The General Adaptation Syndrome

Homeostatic Regulators of the Body

1. Autonomic nervous system

   A. parasympathetic – normal conditions & at rest. ie. cranial, sacral nerves, heart rate slow

   steady, stimulate insulin secretion, stimulate digestive secretions, increase peristalsis,

   increase in glucose uptake by cells

B. Sympathetic – stress, fight or flight response, stimulate heart rate and force, dilate skeletal

blood vessels, dilate blood vessels to brain, stimulate glycogen breakdown pupils dilate,

peripheral circulation decrease, metabolism increase, bronchi dilate, alert,

1. Endocrine

   A. Pituitary – ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) & TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)

   B. Adrenals – effect is prepare for emergency, work with sympathetic nervous system

   a. medulla produces: norepinephrine & epinephrine

   b. cortex produces: mineral corticoids, glucocorticoids, androgens

   C. Thyroid – secretes thyroxin & calcitonin for regulating metabolic rate & growth

Homeostatic Regulators – other

1. cardiovascular – pumps blood, transport system, O₂ to cells, nutrients to cells, CO₂ out

2. renal – filters, excretes, reabsorbs metabolic products & H₂O

3. respiratory – intake of O₂ & output of CO₂ , metabolism, maintain acid-base balance

4. gastrointestinal – fluids, food intake, eliminate waste products, energy source, maintain fluid & electrolytes

Psychological Homeostasis - Maslow

1. love and belonging needs

2. safety and security needs

3. self-esteem

   defense mechanisms kick in when these are lacking

Emotional Responses to Stress

1. depression

2. anger

3. anxiety (most common) this is a emotional response to threat, whereas fear is a cognitive response to threat

   A. mild anxiety - ↑degree alertness, ↑vigilence. (good for test day, good for pt teaching)

   B. moderate anxiety – pt feeling subjective distress, ↓perception, ↓attention, less learning

   capable, help pt to determine cause & effect relationship between stressor & anxiety

   C. severe anxiety - ↑subjective distress, selective attention, distorted perception, encourage pt

   to talk, give specific motor activity, give specific directions

   D. panic – major perceptual distortion, immobilization, inability to function, impaired

   communication. provide limits & structure, maintain pt safety (physical & psychological)

Stress

1. Hormones of stress: ↑systemic fatigue & impaired immunologic surveilance, body tire & get ill

   A. epinephrine

   B. cortisol

2. Mind-body interaction

   psychosomatic disorder: diarrhea, headache, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome)

Coping Mechanisms

1. crying, laughing, sleeping, cursin

2. physical activity, exercise

3. eat, smoke, drinking

4. lack of eye contact, withdrawal

5. limiting relationships to those with similar values & interests

*adaptive coping ↓stress ie. exercise. maladaptive coping not promote adaptation- overeating, overwork, substance abuse*