I. DEFINITION OF STRESS
What is Stress?
A. a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part.
B. a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation.
C. one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium.
D. Stress is the "psychological, physiological and behavioral response by an individual when they perceive a lack of equilibrium between the demands placed upon them and their ability to meet those demands, which, over a period of time, leads to ill-health" (Palmer, 1989).
II. PAIN AND DISCOMFORT- HOW TO MANAGE?
(CLASS ACTIVITY)
1. How do you manage the pain and discomfort if you have your monthly period?
2. How do you manage the pain and discomfort after your break up with your boyfriend or girlfriend?
III. COMMON SOURCES OF STRESS
A. Causes of Stress
Everyone has different stress triggers. Work stress tops the list, according to surveys. Forty percent of U.S. workers admit to experiencing office stress, and one-quarter say work is the biggest source of stress in their lives.
1. Work Stresses
Being unhappy in your job Having a heavy workload or too much responsibility Working long hours Having poor management, unclear expectations of your work, or no say in the decision-making process Working under dangerous conditions Being insecure about your chance for advancement or risk of termination Having to give speeches in front of colleagues Facing discrimination or harassment at work, especially if your company isn't supportive
2. Life Stresses
The death of a loved one Divorce Loss of a job Increase in financial obligations Getting married Moving to a new home Chronic illness or injury Emotional problems (, , anger, , guilt, low self-esteem) Taking care of an elderly or sick family member Traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, theft, rape, or violence against you or a loved one
B. Effects of Stress on Your Health
When you are in a stressful situation, your body launches a physical response. Your springs into action, releasing hormones that prepare you to either fight or take off. It's called the "fight or flight" response, and it's why, when you're in a stressful situation, you may notice that your heartbeat speeds up, your breathing gets faster, your muscles tense, and you start to sweat. This kind of stress is short-term and temporary (acute stress), and your body usually recovers quickly from it.
But if your stress system stays activated over a long period of time (chronic stress), it can lead to or aggravate more serious health problems. The constant rush of stress hormones can put a lot of wear and tear on your body, causing it to age more quickly and making it more prone to illness.
If you've been stressed out for a short period of time, you may start to notice some of these physical signs:
Difficulty sleeping Difficulty concentrating Irritability
When stress becomes long-term and is not properly addressed, it can lead to a number of more serious health conditions, including:
Abnormal heartbeat () Hardening of the () , ulcers, -- , , and gain or loss Changes in problems Flare-ups of or such as , , and
