What is stress?

What is stress? - unique to individual, body's physiological reaction to any stimulus that evokes change

1. Stress – any disturbance in person's normal balanced state (disturbs equilibrium)

2. Stressor – any situation, event, or agent that threatens a person's security

3. physical / emotional response to stress

4. adaptation – major components of health / illness – changes that take place as a result of

   stress / coping. Coping responses – when stress occurs, coping response is voluntary or involutary to restore equilibrium

Physiologic Homeostasis

1. Local Adaptation Syndrome (LAS) involves only one specific body part

   A. reflex pain response – response of CNS (central nervous system) to pain. It is rapid,

   automatic, serves as a protective mechanism to prevent injury. (ie. person steps on a nail,

   pulls foot back).

   B. inflammatory response – local response to injury – pain, swelling, heat, & redness

2. Generalized Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) pg 959– biochemical model of stress (Hans Selye) entire body affected. physiological response to stress. whether actual or imagined, present or potential.

   A. alarm reaction

   B. resistance

   C. exhaustion

A balance is achieved (homeostasis)

An imbalance occurs during a stressful event – not enough coping or support

Alarm reaction

1. person perceives stressor, defense mechanisms activated

2. fight / flight reaction (physiologic)

3. hormone levels rise, autonomic nervous system : body prepares to react, adrenalin & norepinephrine released, (involved in maintain homeostasis)

4. shock and counter shock phases

Resistance

1. body attempts to adapt to stressor

2. vital signs, hormone levels, and energy production return to normal

3. body regains homeostasis or adaptive mechanisms fail

Exhaustion

1. results when adaptive mechanisms are exhausted

2. body either rests and mobilizes its defenses to return to normal or dies