Stress as a Psychological Perception - Essay Example

Stress depends on the mind and body’s capacity to adapt to demands as required by the environment (Olpin and Hesson, 2013), whether at work, home, or in universities.  Three aspects of stress should be considered.  First is the personal view of the individual experiencing the stress, and this can become either a positive or negative factor.  The second aspect is the individual’s reaction to the entirety of the events rather than the specific event alone, and this will be the key to either a positive or negative result.  The third aspect is the capacity or threshold by which the body can hold the stress, meaning the capacity to handle the stress and if such exists in the individual, this yields good results.  However, when the individual fails to handle the stress, the effect is negative (Olpin and Hesson, 2013).  But when an individual begins to see only the negative side of the stress, this is where the problems on stress come in.

            Stress has various effects on individuals.  This may be emotionally, physically, behaviorally, or psychologically; as a whole, stress poses risks to a person’s health.  High amounts of stress push the individual to exert more energy to be able to meet the demands in the environment.  Many scientists have studied and established that stress is a factor in increased blood pressure and over-fatigue.  Some psychological problems like anxiety and depression are also affected by stress.  Although anxiety is normal to human beings, anxiety disorders are more serious because these psychological disorders can disrupt a person’s ability to live a normal life.  Anxiety disorders like agoraphobia or social anxiety disorder are some of the most common types, which, if untreated develop into depression and increase even the tendency of suicide after the onset (“Stress”, 2013).

            Addiction and dependence on other things, like food or alcohol, to cope with stress is also an effect of stress.  A study conducted by Gluck (2006) studied the effect of stress as a trigger to excessive eating, or binge eating.  This kind of eating disorder may result in obesity, or much worse, anorexia nervosa (AN) and bulimia nervosa (BN).

Solutions

            The most important thing to maintain the balance in the illness of a human being is stress reduction and management.  The first way in managing stress is to avoid substances like drugs and alcohol.  The initial relief may be felt however, this becomes more problematic in the long run and will eventually add more stress.  Support from family, friends, colleagues, and other persons that you may feel comfortable with, will be helpful as well.  Knowing that there are people whom you can talk to and are willing to listen to you lightens the burden that the stress gives you.  Exercising and having a massage could also help relieve stress.  Doing something else, a hobby or just going to the mall or walking in the park takes away the mind’s focus on the stress that a person experiences.  Stress must be channeled positively so that there is more fulfillment for one’s self, rather than the destructive effects (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2012).  As my solution evolutionary stressed.  After classes, I go and talk with my friends, eat and laugh with them about anything that we can talk about.  Sometimes, when I do not feel socializing like socializing to some good music, for me, it is also important that I get enough sleep so that I have energy again when I wake up the following and start the day all over.

Case of Study: United States

            The United States of America has healthcare programs Whetham to address and provide service to its citizens who are suffering from different forms of illnesses.  The American Psychological Association [APA] formulated in 2007 the Stress in America survey to monitor the degree of improvement in tin wellness of Americans, and if healthcare programs are consistently administered (APA, 2012).  However, in the survey conducted by APA (2013), it was found out young Americans do not get the needed amount of healthcare that they expect.  About 53 percent of Americans have claimed that healthcare providers on stress management have given them minimum or no support at all.  This becomes more alarming because 35 percent of Americans have claimed that they are more stressed this year compared to last year.  Further, Americans in the age group of about 18 to 33 are the most affected because very few healthcare providers have given attention to their wellness.  This then poses a challenge to the United States government in terms of being able to provide the necessary healthcare programs to its citizens across all age groups.  With the US federal government shutdown ending last October 17, 2013, the health care law, also called “Obamacare” (VOA, 2013), could be the solution to the stress management problems for Americans.