Assignment 2 - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... Right from the time of birth up to maturity, people anticipate to have some sense of love and belonging. Relationships make people to feel in place. Relationships make people happy and appreciate their life worth living. However, it is the same relationships that cause stress for most people. Relationships are major and common causes of stress for many individuals, especially when the relationships turn sour. People frequently undergo relationship problems such as, but not limited to infidelity. Relationships between spouses, peers, friends, employees and any other form of social systems, are usually characterized by conflicts. Despite the fact that relationship problems are the most prevalent, many people are oblivious of the causes of the problems. It is this lack of comprehensive understanding of the causes and nature of conflicts in relationships that causes stress for many individuals. In most occasions, problems in relationships are associated with concealed conversations and conduct patterns buried deep within individuals. Most often, people fail to recognize their roles in relationships. Further, many people are always perplexed about what they are supposed to do in order to establish and sustain blissful, triumphant and long-lasting relationships. As they mull over how to make their relationships perfect, most people end up stressed. However, in many incidents, break ups in relationships and lack of understanding are usually what result into stress for many individuals. Relatively few people can manage their stress levels after break-ups. Instead of focusing on positive ways of dealing with their predicaments, many people are often engulfed in sulking and crying over spilt milk, which worsen their situation all together. What stresses one person may not be a problem to the other. According to mental health experts, personality contributes hugely to the manner in which people handle their relationships and stress. According to mental health professionals, individuals with “Type A” personalities are usually impatient, determined, time-conscious and driven. These personalities if not controlled properly may lead to stress-related ill health. On the other hand, people with “Type B” traits tend to be relaxed, not overly time-conscious, determined. As such, people with “Type B” traits often perceive things adaptively. Unlike individuals with “Type A” traits, they can think constructively and figure out how they can resolve their situations. Generally, individuals with “Type B” personalities tend to be less vulnerable to stress compared to people with “Type A” traits (Pejuskovic et al 389). It is often noticed that women and men usually respond to stress differently. One of the reasons that have been attributed to this is hormonal influence (Rai 52). Three hormones are believed to play a significant role in how women and men react to stress. These include cortisol, epinephrine, and oxytocin. In the event of stress, cortisol and epinephrine hormones are released, which increases blood pressure and also increase blood sugar level of an individual. Cortisol also reduces the efficiency of an individual’s immune system (Rai 52). In women, cortisol and epinephrine hormones are released into the bloodstream during a stressful event; oxytocin hormone is released from the brain to counter the release of cortisol and epinephrine hormones. Oxytocin also plays a role in nurturing and calming emotions. ...Download file to see next pagesRead More