LIFE CHANGES. Many potential stressors we face involve events or situations that require us to make changes in our ongoing lives and require time as we adjust to those changes. Examples include death of a close family member, marriage, divorce, and moving ([link]).
Catastrophic thinking can be defined as ruminafing about irrafional worst-case outcomes. It can increase anxiety and pre- vent people from taking acfion in a situafion where acfion is required. Bad things—even horrible things—do happen to peo- ple and cause real pain in people's lives.
Personal stressors are events or conditions that occur in a person's life that may adversely impact on the individual's or their family's health or wellbeing. A stressor may occur directly, such as personally experiencing a serious illness, or indirectly, such as having a family member with a serious illness.
synonyms for catastrophic
- calamitous.
- cataclysmic.
- disastrous.
- fatal.
- ruinous.
- tragic.
- cataclysmal.
- catastrophal.
Daily hassles are everyday minor stressors that can be interpreted as minimally stressful, frustrating, or irritating (Kanner, Feldman, Weinberger, & Ford, 1991).
Stressors are events or conditions in your surroundings that may trigger stress. Your body responds to stressors differently depending on whether the stressor is new or short term — acute stress — or whether the stressor has been around for a longer time — chronic stress.
Environmental stressors are stimuli in our environment that cause stress. Some common environmental stressors are war, temperature, noise and crowds.
The psychological impact of disasters on responders appeared associated with pre-disaster factors (occupational factors; specialised training and preparedness; life events and health), during-disaster factors (exposure; duration on site and arrival time; emotional involvement; peri-traumatic distress/dissociation; role
Here are some tips for coping in these difficult times:
- Talk about it.
- Spend time with friends and family.
- Take care of yourself.
- Limit exposure to images of the disaster.
- Find time for activities you enjoy.
- Take one thing at a time.
- Do something positive.
- Avoid drugs and excessive drinking.
Acute stress disorder is an intense, unpleasant, and dysfunctional reaction beginning shortly after an overwhelming traumatic event and lasting less than a month. If symptoms persist longer than a month, people are diagnosed as having posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Some examples of things that may cause stress include:
- work – feeling pressure at work, unemployment or retirement.
- family – relationship difficulties, divorce or caring for someone.
- financial problems – unexpected bills or borrowing money.
- health – illness, injury or losing someone (bereavement)
In a disaster, you face the danger of death or physical injury. You may also lose your home, possessions, and community. Such stressors place you at risk for emotional and physical health problems. Stress reactions after a disaster look very much like the common reactions seen after any type of trauma.
Common responses can be:
- Intense or unpredictable feelings. You may be anxious, nervous, overwhelmed, or grief-stricken.
- Changes to thoughts and behavior patterns.
- Sensitivity to environmental factors.
- Strained interpersonal relationships.
- Stress-related physical symptoms.
5 Stress Management Techniques
- Take a 10 minute walk. According to a few experts if you take a walk it will help reduce endorphins in the system that cause stress.
- Practice mindfulness.
- Create an exercise regiment.
- Write a reflection journal.
- Organize yourself.
The five kinds of stressors are:
Acute time-limited.
Brief naturalistic.
Stressful events sequences.
Distant Stressors
- Child abuse.
- Prisoner of war.
- Loss of a loved one.
- War trauma.
There are two broad categories of stressors: Physiological (or physical) stressors and Psychological Stressors.
The top five most stressful life events include:
- Death of a loved one.
- Divorce.
- Moving.
- Major illness or injury.
- Job loss.
Here are seven common workplace stressors and some tips on how employees can mitigate their effects.
- Workload. Heavy workload and long hours make for over-tired and stressed employees.
- Unrealistic demands.
- Organizational change.
- Career and job ambiguity.
- Lack of recognition.
- Poor interpersonal relationships.
- Harassment.
According to mental health experts at HelpGuide.org, here are some common internal stressors:
- Inability to accept uncertainty.
- Pessimism.
- Negative self-talk.
- Unrealistic expectations.
- Rigid thinking, lack of flexibility.
- All-or-nothing attitude.
- Need to always be perfect.
Top 10 life-event stressors
- Death of a spouse.
- Divorce.
- Marriage separation.
- Imprisonment.
- Death of a close family member.
- Injury or illness.
- Marriage.
- Job loss.
Traveling, change, and falling in love are all considered good stress. Good stress can turn into bad stress. Good stress can also motivate you and keep you going, but if you no longer feel motivated then the good stress can change to bad stress and cause problems.
The three main causes of stress today are:
Physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms develop.
- Physical symptoms of stress include:
- Aches and pains.
- Chest pain or a feeling like your heart is racing.
- Exhaustion or trouble sleeping.
- Headaches, dizziness or shaking.
- High blood pressure.
- Muscle tension or jaw clenching.
- Stomach or digestive problems.
Signs of stress overload
- Anxiety or panic attacks.
- A feeling of being constantly pressured, hassled and hurried.
- Irritability and moodiness.
- Physical symptoms, such as stomach problems, headaches, or even chest pain.
- Allergic reactions, such as eczema or asthma.
- Problems sleeping.
The events that provoke stress are called stressors, and they cover a whole range of situations - everything from outright physical danger to making a class presentation or taking a semester's worth of your toughest classes. The human body responds to stressors by activating the nervous system and specific hormones.
Becoming easily agitated, frustrated, and moody. Feeling overwhelmed, like you are losing control or need to take control. Having difficulty relaxing and quieting your mind. Feeling bad about yourself (low self-esteem), lonely, worthless, and depressed.
Eustress: The Good Stress.
