Stress

Vagus Nerve

• “Non-specific response of the body to any
• demand on it”

General Adaptation Syndrome

• 1. Alarm
• 2. Resistance
• 3. Exhaustion

“Fight or Flight” response initiated

May result in disease or death if prolonged or severe

Sympathetic Nervous Stimulation

Patient complaints of anxiety, rapid heart rate, nausea and anorexia

Sweaty, diruetic, epiniphrine hormone, decreased peristalsis

because it increases your heart rate, blood flow to major organs

Quickly moves into this stage

Physiological reserves are mobilized to handle stress

Amount of resistance depends on levels of functioning (i.e. health, exercise, family support etc)

Very few physiological signs

If resistance is successful, the patient will recover, if unsuccessful patient will move to next stage

HR comes down and stress is relieved

Final stage

All energy has been expended

Patient may die if resources are not available

Physical s/s of alarm stage may reappear

Can be reversed by external sources such as medications and counseling

• Pts may die and maybe see signs of alarm come back and then
• crash shortly after can die

Cope more effectively with stress

Reduces the chance of stress related illness

When ill, tend to recover sooner

Likely to deny problems

Allow stress to interfere with goal achievement

Focus on stressful feelings

Report more health problems

• experiences and conditions of daily life that are viewed as irritating, frustrating and
• distressing

-stronger relationship with somatic illness (migraines, IBS, etc)

positive experiences or temporary joys that are likely to occur in everyday life.

- modify the negative of hassles

- believed to be associated with healthier functioning esp. immune and CV systems

Nervous System

Endocrine System

Immune System

Heart attack

Constantly changing cognitive and behavioral efforts to manage the demands of the body

Stress Management Techniques/Relaxation Strategies