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Lesson 2.3

StressStressStressStress

By CaroneFitness

Stress

Stress

What is stress? How can

someone like Shawn, the

soccer player, like stress?

Stress is the physical and

mental response to a

perceived threat or challenge.

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Stress

Stress

As we’ll discuss in this lesson,

there are good stressors and

bad stressors. Although there

are some standard responses

to stress, everyone tends to

exhibit different signs and

symptoms.

Stress

Fight-or-Flight Response

A standard physical response to

stress is known as the fight-or-flight

response. The fight-or-flight

response is the activation of the

sympathetic nervous system that

prepares the body to challenge or

flee from a perceived threat.

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Stress

Fight-or-Flight Response

Effects of the Fight-or-Flight Response

include:

� Increased blood flow to the muscles

� Decreased blood flow to the digestive

system

� Increased heart rate

� Increased breathing

� Adrenalin released into the

bloodstream

Stress

Stress and the fight-or-flight

response can lead to various

physical, emotional, mental,

and behavioral symptoms.

Individuals differ as to which

signs they typically

experience during stress.

Fight-or-Flight Response

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Stress

Emotional signs of stress

include:

� Crying

� Frustration

� A short temper

� Nervousness

� Boredom

� Worrying

� Lessened confidence

Emotional Signs

Stress

Mental signs of stress include:

� Difficulty making a decision

� Trouble concentrating

� Forgetfulness

� Loss of one’s sense of humor

� Lack of creativity

Mental Stress

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Stress

Behavioral signs of stress

include:

� Not eating or overeating

� Substance abuse

� Tapping feet

� Hurrying

� Nervous ticks

� Changes in social

interaction

� Changes in activity level

Behavioral Signs

Stress

Knowing the possible signs of

stress can help you recognize

when you are stressed, so

that you can identify the

source, or stressor.

Stressor

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Stress

A stressor is any event that is

perceived by the individual to be

stressful. Stressors are subjective; this

means that they differ from person to

person. What one person thinks is

stressful may not be stressful to

another.

Stressor

Stress

There are five categories of stressors:

� Biological Stressors

� Environmental Stressors

� Cognitive (or Thinking) Stressors

� Personal Behavior Stressors

� Life Situations

Categories of Stressors

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Stress

Biological stressors are sources of

stress caused by problems originating

with the body.

Examples include:

� Chemical imbalances

� Mental disorders

� Physical illnesses

� Disabilities

� Injuries

Biological Stressors

Stress

Environmental stressors

are sources of stress

caused by the world in which

you live.

Examples include:

� Crowding

� Long lines

� Pollution

� Poverty

� Noise

� Natural disasters

� Weather

Environmental Stressors

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Stress

Cognitive (or thinking) stressors are

sources of stress caused by the way

you think.

Examples include:

� Your expectations of a given

situation

� Your outlook

� The inability to say “no”

� Feelings of guilt

� Negative self-talk

� Sensitivity to criticism

Cognitive Stressors

Stress

Personal behavior stressors are

sources of stress caused by actions you

take.

Examples include:

� Substance abuse

� Not exercising

� Starting a fight with a sibling

Personal Behavior Stressors

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Stress

Life situations are sources of stress

caused by changes in your life.

Examples include:

� The death of a pet

� Your parents getting a divorce

� Moving

� Problems with friends

Life Situations

Stress

Some of these stressors are

experienced daily and are minor

hassles, whereas other stressors are

the result of major changes.

Stress is a normal aspect of life; in fact,

not all stress has negative

consequences.

Stress

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Stress

Psychologists Yerkes and Dodson

studied the effects of stress on

performance.

The results are now known as the

Yerkes-Dodson Law.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Stress

The Yerkes-Dodson Law states that

stress increases performance up to a

certain point, but too much stress

decreases performance.

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Stress Level

Perf

orm

ance L

evel

Low High

Hig

h

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Stress

Stress that increases

performance is known as

eustress, or positive stress.

Eustress is why Shawn, the

soccer player, likes stress.

Eustress can help you

perform better on tests or

become physically stronger. It

occurs when there are

positive changes in your life,

such as getting married.

Eustress

Stress

Distress is negative stress.

Distress occurs when we have

more stress than we are able

to cope with.

Distress

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Stress

For Shawn’s teammates,

getting so stressed before a

game could be more than

they can handle. Therefore,

although it is eustress for

Shawn, it would be distress

for his teammates.

Distress

PresentedBy Carone Fitness