When placing myself on the Holmes and Rahe test scale, I was given a score of 248. According to Holmes, I have “a moderate to high chance of becoming ill in the near future” (Mind Tools). This result was very interesting and surprising to me. I haven’t felt overwhelmingly stressed in the past year, though all the events that have been happening in my life indicate that I should be stressed, according to the scale. In thinking about this observation, I conclude there must be reasons why I am ranked so high for stress but do not really feel it at the level I should. Although I endure many stressors, I employ many stress-management techniques that I believe help me to find balance in my life.
This year, immediately before I left my home to go
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It is concerning to me, because I have never really experienced a visible downturn in emotional health. Because many stressors are occurring at once, my reaction to them is exacerbated. For example, the combination of the news of the divorce and subsequently moving away from home created a greater impact than just one stressor could have. Another factor that may exacerbate my experience of these stressors is my decisions to share my issues with others. In researching the best ways to reduce stress, David Meyers suggests that “social support promotes both happiness and health… by calming limbic activity” (Myers Pg. 506). I find it very hard to go to others for help or consolation. I am generally in the mindset that to vent to others does not help anyone, and because of this, I have not shared my feelings with anyone except for family …show more content…
However, I believe it could be an excellent stress management technique to help me manage my stressors. According to Myers, “Brigham Young University researchers combined data from 148 studies… [confirming] a striking [benefit] of social support” (Myers Pg. 505). My own thinking that venting to others does not help anyone is incorrect, and I believe I can trust in those I am close to with my emotions. There are, however, barriers that prevent the effectiveness of this technique. The people I am closest to live two States away from me. I am not close enough with anyone in Utah to be comfortable and completely open with my emotions. I know that as time progresses, and I create more relationships, this barrier can change. Currently, I effectively use an emotions-focused strategy to help me deal with stressors: rock climbing. Myers provides studies that prove that consistent exercise “can reduce stress, depression, and anxiety” (Myers pg. 508). I believe that this is true. I make it an effort to participate in rock climbing whether at the climbing gym or at rock canyon 3-4 times a week. I have noticed considerably effects in fitness, both physically and mentally. I consistently feel happier, more mentally sharp, and less stressed when finished with a session. The one barrier to use of this management technique is money. The cost per month for a climbing gym membership is manageable, but not ideal. It is important for
The overall score for Scale 1: Stressed out? was fourteen (14). The average for someone in my age group, gender and marital status runs about 12.367. It is obviously a higher number than I would like it to be. Or is it? Although this may have startled me at first, it would be ridiculous for me to claim ignorance. I’ve been attempting for some time now, to work on the issues that increase my stress, and to modify the way I live in order to avoid stress and achieve a healthier way of life. I have a long way to go. A couple of year ago, I managed to bring my weight down from 285 lbs. to 201. I was working out and feeling good. However, the engrained patterns of my previous behavior, managed to slowly seduce me into the larger-portion, higher-calorie foods I have always adored. For someone my age, and at the level of stress I “unmanage” to work, could result fatal in ...
Everyday interactions with people, the environment, and even minor stressors all pile up, creating an overload of stress for the individual which slowly takes a toll on their overall health.
In the past thirty years there have been a significant number of studies done to establish a connection between psychological stress and the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD refers to the negative change towards the normal process of the heart and blood vessel system (What Is Cardiovascular Disease (Heart Disease)?, online). Psychological stress is defined, but not limited to being a demanding condition in which the normal behavioral conditions are exceeded thus overwhelming the behavioral resources of the organism (Kamarck, 2012). In the world today it has been shown that the impacts of psychological, social, and environmental stressors from daily lives are increasing the physical well being of individuals. Two different types of stressors can attain cardiovascular responses: "acute major life stressors and chronic exposure to continuing stressors" (Dimsdale, 2008). A stressor is any condition which causes stress on an individual. One may be exposed to acute stressors during periods of intense stress that are not regular to one’s lifestyle. Those who are exposed to constant chronic stressors are at an increased risk for hypertension, atherosclerosis, and stroke (Hojt, online). The increased levels of psychological stress present in individuals lives is providing for alarm due to the direct correlation it has with risk for cardiovascular disease.
A person’s social and emotional well-being has a profound effect on their mental health. Social well-being includes the relations that you have with others, both in wider social groups, one-to-one and family level. Strong and supportive relationships with those close to you can provide you with trust and a sense of belonging. This goes hand-in-hand with emotional well-being which sets the capacity to be able to cope with the ups and downs of life and level of resilience to deal with difficulties and tackle day to day routines (Health, 2010).
Stress comes from many areas of life especially as an adult student incorporating school at a time in life when family and work are paramount. “Adults just returning to school have substantially higher anxiety about school in general and writing in particular than younger students.”3 Stress, best described by its "synonyms: strain, pressure, (nervous) tension, worry, anxiety, trouble, difficultly"1 has a medical history "According to the American Psychological Association, the majority of office visits to the doctor involve stress-related complaints, and stress is linked to the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide."2 If managed, stress can be a way to inform me; learning how to recognize my level of stress capacity is important. The Holmes-Rahe Life Stress Inventory 5 http://www.stress.org/holmes-rahe-stress-inventory/ is a list of stressful events that contribute to illness. My personal score on this life stress inventory is 236; I fall in the category of about a fifty percent chance of a major health breakdown in the next...
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE Each bodily physiological system has an individual established set point, or level of balance; however, some fluctuations in these levels are tolerated. The balance of any system can be, and regularly is, disturbed by internal and/or external events of the mechanical, physical, chemical, biological, and/or social types. When this balance is disrupted, and involuntary mobilizations of biological processes are not able to re-establish it, an alarm reaction is activated (Schedlowski and Tewes, 1999). This reaction is referred to as a stress response, and the activating agent is the stressor (Selye, 1936). Recently, studies of stress have shifted from demonstrating relationships between psychological factors and somatic outcomes, to investigations of the mediational pathways involved in these associations. For example, (Cohen and Williamson, 1991) have built on the work of Lazarus’ model by suggesting that once an environmental event is encountered, it is appraised, and an affective response is made.
Being isolated from other can also cause psychological decline in people who are otherwise mentally fit. Many social relationships are also a focal source of emotional support for many individuals. It seems highly important that many of our health in many ways strongly reliant on other people. Social support and social interaction have a positive effect on people physical and mental health. Have others and being social decrease amount of stress, depression, and anxiety. We are social beings who need one another to survive and lead normal
The term ‘stress’ was generally thought to have been a concept created by Robert Hooke in the 17th century. He worked on the design of physical structures, such as bridges; his concept of stress came from how much pressure a structure could withstand. However, Lazarus (1993) pointed out that the term ‘stress’ has been used as far back as the 14th century, when it meant hardship or adversity. Back then it referred to the external stressor, such as the death of a spouse or financial worry; in the 20th century, there are many different schools of thought on this area. Hans Selye (1956), brought together the work of Cannon and Bernard and devised a comprehensive system of physiological stress; which he termed the ‘General Adaptation Syndrome’, and is a 3-stage process. He theorised that a certain level of stress called ‘eustress’ (Cox, 1978) could actually be beneficial to our overall performance. Later In 1976, Cox & Mackay devised another model called the ‘Transactional model’. This model takes into account the individual differences in the perception of the amount of stress experienced by the person. The main difference between these two models is that Selye’s model only accounts for the physiological side of stress, whereas Cox’s model takes into account both the physiological and psychological aspects of stress. Therefore, both models will have slight similarities and differences in their explanation for how stress occurs in individuals, which is the main focus of this essay.
(AC 1) Stress is defined as the state when people are experiencing difficulties in coping with the situations they are in due to the lacking of abilities or knowledge to handle them (Anxiety UK, ND). These situations are often referred as stressors. The way how individuals are reacting to these stressors is referred as stress response.
...e the mental stress is always present then it spills over into your personal life. This type of stress can ruin marriages as well as destroy relationships with your kids if you allow it to consume your life. If there is not a balance and your quality of life suffers everything will fall around you including your performance at work.
The pros of exercise can maintain the levels of stress and anxiety in a variety of ways. Simple exercises like walking around your neighborhood or on a treadmill can ease the amount of stress in your life. Scientists say that a 10-minute walk temporary reduces anxiety and depression levels by 25% over the next 5 years of your life (Exercise for Stress and Anxiety). This study shows how simple,...
"Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress; 75 to 90 percent of all physician office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints; stress is linked to the six leading causes of death--heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide." (Miller, 1993, p.12) " Stress plays havoc with our health, our productivity, our pocketbooks, and our lives, but it is necessary, even desirable." (Oxford, 1998, p.29)
Stress affects my health I normally have minor headaches throughout my day, I tend to sleep a lot, during the cold season I get sick easily. My eating habits are irregular, anxiety levels are through the roof.
Knowing how to handle stress by using some strategies like deep breathing, yoga and meditation will help us bring back our mind and body in a state of balance since they are considered as effective techniques for stress management. Also, connecting face-to-face with other people, accepting one’s strengths and weaknesses, seeking help from others and having strong communication with our family and friends are just some ways to have a good emotional health. Furthermore, if you’re having a serious problem regarding your emotional health, you can seek a health professional for help and guidance.
Stress is something that everyone has to deal with in life, whether it is good or bad stress. Stress management techniques are a great way to deal with stress. Some of the stress management techniques that I learned from this course are prioritization, scheduling, and execution. Using these techniques has effectively helped me deal with my own stress. When it comes to dealing with stress I still have many strengths and weaknesses that I will explain. Some stressors I have in my life that I will discuss are psychointrapersonal, social, life events, and daily hassles. Next, I will give my opinion on my post-course survey, and compare and contrast it to my pre-course survey scores. Finally, I will explain my last goals for this stress management course.