2. What is Stress?
● Any demand made on the adaptive capacities of the
mind and body
Three important things to consider about stress:
○ Personal view of stressor or perception- is the
stressor positive or negative?
○ Your reaction to stressful events
○ Stress is a demand upon our body's capacity
3. Yerkes Dodson Principle
To a certain point, a specific amount of stress is useful, healthy
and even beneficial.
● Describes the relationship between stress and performance
● Stress can increase performance, health and well-being
● When stress exceeds our abilities to cope it goes from
increasing performance to decreasing performance
● Too little stress = bad
● Enough stress = good
● Too much stress = bad
4. Important Terms
Stress is the effect, the stressor is the cause.
A stressor is any event or situation that a person perceives as a
threat that causes the individual to either adapt or initiate the
stress response.
Eustress is the term used to explain the positive desirable
stress that keeps life interesting and helps motivate and inspire
Distress negative effects of stress that drain us of energy and
surpass our abilities to cope
5. Acute vs. Chronic Stress
Acute Stress is the result of a short-term stressor. It appears
suddenly, is very intense and disappears quickly.
Episodic Acute Stress People who seem to constantly
experience acute stress- Often blame problems on others or
external events. Tend to be over-aroused, short-tempered,
irritable and anxious.
Chronic Stress Long-term stress coming from problems that
don't seem to go away. Unrelenting demands and pressures that
go on indefinitely.
6. Health
Holistic Health describes the physical, intellectual,
emotional, spiritual and social dimensions. Keyword: WHOLE
Health is more than just the absence of disease- we hope to
increase our capacity for dealing with stress so we can optimize
our health and well-being
Dimensions of Health include:
● Physical
● Intellectual (how and what you think/mental health)
● Emotional (feelings)
● Spiritual
● Social (relationships)
7. Sources of Stress
We are all unique- nature and nurture influence how you will
respond to stressful events- KNOW YOURSELF!
● Time Management
● Personal Expectations
● Family Expectations and Family Life
● Employment Decisions and Finances
● School Pressures
● Living Arrangements
● Relationships
● Physical Health Issues
● Environmental Stressors
● Information Overload
● Choices
● Daily Hassles
8. Seek Balance
● Look for balance in your life
● We need stress- but not too much!
● You can prevent and manage stress using three basic
approaches:
○ Eliminate the stressor
○ Change your thinking
○ Manage the stress
9. Terms to Know
Stress Holistic Health
Stressor Physical Health
Yerkes-Dodson Principle Intellectual Health
Eustress Emotional Health
Distress Spiritual Health
Acute Stress Social Health
Chronic Stress Koyaanisqatsi
Episodic Acute Stress
