Content
• Definition• Stressors• Causes of stressors• Response to stressors• How to handle stress• Stress reducing techniques• Points to remember
Stress
• Stress is the body’s reaction to any stimulus that requires a person to adjust to a changing environment. – Change always initiates stress.
• The stimuli (an event) to change, alter behavior, or adapt to a situation are stressors.
Stress
• Stressors can be caused by internal or external forces.– Internal stress – “heart attack,” cancer– External stress – new job, marriage, divorce, test.
• No matter what the cause, a stressor will cause the body to go into alarm or warning mode…..the “fight or flight” response. – The sympathetic nervous system prepares the
body for action by releasing the hormone adrenaline into the blood stream.
Stressors cause
• Body goes into an alarm mode– Sympathetic nervous system
works • Adrenaline released (hormone
from adrenals)• Blood vessels to heart & brain
dilate• Pupils in eye dilate• Saliva decreases• Heart beats faster, blood pressure
rises, respiratory rate increases• Actions provide body with burst of
energy & stamina required to respond to stressor
Causes of stress
• Relationships• Job or school• Foods – caffeine, salt, sweets• Illness & lifestyle• Finances• Family events – birth, death, marriage, divorce• Overwork, boredom, negative feelings• Time limitations – too much to do• Failure to achieve goals
Stress
• Not all stress is harmful. – A small amount of stress is essential to an
individual’s well-being because it makes the person more alert and raises the energy level.
– Stress can cause positive feelings such as excitement, anticipation, self-confidence, and a sense of achievement.
Response to stressors
• If stress causes positive feelings, it can be helpful (achievement, excitement, anticipation, etc)
• If stress causes negative feelings, it can be harmful (boredom, frustration, irritability, anger, depression, distrust, self-criticism, exhaustion)
Negative Stress
• Can lead to substance abuse– Smoking, alcohol use, drug use,
excessive eating– Trying to find comfort & escape from
negative feelings • Can lead to mental breakdown• Be aware of stressors & learn to
control them
Stress
• Working in health care can be very stressful. Sometimes you will deal with life and death situations.
• How do you handle stress?
Stress – How can you handle it?• Stop: immediately stop what you are doing to
break out of the stress response.• Breathe: take a slow deep breath to relieve
the physical tension.• Reflect: think about the problem and the
cause of the stress.• Choose: determine how you want to deal with
the stress.
Steps to control stress
• Identify stressors– Awareness of stressor & how you deal with it, can
you change it?• Solve or eliminate the problem– Gather info, assess situation, identify problem, list
possible solutions, make a plan, act on solution, evaluate results, change solution if necessary
Stress-reducing techniques
• Live a healthy life – diet, exercise, rest• Take a break from stressors• Take a warm bath• Escape to quiet music or book• Relieve tension – slow deep breaths• Rely on others – talk to a friend• Meditate & use imagery• Enjoy yourself & Renew yourself• Think positively• Develop outside interests• Seek assistance & delegate, say NO
Stress
• Everyone experiences• Amount of stress depends on the individual
reaction to & perception of the situation– Example – blood test can be stressful for some,
but routine for another
After the stress is over
• Parasympathetic nervous system works– Opposite reactions cause fatigue or exhaustion while body
recovers– If body is subjected to constant stress, normal body
functions are disrupted– Can result in serious illness or disease– Migraine headaches, anxiety reactions, depression,
allergies, asthma, digestive disorders, hypertension, insomnia, heart disease
Remember
• Stress is a constant presence & cannot be avoided• Be aware of causes & learn how to respond when a
stress reaction occurs• Solve problems effectively• Practice techniques to reduce the effect of stress• Patients also can experience stress as they deal with
their illness