UNDERSTANDING STRESS
Stress
- Aka 20th Century syndrome by Benjamin Franklin
• Nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it or it is the response of the body to any change or
new threatening or exciting situation
• Degree to which you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope as a result of pressure that is unimaginable
• A feeling of emotional or physical tension
• Stress can come from any event or thought that makes you feel angry, frustrated, or nervous
• In short burst stress can be positive such as when it helps you avoid danger or meet a deadline.
• When stress last for a long time it may harm your health
How does stress differ from anxiety?
Stress is caused by an existing stress causing factor or a stressor is present while anxiety is stress that continuous even
when the stressor is gone.
Stress is a normal feeling and there are 2 FORMS OF STRESS
ACUTE STRESS CHRONIC STRESS
• Most common type • Most serious type of stress
• Short-term response to an imminent danger or an • Last for a longer period of time
event that goes away quickly • Continuous or prolonged type
Ex. • It is more than an individual can cope or control
• Acute stress helps you manage dangerous • Any type of stress that goes on for weeks or
situations or when you do something new or months is chronic stress
exciting You can become so used to chronic stress that you don’t
• All people have acute stress one time or another realize it as a problem. If you don’t find ways to manage
stress it may lead to health problems
Physiologic Effects of stress
• Our body reacts to stress by releasing hormones, these hormones
make your brain more alert and causes your muscles to tense and
increase your pulse in a short-term these reactions are good cause
they can let you handle the situation that cause stress. This is your
body protecting itself.
• However, when you have chronic stress your body stays alert even
though there is no danger anymore. Over time this puts you at risk
for health problems:
o High blood pressure o Heart disease
o Diabetes
o Obesity o Depression or anxiety
o Skin problems (such as acne or eczema)
o Menstrual problems
*So if you already have a health condition chronic stress can make it worse
Signs of Stress
Stress can cause many types of physical and emotional symptoms
there can emotional, behavioral, or bodily changes sometime you may not
realize are caused by stress
- Trouble concentrating or losses focus
- Forgetfulness
- Frequent headaches and pains
- Anxiety
- Anger or easily irritated
- Stomach problems like diarrhea or constipation
- Fatigue, tiredness or lack of energy
- Sexual problems
- Skin irritation
- Muscle tension
- Teeth grinding
- Stiff jaw or neck
- Apathy (lack of feeling or emotion or interest or concern)
- Trouble sleeping
- Oversleeping
- Weight loss or gain
- Using alcohol or drugs to relax
, *Causes of Stress- are different for each person. You can have stress from good challenges as well as bad ones
Common stressor of college students:
- Drug use
- Alcohol use
- Academic competition
- College red tape
- Religious conflict
- Choice of major/ career choice
- Sexual pressure
- Family responsibilities or
problems at home
- Loneliness, anxiety, and
depression
- Money troubles
- Military obligations
- Physical injuries and injury
- Lack of privacy
- Conflict with parents/siblings
- Time management
- Love
Reaction to stress that affects wellness
Emotional intelligence (EI), Emotional
Quotient (EQ), and Emotional Intelligence
Quotient (EIQ)
• The capability of individuals to
recognize their own emotions and those of others, discern between different feelings and label them appropriately,
use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to
environments or achieve one’s goals
• EI or EQ is the ability to understand, use and manage your own emotions in a positive way to relieve stress,
communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict
• EI helps you build stronger relationships, succeed at school and work, and achieve your career and personal goals.
It can also help you connect with your feelings, turn intention into action and make informed decisions about what
matters most to you
Why is emotional intelligence important?
• When it comes to happiness and success in life EQ matters just as much as IQ. It is not the smartest people who
are the most successful or most fulfilled in life. There are some who are academically brilliant yet are socially
incompetent and unsuccessful at work and personal relationships
• IQ isn’t enough on its own to achieve success in life.
• EQ helps in managing the stress and emotions
• IQ and EQ exist in tandem and are most effective when they build off one another. They are equally important.
EUSTRESS DISTRESS
-Good response to stress • Bad response to stress
-Refers to happy and pleasant events • Unpleasant or harmful reaction as the stress
-Increases performance even if stress increases if it produces increases
positive feelings of excitement, fulfillment, meaning, satisfaction,
• Results to an unhealthy body and declining
and well-being then that is Eustress.
performance
According to Dr. Michael Genovese (clinical psychiatrist) • Can make you feel overwhelmed because your
explained that exciting and stressful events cause a chemical physical, mental, or emotional resources are
response in the body inadequate to meet the demands you are facing
• Eustress is usually a product of the nerves which can be Licensed professional Counselor Kacy Lee says this type
brought about when faced with a fun challenge of negative stress can lead to anxiety and depression that
• He says that eustress is import because without it our can lead to a decrease in performance
well-being can suffer
• He states that eustress helps us keep motivated, work
towards our goal, and feel good about our life
Ex. doing a passion project or learning something new
Destress is to relax and unwind
Stress
- Aka 20th Century syndrome by Benjamin Franklin
• Nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it or it is the response of the body to any change or
new threatening or exciting situation
• Degree to which you feel overwhelmed or unable to cope as a result of pressure that is unimaginable
• A feeling of emotional or physical tension
• Stress can come from any event or thought that makes you feel angry, frustrated, or nervous
• In short burst stress can be positive such as when it helps you avoid danger or meet a deadline.
• When stress last for a long time it may harm your health
How does stress differ from anxiety?
Stress is caused by an existing stress causing factor or a stressor is present while anxiety is stress that continuous even
when the stressor is gone.
Stress is a normal feeling and there are 2 FORMS OF STRESS
ACUTE STRESS CHRONIC STRESS
• Most common type • Most serious type of stress
• Short-term response to an imminent danger or an • Last for a longer period of time
event that goes away quickly • Continuous or prolonged type
Ex. • It is more than an individual can cope or control
• Acute stress helps you manage dangerous • Any type of stress that goes on for weeks or
situations or when you do something new or months is chronic stress
exciting You can become so used to chronic stress that you don’t
• All people have acute stress one time or another realize it as a problem. If you don’t find ways to manage
stress it may lead to health problems
Physiologic Effects of stress
• Our body reacts to stress by releasing hormones, these hormones
make your brain more alert and causes your muscles to tense and
increase your pulse in a short-term these reactions are good cause
they can let you handle the situation that cause stress. This is your
body protecting itself.
• However, when you have chronic stress your body stays alert even
though there is no danger anymore. Over time this puts you at risk
for health problems:
o High blood pressure o Heart disease
o Diabetes
o Obesity o Depression or anxiety
o Skin problems (such as acne or eczema)
o Menstrual problems
*So if you already have a health condition chronic stress can make it worse
Signs of Stress
Stress can cause many types of physical and emotional symptoms
there can emotional, behavioral, or bodily changes sometime you may not
realize are caused by stress
- Trouble concentrating or losses focus
- Forgetfulness
- Frequent headaches and pains
- Anxiety
- Anger or easily irritated
- Stomach problems like diarrhea or constipation
- Fatigue, tiredness or lack of energy
- Sexual problems
- Skin irritation
- Muscle tension
- Teeth grinding
- Stiff jaw or neck
- Apathy (lack of feeling or emotion or interest or concern)
- Trouble sleeping
- Oversleeping
- Weight loss or gain
- Using alcohol or drugs to relax
, *Causes of Stress- are different for each person. You can have stress from good challenges as well as bad ones
Common stressor of college students:
- Drug use
- Alcohol use
- Academic competition
- College red tape
- Religious conflict
- Choice of major/ career choice
- Sexual pressure
- Family responsibilities or
problems at home
- Loneliness, anxiety, and
depression
- Money troubles
- Military obligations
- Physical injuries and injury
- Lack of privacy
- Conflict with parents/siblings
- Time management
- Love
Reaction to stress that affects wellness
Emotional intelligence (EI), Emotional
Quotient (EQ), and Emotional Intelligence
Quotient (EIQ)
• The capability of individuals to
recognize their own emotions and those of others, discern between different feelings and label them appropriately,
use emotional information to guide thinking and behavior, and manage and/or adjust emotions to adapt to
environments or achieve one’s goals
• EI or EQ is the ability to understand, use and manage your own emotions in a positive way to relieve stress,
communicate effectively, empathize with others, overcome challenges, and defuse conflict
• EI helps you build stronger relationships, succeed at school and work, and achieve your career and personal goals.
It can also help you connect with your feelings, turn intention into action and make informed decisions about what
matters most to you
Why is emotional intelligence important?
• When it comes to happiness and success in life EQ matters just as much as IQ. It is not the smartest people who
are the most successful or most fulfilled in life. There are some who are academically brilliant yet are socially
incompetent and unsuccessful at work and personal relationships
• IQ isn’t enough on its own to achieve success in life.
• EQ helps in managing the stress and emotions
• IQ and EQ exist in tandem and are most effective when they build off one another. They are equally important.
EUSTRESS DISTRESS
-Good response to stress • Bad response to stress
-Refers to happy and pleasant events • Unpleasant or harmful reaction as the stress
-Increases performance even if stress increases if it produces increases
positive feelings of excitement, fulfillment, meaning, satisfaction,
• Results to an unhealthy body and declining
and well-being then that is Eustress.
performance
According to Dr. Michael Genovese (clinical psychiatrist) • Can make you feel overwhelmed because your
explained that exciting and stressful events cause a chemical physical, mental, or emotional resources are
response in the body inadequate to meet the demands you are facing
• Eustress is usually a product of the nerves which can be Licensed professional Counselor Kacy Lee says this type
brought about when faced with a fun challenge of negative stress can lead to anxiety and depression that
• He says that eustress is import because without it our can lead to a decrease in performance
well-being can suffer
• He states that eustress helps us keep motivated, work
towards our goal, and feel good about our life
Ex. doing a passion project or learning something new
Destress is to relax and unwind
