stressor

Examples of stressor in the following topics:

• Exhaustion

  • Physiologists define stress as how the body reacts to a stressor, real or imagined, a stimulus that causes stress.
  • Acute stressors affect an organism in the short term; chronic stressors over the longer term.
  • When the threat or stressor is identified or realized, the body's stress response is in a state of alarm.
  • The organism's resistance to the stressor drops temporarily below the normal range and some level of shock may be experienced.
  • If the stressor persists, it becomes necessary to attempt some means of coping with the stress.

• The Resistance Reaction

  • Resistance is the second stage of the general adaptation syndrome where the body has an increased capacity to respond to the stressor.
  • Physiologists define stress as how the body reacts to a stressor, real or imagined, a stimulus that causes stress.
  • Acute stressors affect an organism in the short term; chronic stressors over the longer term.
  • Antishock phase: When the threat or stressor is identified or realized, the body starts to respond and is in a state of alarm.
  • If the stressor persists, it becomes necessary to attempt some means of coping with the stress.

• Coping with Stress

  • Coping with stress is the process by which a person consciously attempts to master, minimize, or tolerate stressors and problems in life.
  • In the case of stress, coping mechanisms seek to master, minimize, or tolerate stress and stressors that occur in everyday life.
  • The term "coping" usually refers to dealing with the stress that comes after a stressor is presented, but many people also use proactive coping strategies to eliminate or avoid stressors before they occur.
  • Problem-focused strategies aim to deal with the cause of the problem or stressor.
  • Emotion-focused strategies address the feelings associated with the stressor.

• The Endocrine System and Stress

  • Stressors can come in many forms, from immediate physical threats like an angry bear, to social threats like an angry friend.
  • Studies on people show that the HPA axis is activated in different ways during chronic stress—depending on the type of stressor, the person's response to the stressor, and other factors.
  • Stressors that are uncontrollable, threaten physical integrity, or involve trauma tend to have a high, flat profile of cortisol release (with lower-than-normal levels of cortisol in the morning and higher-than-normal levels in the evening) resulting in a high overall level of daily cortisol release.
  • On the other hand, controllable stressors tend to produce higher-than-normal morning cortisol.
  • Stress hormone release tends to decline gradually after a stressor occurs.

• Maintaining Motivation

  • Discouragement and setbacks can chip away at otherwise high levels of motivation, leaving a person feeling defenseless against life's stressors.
  • According to PMT, individuals assess a situation or a stressor, and then determine their ability to deal with that situation.
  • Threat evaluation focuses on the actual threat or the stressor, rather than on the impact of that stressor.
  • When dealing with a stressor, an individual determines if carrying out recommended actions will remove the threat.
  • Elevated excitement and anticipation can also lower the perception of stressors through increases in mental strength and resilience.

• Managing Stress Through Conventional and Alternative Medicine

  • Stressors are constantly present throughout life, so one of the major keys to overall wellness and happiness is the effective management of stress.
  • Studies of stress have shown that it is caused by distinct, measurable life events deemed stressors.
  • Life stressors can be ranked by the median degree of stress they produce.
  • While external stressors can produce valid and measurable stress in the body, this reaction is entirely dependent on the appraisal formed by the stressed person.
  • Conventional methods tend to face the stressor head-on and adapt a person's life to either avoid or abate a particular type of stress.

• Mental Health

  • Different classes have different levels of access to treatment and encounter different mental health stressors.
  • Members of different classes encounter different stressors—lower class people likely face more financial stress as it pertains to day-to-day sustenance and well-being, while upper class people might experience stress from the intense social pressures associated with elite circles.

• Appraisal Theory of Emotion

  • In the specific context of emotion and stress, Lazarus described primary appraisals as judgments about the degree of potential harm or threat to well-being that a stressor might introduce.
  • The perception of a threat then triggers the secondary appraisal—judgment of the options available to cope with the stressor—as well as perceptions of how effective such options will be.
  • According to Lazarus' cognitive-mediational theory, upon encountering a stressor, a person judges its potential threat (via primary appraisal) and then determines if effective options are available to manage the situation (via secondary appraisal).
  • Stress is likely to result if a stressor is perceived as threatening and few or no effective coping options are available.

• How Stress Impacts our Health

  • When humans are exposed to stressors such as excessive demands, over stimulation, financial hardship, under stimulation and broken relationships, most people experience negative emotional reactions that effect their emotional well-being.
  • The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical system reacts within a person's brain, and it releases the hormone cortisol from the adrenal glad when one is exposed to a stressor.

• How the Body Responds to Stress

  • Stimuli that disrupt homeostasis in this way are known as stressors.
  • When our bodies are faced with a stressor—any trigger that leads to a stress response—certain physical processes take place.
  • In addition, your senses (especially vision and hearing) are heightened, glucose and fatty acids are released into the blood stream for energy, and your immune and digestive systems all but shut down to provide you with the necessary energy to fight the stressor.
  • The HPA system reacts within a person's brain, and it releases the hormone cortisol from the adrenal gland when a person is exposed to a stressor.