Stress Management Exam Detailed Questions And
Expert Answers
Definition of stress - ANS The experience of a perceived threat (real or imagined)
to one's mental, physical, or spiritual well being, resulting from a series of
physiological responses and adaptations.
Stress is... - ANS -Stress is any change you encounter
-Stress is wear and tear on the body
-Stress is the inability to cope with problems
-Stress is the loss of emotional control
-Stress is the absence of inner peace
Acute stress - ANS Stress that is intense in nature but short in duration. Example -
getting pulled over by a cop, stressful but short situation
Chronic stress - ANS Stress that is not as intense as acute stress, but that lingers for
a prolonged period of time. Example - financial problems
Walter Cannon - ANS Came up with the flight-or-fight response; the instinctive
physiological response preparing the body, when confronted with a threat to
either fight or flee; an evolutionary survival dynamic.
,fight-or-flight stages - ANS 1. stimuli from one or more of the 5 senses are sent to
the brain (a scream, smell of fire, the taste of poison, a passing truck in your lane)
2. the brain deciphers the stimulus as either a threat or a non threat. If the
stimulus is not regarded as a threat, this is the end of the response (the scream
came from the t.v.) However, if the response is decoded as a real threat, the brain
activates the nervous and endocrine systems to quickly prepare for defense
and/or escape.
3. The body stays activated, aroused, or keyed up until the threat is over
4. The body returns to homeostasis, a state of physiological calmness, once the
state is gone.
Stage 1 of fight-or-flight - ANS 1. stimuli from one or more of the 5 senses are sent
to the brain (a scream, smell of fire, the taste of poison, a passing truck in your
lane)
Stage 2 of fight-or-flight - ANS 2. the brain deciphers the stimulus as either a threat
or a non threat. If the stimulus is not regarded as a threat, this is the end of the
response (the scream came from the t.v.) However, if the response is decoded as a
real threat, the brain activates the nervous and endocrine systems to quickly
prepare for defense and/or escape.
Stage 3 of fight-or-flight - ANS 3. The body stays activated, aroused, or keyed up
until the threat is over
Stage 4 of fight-or-flight - ANS 4. The body returns to homeostasis, a state of
physiological calmness, once the state is gone.
,Hans Selye - ANS Came up with the General Adaptation Syndrome, there are three
distinct physiological phases in reaction to chronic stress; 1. the alarm phase 2. the
resistance phase 3. the exhaustion phase
General Adaptation Syndrome - ANS 1. Alarm phase - Several body systems are
activated, primarily the nervous system and endocrine system, followed by the
cardiovascular, pulmonary, and musculoskeletal systems. All senses are put on
high alert until the danger is over.
2. Resistance phase - The body tries to revert to a state of physiological calmness,
or homeostasis, by resisting the alarm. Because the perception of a threat still
exists; however, complete homeostasis is never reached. Instead, the body stays
activated or aroused, usually at a lesser intensity that during the alarm stage but
enough to cause higher metabolic rate in some organ tissue.
3. Exhaustion phase - exhaustion occurs when one or more of the organs are
targeted by specific metabolic processes can no longer meet the demands placed
upon it and fails to function properly. This can result in death to the organ and
depending on which organ becomes dysfunctional (the heart), possibly the death
of the organism as a whole.
General Adaptation Syndrome phase 1 - ANS 1. Alarm phase - Several body
systems are activated, primarily the nervous system and endocrine system,
followed by the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and musculoskeletal systems. All
senses are put on high alert until the danger is over.
, General Adaptation Syndrome phase 2 - ANS 2. Resistance phase - The body tries
to revert to a state of physiological calmness, or homeostasis, by resisting the
alarm. Because the perception of a threat still exists; however, complete
homeostasis is never reached. Instead, the body stays activated or aroused,
usually at a lesser intensity that during the alarm stage but enough to cause higher
metabolic rate in some organ tissue.
General Adaptation Syndrome phase 3 - ANS 3. Exhaustion phase - exhaustion
occurs when one or more of the organs are targeted by specific metabolic
processes can no longer meet the demands placed upon it and fails to function
properly. This can result in death to the organ and depending on which organ
becomes dysfunctional (the heart), possibly the death of the organism as a whole.
Stress and Sleep - ANS Strong connection between stress and insomnia
Insomnia - ANS poor quality sleep, abnormal wakefulness or the inability to sleep -
can affect anyone
Emotional stress (preoccupation with daily stressors) - primary cause of insomnia
Anxious state of mind, racing thoughts, tense muscles, does not allow for restful
sleep.
60% of Americans suffer from poor sleep quality according to National Foundation
for sleep.