Unit 13 Stress and Therapy

Class Presentations

Stress

Definition- A person’s reaction to his or her inability to cope with a certain tense event or situation.

Example- If you have a lot of homework or projects and feel overwhelmed you are feeling stress.

Distress

Definition- Stress that stems from acute anxiety or pressure.

Example- If a person is driving slow in front of you and you’re in a hurry to get somewhere that would be distress.

Eustress

Definition- Positive stress, which results from motivating strivings and challenges.

Example- knowing you have a project due and being stressed that you haven't done it and then that stress motivates you to get it done.

Unit 13 Stress and Therapy

Conflicting situationsBy: Madison Edwards and

Ariana Watkins

Approach-Approach• Approach-Approach conflict

is when an individual must choose between two attractive alternatives.

• Approach-Approach Conflict is a psychological conflict that results when a choice must be made between two desirable alternatives.

Merriam Webster

• Example: Do I want to try-out for basketball or history academic team.

Avoidance-Avoidance• Avoidance-Avoidance

conflict occurs when an individual confronts two unattractive alternatives.

• Avoidance-Avoidance conflict is a psychological conflict that results when a choice must be made between two undesirable alternatives Medline Plus

• Example: Should I get a job at McDonalds or Burger King.

Approach-Avoidance

Definition: A type of conflict situation in which the individual wants to do

something but fears or dislikes it at the same time. (P.415)

Examples: You are invited to a party but your stomach is pain. You really like parties but you are afraid your pain my get worse

later on that night.

Double Approach-Avoidance• Definition: Choose between two or

more alternatives, each of which has attractive and unattractive aspects. (P.415)

• Examples: If a woman wants to work late but also wants to meet her friend for dinner. If she works late she will finish her project but might have to walk home late in the night. Same as the other way around.

Primary AppraisalPrimary Appraisal Refers to our immediate evaluation of a Refers to our immediate evaluation of a

situation.situation. Can we meet the expectations of this situation? Can we meet the expectations of this situation?

Can we handle the challenges of this situation?Can we handle the challenges of this situation? 3 ways to appraise a situation- irrelevant, 3 ways to appraise a situation- irrelevant,

positive, and negative.positive, and negative.• Ex: Teacher gives a pop quiz, you can evaluate Ex: Teacher gives a pop quiz, you can evaluate

it as good and think you can pass, but you can it as good and think you can pass, but you can also evaluate it as negative because you also evaluate it as negative because you haven’t looked at your notes. haven’t looked at your notes.

Bethany Cole

Grayson Harper

Secondary AppraisalSecondary Appraisal

Deciding how to deal with a stressful Deciding how to deal with a stressful situation.situation. An individual evaluates the situation and An individual evaluates the situation and

decides on a way to cope.decides on a way to cope.• Ex: You evaluate the situation as positive Ex: You evaluate the situation as positive

because you have looked at your notes, so now because you have looked at your notes, so now you decide to just try your best on the quiz.you decide to just try your best on the quiz.

HasslesHassles

Common stressors Common stressors that are relatively that are relatively minor and occur on a minor and occur on a daily basis.daily basis.• Ex: Being late for class Ex: Being late for class

because people were because people were standing around in the standing around in the hallway so you hallway so you couldn’t get past.couldn’t get past.

UpliftsUplifts

Small positive event that can protect Small positive event that can protect against stress.against stress. Psychologist claim that uplifts have the Psychologist claim that uplifts have the

opposite effect of hassles. They reduce stress opposite effect of hassles. They reduce stress and protect a person’s health.and protect a person’s health.

General Adaptation Syndrome

Rachel Yarbrough and Victoria Lartey

What is General Adaptation Syndrome?

General adaptation syndrome is a term used to describe the body's short-term and long-term reactions to stress.

Three stages of stress:

AlarmResistanceExhaustion

Alarm:

The alarm stage of general adaptation syndrome prepares the for fight or flight. This causes increase in:

heart rate breathing quickly muscle tension pupil dilation Person becomes very alert and sensitive to

stimuli.

Example of Alarm:

A hiker who confronts a rattlesnake on a mountain trail freezes in his tracks, is suddenly aware of every sound around him, and tries not to panic.

Resistance:

In the resistance stage of general adaption syndrome a person finds means to cope with the stressor.

Example of Resistance:

The mountain hiker caught in a bad storm can use his knowledge of the mountains to shelter himself from the storm to keep himself safe.

Exhaustion:

If exposure to the stressor continues the individual reaches the stage of exhaustion. The adrenalin of the fight or flight instinct have reached their limit and can no longer function.

Example of Exhaustion:

Man does hard labor all day in the factory where he works. He gets over heated and becomes delusional.

Psychologyphysical reactions to stress

By: Caroline Clark and Hannah Hopper

Physical Reactions to Stress

• The body is able to make many different physical reactions to stress. These happen because many times the immune system is weakened and makes it easier for the spread of infection or disease.

• Example: If it is almost exam week and a person develops a cold, that cold can be attributed to all the stress of preparing for the exams. Their body is most likely struggling to keep up their immune system.

What can cause physical reactions to stress?

• Feelings and emotions are two of the main things that contribute to changes in your physiological body.

• Psychosomatic symptoms are very commonly seen and occur because of stress.

• Several psychosomatic symptoms may include: headaches, stomachaches, muscle pains, or rapid heart beat

Symptoms of Emotional Stress

• Difficulty breathing• Insomnia• Sweating• Dryness of mouth• Migraines• Arthritis• Asthma • Heart disease• Stressful situations have the ability to lower a persons

immune system, making them prone to sickness• Immune system: the bodies natural defense against

infection

The Immune System

Pathogens attack the body’s cells. The pathogens begin to grow and multiply causing a weaker immune system >>

How to Handle Stress:• Avoid caffeine• Practice deep breathing• Exercise • Eat healthy foods• Don’t panic about your loss of sleep (it will only make it

worse)

Sources

http://www.uhs.berkeley.edu/facstaff/pdf/care/Managing%20Physical%20Reactions%20of%20Stress.pdf

• Understanding Psychology text book

Emotional Reactions:Emotional Reactions:

A child participating in a talent show may be anxious when A child participating in a talent show may be anxious when they are called to the stage to perform.they are called to the stage to perform.

Is the most common physical reaction to a Is the most common physical reaction to a sudden stressor.sudden stressor.

An adult running late An adult running late for work may for work may

become angry when become angry when the driver in front of the driver in front of them is going 5 mph them is going 5 mph

below the speed below the speed limit.limit.

Anger occurs often Anger occurs often due to repeated due to repeated frustration.frustration.

A women who is A women who is home alone may home alone may be frightened to be frightened to hear noise from hear noise from her bathroom.her bathroom.

Fear is usually the Fear is usually the result of a stimulus result of a stimulus presenting real or presenting real or imagined danger.imagined danger.

Cognitive Reactions To Stress:Cognitive Reactions To Stress:

Usually difficulty Usually difficulty concentrating, thinking concentrating, thinking clearly, and poor clearly, and poor decision making. decision making.

Ex. Being so nervous Ex. Being so nervous and stressed about a and stressed about a test that you cant even test that you cant even settle down and study settle down and study for it.for it.

Or being so excited to Or being so excited to tell someone tell someone something that you something that you cant find your phone, cant find your phone, or think of their or think of their number.number.

So…So…

Emotional reactions to stress is how you feel Emotional reactions to stress is how you feel when stressed and how your emotions when stressed and how your emotions react.react.

Cognitive reactions to stress is how your Cognitive reactions to stress is how your brain or you thinking react to good or bad brain or you thinking react to good or bad stress.stress.

• Many short-term behavioral changes that results from stress

• Develop nervous habits such as trembling, pacing, or smoking

• Shaky voice, tremors, strained expressions, or changing in posture

• May loose interest in eating, grooming, or bathing

• Some might tend to over eat

• Some people show aggressions by beating on family members

• In dangerous situations people will risk their own life for others

• Attitudes of cooperation that override individual differences and disagreements

• Best way to deal with frustration

• If a woman is on a bus that is stuck in traffic she might get off and walk to her destination

• Listen to music

• Do your favorite activity

• Can lead too…

• Alcoholism

• Drug Addiction

• Chronic unemployment

• Attempted suicide

• You appraise situation as physically threatening

• Your thoughts activate the hypothalamus

• The sympathetic nervous system stimulates a variety of physical responses to prepare the body for the stressful situation

• Heart rate increases

• Blood pressure increases

• Digestive system shuts down

• Pupils dilate

• Hair stands up on end

• Muscles tense

By: DeVonda HolmesDecember 5, 2012

Mrs. Dorman 2nd period

Very likely to have coronary artery disease, often followed by heart attacks.

Often affects people in their 30s or 40s.

Always prepared for fight or flight

Free-floating hostility

Extremely irritable

Impatient

Extremely competitive

Self-critical

Usually strive towards goals without feeling or sense of pride.

Overreact everything.

Tend to have high blood pressure

Constant sense of urgency

multi-task

Hard workers

Psychologists disagree about the definition of Type A personality and its relation to

heart disease.

NOTE:

People who do not have Type A pattern

Almost never have heart attacks before the age of 70.

Relaxed

Patient

Do not easily become angry

Creative

Imaginative

Philosophical

Cited Sources• http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YGm0POOKmgM/TRCAI1g1XeI/AAAAAAAAATg/cRzkP5npMZU/s1600/T2.gif• http://www.simplypsychology.org/personality-a.html• http://www.buzzle.com/articles/type-a-personality-description.html • http://www.psych.uncc.edu/pagoolka/typea-b-intro.html

Psychological coping Psychological coping strategiesstrategies

Dakwan HughesDakwan Hughes

DefinitionDefinitionThe behavioral and cognitive efforts made The behavioral and cognitive efforts made be individuals in attempting to deal with be individuals in attempting to deal with stressful situations.stressful situations.

Summary:Summary:

Life is stress; stress Life is stress; stress is is life.life. People respond to stress in different ways. Know People respond to stress in different ways. Know

yourself and your signs of over-stress.yourself and your signs of over-stress. Learning and practicing healthy coping skills will Learning and practicing healthy coping skills will

help avoid/manage “stress emergencies”.help avoid/manage “stress emergencies”.

Types of copingTypes of coping Positive appraisal: Positive appraisal: reframing a situation to see reframing a situation to see

it in a positive lightit in a positive light Problem-focused or approach coping: Problem-focused or approach coping: when when

efforts are directed at solving or managingefforts are directed at solving or managing the problem that is causing distress.the problem that is causing distress. Emotion-focused or avoidant coping: Emotion-focused or avoidant coping: coping coping

that is directed at managing or reducing that is directed at managing or reducing emotional distress.emotional distress.

Meaning-focused coping: Meaning-focused coping: involves searching involves searching for meaning in adversity and drawing on values, for meaning in adversity and drawing on values, beliefs, and goals to modify the meaning given to beliefs, and goals to modify the meaning given to and personal response to a stressful situationand personal response to a stressful situation

Active coping strategies

Anthony Jessen & Brandis Price

Hardiness

Def: the personality traits of control, commitment, and challenge that help us reduce the stress we feel.

Control: feeling that we have the ability to affect the outcome of the situation.

Commitment: establishing and pursuing our goals Challenge: we actively confront and solve problems instead of

feeling threatened and powerless because of them

Ex: W61hen confronted with the assignment of giving a speech in public, you approach the assignment as a positive experience (challenge), believe that you can prepare and give a good speech (control), and prepare for and practice your speech (commitment).

Controlling Stressful Situations

Escape or withdrawal, when possible , can be an effective coping strategy. When avoiding an event is not practical, control its timing

Having a study schedule to prepare for exams Exiting an uncomfortable event Hanging out with people who have the same interests as you

instead of trying to “fit-in”

There are several ways which we can control exposure to stressful events and reduce stress levels.

Problem Solving

Sometimes neither avoiding or spacing events is possible.

Problem solving involves a rational analysis of the situation that will lead to an appropriate decision (negative setback into positive challenge)

A senior has an exam on the same day as his college application is due, the student may plan out the remaining days and complete the application while studying for his exam.

When you have a family issue, instead of ignoring it you may go step-by-step to solve it so both of you are happy.

Explanatory Style

Martin Seligman (1991) describes two different styles of thinking.

Optimist sees the positive side of things. Pessimist always sees the negative side. Studies have shown that pessimists usually die younger than

optimists After a hard loss, the optimist will say, “what happened, happened”

and look forward to the next week. The pessimist will keep dwelling on the loss.

Relaxation

Many techniques of relaxation have been developed especially to cope with stress.

Progressive relaxation: lying down comfortably and tensing then releasing the tension in each major muscle group in turn

Meditation: a focusing of attention with the goal of clearing one’s mind and producing an “inner peace”.

Both were developed by Dr. Edmond Jacobson.

Many techniques of relaxation have been developed especially to cope with stress.

Progressive relaxation: lying down comfortably and tensing then releasing the tension in each major muscle group in turn

Meditation: a focusing of attention with the goal of clearing one’s mind and producing an “inner peace”.

Both were developed by Dr. Edmond Jacobson.

Biofeedback

Biofeedback: a technique for bringing specific body processes, such as blood pressure and muscle tension, under a person’s conscious control.

While hooked up to an electronic device measurements are taken of specific processes he or she wants to regulate which are then played back in the form of sound or visual patterns.

If you want to regulate your blood pressure you would need to concentrate on what relaxes your body and lowers blood pressure. The visual patterns are what allow you to know that its working.

Humor

Laughing actually releases the tension of pent-up feeling and can help you keep a proper perspective of the situation.

It is common for people to result to laughing in very stressful situations.

A person may break out in hysterical laughter during the trying times following the death of a loved one. This laughter help to deal with the intense emotional pain of a loss.

Exercise

Physical exercise is another constructive way to reduce stress.

Exercise provides an outlet for physical arousal, and it may burn off stress hormones.

Running and swimming are the best ways to both lower stress levels and improve cardiovascular and respiratory fitness.

Support groups and professional help

Groups that operate beyond ordinary personal networks can help people with specific stress-related problems.

Examples: Alcoholics Anonymous Weight Watchers Crisis prevention centers

Training

New, unfamiliar, or dangerous situations can be stressful because we are unsure we can deal with it.

Training to prepare for such a situation can ease the stress.

Exposure to moderate stressors in a relatively safe but challenging environment allows a person to gain experience and confidence in coping.

Example: A person who I nervous about going to a friend’s country club

because she does not want to play tennis might take a few tennis lessons.

Improving Interpersonal Skills

Developing skills in dealing with others is one of the best ways to manage stress.

Advantages: Increased self-confidence and self-esteem Less chance of loneliness or interpersonal conflict Development of social support system

Who Are Therapists?

Diorah Raimundi2nd Period

Kinds of Therapists

• Therapist: A person trained in methods of treatment (bodily, mental, behavioral)

• Psychologists: Treatment of psychological disorders in hospitals

• Psychiatrists: treatment of abnormal behavior, prescribes medicine

• Counselors: Gives advice

What Makes A Good Therapist?

• One that’s psychologically healthy– One that’s anxious, defensive or withdrawn

wont see the patients problems clearly

• One that shows empathy– Needs to be able to give the patient confidence

that he’s caring and understanding– Empathy: capacity for warmth and

understanding

• One that’s experienced in dealing with people and their complexities

Group Therapies• Group Therapy: patients work together

with the aid of a leader to resolve interpersonal problems

• Gives patients a chance to see how others are also struggling with similar problems

• Helps a large number of people at a low cost

• Therapist makes suggestions, clarifies points and keeps activities under control

Family Therapy

• Family Therapy: focuses on interactions between family members– Untangles a twisted web of relationships that

led to emotional suffering

• Therapist points out what’s happening from an objective viewpoint and suggests ways of improving communication and fairness

Self-Help groups

• Self-Help Groups: voluntary groups of people who share a problem and are often without the involvement of a professional

• Come together to discuss difficulties and provides each other with support and possible solutions

• Alcoholism, overeating, drug addiction, child abuse, ect.

• AA

Psychoanalysis

By Victoria Lartey and Rachel Yarbrough

What is it?

Psychoanalysis is therapy aimed at making patients aware of their unconscious motives so that they can gain control of their behavior.

It is based on the observations that individuals are most likely unaware of that influence their emotions, relationships and behavior.

Example: Amy’s father left she and her mother soon after she was born. Through the years she developed major trust issues towards the opposite sex, so much so that every time she was about to get married, she would leave the man at the altar but couldn’t come to terms as to why. The therapist would then

help her realize that she is this way due to what her father did.

Where did it come from?

Based on the theories of Sigmund Freud. According to him, psychological disturbances are due to anxiety caused by hidden conflicts among the unconscious components of one’s personality.

Example: Freud’s theory of

personality (previously learned)

The Purpose of this Therapy

To help patients aware of the unconscious impulses, desires, and fears that are causing the anxiety.

If the patients can understand their unconscious motives, they have taken the first step towards gaining control and freeing themselves of their problems (insight).

Example: Going to a Psychoanalyst

to know the reason behind your severe

panic attacks

Humanistic TherapyHumanistic Therapy

By: Caroline Clark and Hannah HopperBy: Caroline Clark and Hannah Hopper

What is Humanistic What is Humanistic Therapy?Therapy?

Humanistic Therapy focuses on the value, dignity, and worth of Humanistic Therapy focuses on the value, dignity, and worth of each person; healthy living is the result of realizing one’s full each person; healthy living is the result of realizing one’s full potential. potential.

This method of therapy works with present (rather than past) This method of therapy works with present (rather than past) occurrences and attitudes with a goal of client growth and occurrences and attitudes with a goal of client growth and

fulfillment.fulfillment.

Client-Centered TherapyClient-Centered Therapy

Client-Centered Therapy is a type of Client-Centered Therapy is a type of Humanistic Therapy. Humanistic Therapy.

Client-Centered therapists assume that Client-Centered therapists assume that their clients are basically good and that their clients are basically good and that they are capable of handling their own they are capable of handling their own lives. lives.

One of the goals in this type of therapy is One of the goals in this type of therapy is to help the person recognize their own to help the person recognize their own strengths and confidence.strengths and confidence.

Techniques of Client-Centered Techniques of Client-Centered Therapy include:Therapy include:

Nondirective Therapy-Nondirective Therapy-– The free flow of images and ideas, with no The free flow of images and ideas, with no

particular directionparticular direction Therapist does not direct the sessionTherapist does not direct the session The topic they discuss is entirely up to the clientThe topic they discuss is entirely up to the client

Cont..Cont.. Active ListeningActive Listening

– Empathetic listening; a listener acknowledges, Empathetic listening; a listener acknowledges, restates, and clarifies the speaker’s thoughtsrestates, and clarifies the speaker’s thoughts Therapist picks out main points in the clients rambling Therapist picks out main points in the clients rambling

explanationsexplanations

Unconditional Positive RegardUnconditional Positive Regard– A therapist's consistent expression of A therapist's consistent expression of

acceptance of the patient, no matter what the acceptance of the patient, no matter what the patient says or does.patient says or does. No embarrassment, reservation, or angerNo embarrassment, reservation, or anger

– Example: A patient is embarrassed about their issue with Example: A patient is embarrassed about their issue with drug abuse and not being able to maintain a job but the drug abuse and not being able to maintain a job but the therapist accepts them and give them only positive therapist accepts them and give them only positive feedback. feedback.

Final thoughtsFinal thoughts

Client-Centered Therapy has helped make Client-Centered Therapy has helped make therapists aware of the importance of therapists aware of the importance of developing supportive relationships with developing supportive relationships with their clients. their clients.

Cognitive Therapy

Lucas Wilson

&

Jaraun Brooks

What is Cognitive Therapy?

• Cognitive Therapy is using thoughts to control emotions and behaviors.

• It focuses on changing the way people think.

Why Use Cognitive Therapy?

• Irrational or uninformed beliefs, expectations, ways of thinking can distort our behaviors, attitudes, and emotions.

• By changing these patterns of thinking, a person can improve their way of life.

Different Types of Cognitive Therapy

• Rational-Emotive Therapy ( RET)

Albert Ellis (1973)

• Beck’s Cognitive Therapy

Rational-Emotive Therapy• Helps to change unrealistic

assumptions about oneself and other people

• For emotional problems involving an individual’s assumptions being unrealistic

• Goal is to correct these false and self-defeating beliefs

• Example: A man seeks therapy after a woman leaves him because he can’t stand the fact that he’s been rejected. He feels that his life is miserable and empty without her. He is demanding that the woman must love him and insists that things must go his way. In the therapist’s view, the man is causing himself depression by defining his feelings as need rather than desire. His faulty thinking is based on unreasonable attitudes, false premises, and rigid roles for behaviors.

Ellis liked to teach that behaviors are the result of the ABCs. He claimed that it was not the event that caused trouble, but the way the person thinks about the event (beliefs).

RET Continued

Rejection is unpleasant but not unbearable. Since the goal is to correct these false and self-defeating beliefs, the therapist will use techniques to teach the man to think in realistic terms.

Techniques• Role Playing – allows

him to see how his beliefs affect his relationships

• Modeling – demonstrates other ways of thinking and acting

• Humor – underlines absurdity of his beliefs

• Homework – the man would need to ask woman out who are likely to reject him, so that he can cope with things not going his way

Beck’s Cognitive Therapy

• Aaron T. Beck introduced this form of therapy. It is similar to the Rational-Emotive Therapy but the main difference is the focus on illogical thought processes. Beck has therapists encourage clients to engage in test of their own beliefs, by using persuasion and logic to change negative thinking patterns.

Beck’s Cognitive Therapy Continued

• An example is, if a client believes that “I never have a good time,” the therapist might point out that this is a hypothesis, not a fact. Then the therapist might ask the client to test the hypothesis by looking at the evidence differently and the times in her life when she actually had a good time. The therapist goal is to demonstrate that her automatic thinking may be incorrect and that things are not as bad as they seem

Behavioral TherapyBehavioral Therapy

Changing undesirable behavior through Changing undesirable behavior through conditioning techniques. conditioning techniques. Goal of the therapy is to change a behavior, Goal of the therapy is to change a behavior,

not where the behavior came from.not where the behavior came from. There are different ways of behavioral therapy There are different ways of behavioral therapy

such as…such as… Counterconditioning- pairs stimulus with a new Counterconditioning- pairs stimulus with a new

desirable behavior. For example, snakes trigger desirable behavior. For example, snakes trigger the fear of snakes, so the therapists will pair a the fear of snakes, so the therapists will pair a snake with something good to get a better snake with something good to get a better behavior.behavior.

Behavioral TherapyBehavioral Therapy Modeling- the patient learns by Modeling- the patient learns by

watching another.watching another. Aversive conditioning- make Aversive conditioning- make

certain acts unpleasant so they certain acts unpleasant so they will not be repeated.will not be repeated.

Operant conditioning- behavior Operant conditioning- behavior is either rewarded or punished, is either rewarded or punished, by adding rewards or taking by adding rewards or taking them away, and adding them away, and adding punishment or taking away punishment or taking away punishment.punishment.

Flooding- therapist exposes the Flooding- therapist exposes the client to feared object to the client to feared object to the patient.patient.

Biological Therapy

Grant Edwards

Psychology

Second Period

Biological Therapy

Definition: uses methods such as medication, electric shock, and surgery to help people with psychological disorders.

Drug Therapy (which is the most widely used method) - There are four kinds of drugs that can be used:1.Antipsychotic drugs (reduces agitation, delusions and hallucinations);2.Anti-depressant drugs (relieves depression);3.Lithium (counteracts bipolar disorder); and4.Anti-anxiety drugs (sedatives or mild tranquilizers).Drugs only treat the symptoms; however, they do not cure the disorder.

Doctors can decide which treatment is appropriate for each patient, such as:

•Drug Therapy

•Electroconvulsive Therapy

•Psychosurgery

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

--which is commonly known as shock treatment. It is used for severe depression, acute mania and some forms of schizophrenia.

Psychosurgery

--an operation that destroys part of the brain to make the patient calmer and lessens their symptoms. A common name for this type of operation is called a “lobotomy.”