1. Chronic Stress: Long-term stress that persists over time. It can be caused by work pressure, financial problems, or relationship issues. Chronic stress can lead to health problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, and depression.

  2. Eustress: Positive or beneficial stress that motivates and energizes us. It can come from challenges that make us feel engaged and stimulated.

Holistic Health and Its Dimensions:

Holistic Health: This approach considers all aspects of well-being: physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental. It emphasizes a balanced and interconnected approach to health.

Dimensions of Health:

  • Physical Health: Body's functioning and ability to perform daily activities.
  • Mental Health: Emotional, psychological, and social well-being.
  • Emotional Health: Ability to understand, express, and manage emotions.
  • Social Health: Quality of our relationships and connections with others.
  • Spiritual Health: Sense of purpose, meaning, and values in life.
  • Environmental Health: Our surroundings and their impact on our health.

Sources of Stress:

Stress can come from various sources, including:

  • Work: Deadlines, workload, job insecurity, etc.
  • Relationships: Conflict, communication problems, lack of support, etc.
  • Finances: Debt, job loss, unexpected expenses, etc.
  • Health: Illness, injury, chronic conditions, etc.
  • Life Events: Major changes like moving, marriage, divorce, etc.
  • Environmental Factors: Noise pollution, traffic congestion, etc.

Basic Approaches to Stress Management:

This course will explore three fundamental approaches to managing stress:

  1. Cognitive Restructuring: Identifying and changing negative thought patterns that contribute to stress.
  2. Relaxation Techniques: Activities like deep breathing, meditation, yoga, etc. to promote relaxation and reduce stress response.
  3. Time Management: Developing skills to prioritize tasks, manage schedules, and improve efficiency to reduce stress caused by feeling overwhelmed.

Stress Vulnerability Factors and The Tombstone Test:

Stress Vulnerability Factors:

These are individual differences that influence how susceptible someone is to stress. Examples include:

  • Personality traits (e.g., Type A personality)
  • Life experiences (e.g., childhood trauma)
  • Social support networks
  • Physical health status

The Tombstone Test: (This is likely a metaphor or exercise, not a literal test). Imagine writing your own tombstone inscription. What would you want it to say about the way you lived your life? Reflecting on these values can help identify areas of stress that might be hindering you from living a fulfilling life.

Homeostasis, Physiological Responses, and General Adaptation Syndrome:

Homeostasis: The body's natural tendency to maintain a stable internal environment (e.g., blood pressure, body temperature) in response to external changes. Stress disrupts homeostasis, and the body attempts to restore it.

Physiological Responses to Stress:

When we experience stress, our body releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These cause physical changes like increased heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS):

This model describes the three stages of the body's response to stress:

  1. Alarm Stage: Fight-or-flight response. Body releases hormones to prepare for immediate action.
  2. Resistance Stage: Body attempts to adapt to the stressor and restore homeostasis.
  3. Exhaustion Stage: If stress persists, prolonged activation of stress response leads to depletion of resources and potential health problems.

Example of GAS: A student facing an exam deadline (stressor) might experience increased heart rate and sweating (alarm stage). If they develop good study habits and prepare effectively (resistance stage), their stress response might subside. However, chronic exam stress without coping mechanisms could lead to exhaustion and decreased immune function (exhaustion stage