a new job or career change
THANK YOU

stress and its effects class in our life1.pptx

  • 1.
    Stress & itsEffects By Shahnaz Qayyum
  • 2.
    Objectives •At the endof this unit students will be able to: •Identify major sources of psychological stress •Identify factors influencing stress intolerance •Develop understanding about achieving self-control through self -modification
  • 3.
    What is stress? STRESS “Stresscan be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation”.(WHO) Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way we respond to stress, however, makes a big difference to our overall well- being.
  • 4.
    Principal Categories ofStress 1) Physical stressors and 2) Psychological stressors
  • 5.
    Principal Categories ofStress Physical stressors: Those stressors that impinge upon the five senses and pertain to the domain of the tangible and concrete. These are stress triggers that we can see, hear, touch, smell or taste. For Example: A car coming straight at us on the sidewalk is a real, tangible and imminent physical threat, which must and does trigger an immediate stress reaction. We respond to this physical threat by stepping out of the way, instinctively and without giving it much thought. Included in the physical stressors is pain, which is the body’s reaction to a harmful agent that attacks its structure.
  • 6.
    Psychological stressors Psychological stressorsare events or situations that challenge an individual’s mental or emotional equilibrium. They are often subjective, varying significantly from person to person depending on their experiences, coping mechanisms, and personal resilience. Examples of psychological stressors include: • Academic pressures • Caring for others • Dealing with loss • Family conflicts • Life transitions • Perfectionism or self-imposed pressures • Personal health concerns • Traumatic events • Isolation
  • 7.
    psychological Stressor 2) Psychologicalstressors: To understand psychological stressors it is important to remember that they can fall into two distinct categories: a. Real Psychological Stressors b. Perceived psychological Stressors Real psychological stressors are produced by the perception of an emotional danger or threat, in other words by a concern over something that is based on reality and does or may objectively occur. An example of this may be an impending relationship breakup. Perceived psychological stressors are produced by the same mechanism, and are a concern over events or situations that are often based on reality but may be exaggerated or may in fact never occur. An example of the latter may be a worry or concern over an unnamed threat
  • 8.
    Types of psychologicalstress 1) Crises/catastrophes 2) Major life events 3) Daily hassles/micro stressors 4) Ambient stressors.
  • 9.
    1) Crises/Catastrophes/Disaster This typeof stressor is unforeseen and unpredictable and, as such, is completely out of the control of the individual. Examples of crises and catastrophes include: devastating natural disasters, such as major floods or earthquakes, wars, pandemics, etc.
  • 10.
    2. Major lifeevents Common examples of major life events include: marriage, going to college, death of a loved one, birth of a child, divorce, moving houses, etc. These events, either positive or negative, can create a sense of uncertainty and fear, which will ultimately lead to stress.
  • 11.
    3. Daily hassles/microstressors •This category includes daily annoyances and minor hassles. Examples include: making decisions, meeting deadlines at work or school, traffic jams, encounters with irritating personalities, etc. Often, this type of stressor includes conflicts with other people. Daily stressors, however, are different for each individual, as not everyone perceives a certain event as stressful. For example, most people find public speaking to be stressful, but someone who has experience with it will not.
  • 12.
    Types of conflictsthat can cause stress. • The approach-approach conflict, occurs when a person is choosing between two equally attractive options, i.e. whether to go see a movie or to go see a concert. • The avoidance-avoidance conflict, occurs where a person has to choose between two equally unattractive options. For Examples of this include choosing between surgery or radiation treatments for cancer, or choosing between a lower salary at work or unemployment. • The approach-avoidance conflict, occurs when a person is forced to choose whether or not to partake in something that has both attractive and unattractive traits – such as whether or not to attend an expensive college (meaning taking out loans now, but also meaning a quality education and employment after graduation).
  • 13.
    4. Ambient stressors •Asthe name implies, these are global (as opposed to individual) low-grade stressors that are a part of the background environment. They are defined as stressors that are "chronic, negatively valued, non-urgent, physically perceptible, and intractable to the efforts of individuals to change them". Typical examples of environment stressors are pollution, noise, crowding, and traffic. Unlike the other three types of stressor, ambient stressors can (but do not necessarily have to) negatively impact stress without conscious awareness.
  • 15.
  • 16.
    Major Sources ofStress Major sources includes: 1) Environmental 2) Social 3) Physiological 4) Cognitive- Emotional 5) Occupational stressors 6) Life change stressors
  • 17.
    1) Environmental: •Includes physicalstressors that impinge upon the five senses, such as weather, traffic, noise, pollution, and disturbing images. 2) Social/psychological •Includes psychological stressors triggered when demands are made on our time, attention and skills, such as in job interviews, public speaking, work presentations, interpersonal conflict, competing priorities, financial problems, and loss of relationships and loved ones.
  • 18.
    Social Stressors cont. •Cyberbullyingor online harassment •Discrimination and stigma •Life transitions leading to social role changes •Parenting challenges •Peer pressure •Relationship issues •Social expectations and roles •Social isolation •Workplace social dynamics
  • 19.
    3. Physiological: Includesphysical stressors that are produced at various stages in our life, such as during growth spurts in adolescence, menopause, lack of exercise, poor nutrition insufficient sleep, illness, injuries, and aging. 4. Cognitive-emotional: The principal source of this type of stress is our own thoughts. Our brain interprets changes in our environment and body and conducts an automatic “threat assessment” to decide whether a danger is present and thus mobilize the body’s defenses. The good functioning, or poor functioning of our threat assessment mechanism determines whether we become alarmed appropriately or inappropriately, and whether to remain stressed or relax. Note: All these are the sources of psychological stress
  • 20.
    Occupational Stressors Occupational stressorsare stress-inducing factors associated with one’s job or career. They can arise from various aspects of the work environment, job responsibilities, interpersonal relationships at work, or organizational culture. Examples may include: •Career development concerns •Pay rates •Challenging work environment •High workload or overwork •Inadequate rewards, promotion opportunities, or recognition •Job insecurity
  • 21.
    Occupational Stressors •Lack ofcontrol or autonomy •Poor interpersonal relationships at work •Poor work-life balance •Poor leadership •Unclear job expectations •Workplace bullying or harassment •Workplace discrimination or inequality
  • 22.
    Life change stressors Lifechange stressors are significant events or transitions in a person’s life that require considerable adjustment, adaptation, or coping. •These changes can be both positive and negative, but regardless of their nature, they often bring about stress due to the disruption of familiar routines, roles, and environments. Examples of life changes that can cause stress include: •Children leaving home •Divorce or relationship breakup
  • 23.
    Life change stressors •Marriageor the start of a relationship • Birth of a child •Illness •Loss of a job or unemployment •Loss of a loved one •Move to a new city or country •Retirement a new job or career change
  • 24.

Editor's Notes

  • #1 stress is often short term, it's short-lived, it ends, and once the stressor is removed, individuals usually will feel better. But with anxiety, it is often present even when there is not an identified stressor.
  • #5 Tengible thought or fear that initiates a stress response Stress in concrete refers to the internal forces or pressures that develop within the material when it is subjected to external loads . These loads can include the weight of the structure , as well as any additional forces from wind , earthquakes , or other sources . Imminant about to happen
  • #7 Impending /About to happen
  • #8 Ambient/immediate surroundings of something.